Swiss Half Fare on the SBB app

1. No, you can’t add two half fare cards to one app. You can purchase tickets for both of you and have them in your app, but not the Half Fare Card.
2. No, These passes can not go on the SBB app and there is no app for them.

SwissNomad, you are even answering questions I didn’t even know I had. Thank you! Can the Half fare card and other passes be kept in Apple Wallet or is it expected that we carry a printed paper? How does that work?

It is an electornic ticket.

The Half fare card is needed to travel with half price tickets, it is not needed to purchase half price tickets.

So for example when I an my wife travel somewhere I often buy the tickets for both of us. That means that I have two tickets on my phone. When you add passengers you can indicate that the passenger has the half fare card. Do not forget to indicate that for yourself as well! This is not automatic unfortunately.

Then when the conductor comes I show both the tickets. My wife shows her Half Fare Card. In our case I do not need to show my half fare card as I have the Swiss domestic one, which contains a picture and is integrated in the app. So when the conductor scans my ticket my picture, and the fact that I have the HFC appears on his terminal.

In the case of the tourist HFC you will both have to show it. It does not matter how, as long as the QR code is readable.

I have my HFC in my app, same as WengenK does, but ours is a year long one, different from the tourist one.
Same with the Jungfrau pass, I had a season long one in the past. It was a card, like a credit card that I tapped to get onto the gondolas and things.

Another tourist will have to answer the specifics of using the shorter duration passes as that’s something I don’t have experience with :)

Its an old post but I wanted to update you all as I was able to add two half fare cards into one SBB app. But a key point is that it can only be done before the purchase is made.

I simply followed the steps listed on the official website https://www.sbb.ch/en/offers/buy-swiss-half-fare-card I created the account, entered passenger details and as soon as I made the purchase, both QR codes immediately showed up in my SBB under the tickets & travelcard section.

sherac185, I've had the SBB app for a while, but haven't bought anything yet. I'm still a little confused by your comment and the instructions. When you say "purchase" do you mean purchase the half fare card or purchase a train ticket? Are you saying I should enter the Half Fare card and "save" THEN buy the half fare card and that's how it will end up on the app?

Thanks for clarification!

I have a related question. I have the SBB app on my phone already. My wife and I plan to wait until we get to Basel and then buy two half-fare cards at the train station and then travel within Switzerland for 10 days. I am assuming they would be physical, printed, cards. Is that correct or no? From the discussion it appears that 2 half-fare cards cannot be loaded into one phone’s Apple wallet. I would prefer a physical half-fare card.

This is an old post and it is a new feature that the one month half fare card can now be added to the SBB app.

@KD, it reads as if sherac185 added both of the people they purchased half fare cards for using the link they provided. You will see “enter passengers” then choose “purchase as a guest”. You need to provide some information and will also see “add more passengers”. I assume this is how they did it.

@kentfast - yes, you will certainly be provided with a paper copy when you purchase your half fare cards in Basel.

Thanks for the confirmation regarding my question about the half-fare cards. Much appreciated.