Swiss Rail Pass - When to Purchase

Q1 - you can get it when you arrive.
Q3 - you can but it is not necessary

Would it be more expensive or cheaper to purchase the rail pass in advance? If possible, I would like to have the rail passes ahead of time to have one less thing to worry about once I arrive at Zurich Airport.

Thanks for all your help.

Swiss Travel Passes purchased in advance are now printed at home and need not be shipped to you. You enter passport details at the time of booking. They are also pre-validated for a specific travel period, so be careful in choosing the start date. I'd probably choose the version for 8 consecutive days, but that may leave out one trip to or from Zurich at either end (whichever is shortest). See https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes (U.S. site) and compare at https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests.html (Swiss site, some reports of trouble with cc approval).

Your young kids are free without a ticket on all transport.

When is the best time to purchase the Swiss Rail Pass?

When you know for sure that you are going to arrive in Switzerland on the first date that it is valid since they are so expensive and never discounted. Also it comes in a protective plastic case and includes a map showing the area of validity when you buy it in person

What type of Rail Pass do you recommend?

Given your plan either the Swiss Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass 8 day

Should the Rail Pass be purchased online and shipped to my home before departing to Switzerland?

I would not purchase a Swiss Travel Pass in advance because it is expensive not refundable or changeable; you never know if your flight plans may change. it would come as a piece of paper in you email anyway. I bought one when I arrived in Geneva; it went pretty quick.

We were in Switzerland within the past month. We tried everything , but couldn't complete the transaction beforehand online. It took but a few minutes to find the SBB office in the Zurich airport/train station complex, and complete the transaction in person.

When is the best time to purchase the Swiss Rail Pass?

There is no best time, there is no worst time. The price is fixed. You either buy online and print yourself, or buy at Zürich airport station. Same price both ways.

There are two types of passes, a full "Swiss Pass", where you don't pay anything else (except for mountain railways), or a "Half Fare Card" which, as the name suggests, means you then pay half price (children's price) for all your tickets.
Children under 6 are free.
Both types are available for different durations. Both cover all public transport in Switzerland, trains+buses+boats, but not mountain railways.
Info here:

• Swiss Pass: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
• Half Fare Card: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-halffare-card.html

Before you ask, I will answer the standard questions most newbies ask: No you don't need reservations. If you have a Swiss Pass, you just get on the train, that is all. If you have a Half Fare Card you just buy a ½ price ticket and get on the train.
All lines and all stations have at least one train per hour, often more. It is a "turn-up-and-go" service, no advance planning needed.

Thank you all soooo much for the information.

So if we plan to ride the train multiple days, would it be better to just buy the 8-day Rail Pass?

I do prefer to have tickets in advance so I am not worrying about buying tickets at the train station while my little kids are running around, luggage being carried, etc.....(stress).

I bought my 15 day pass online before I left and simply printed it out at home. I would recommend that. I kept the copy in my passport and never had a problem when the checker just scanned the QR code on the printed copy. Remember, too, that all local transport (trams, metro, buses, ferries, etc. most everywhere) are ALSO included as well as 480 museums. Also, there are usually several mountain top journeys included which can be pretty pricey if purchased separately. When I was in Switzerland in 10/18, the Swiss Travel Pass included at no extra charge Mt. Schilthorn, Mt. Rigi, AND Mt. Stanserhorn [these last 2 are right by Lucerne]. And the cogwheel train from Zermatt up to Gornergrat (where you could view the Matterhorn in the distance) was 1/2 price. Also, the Swiss Travel Pass was really great because if you messed up something, you could just get on the next train or on the train going back the other direction! Finally, get the Swiss Train (SBB) app on your phone and spend some time getting used to it before you go. Many times I changed my plans or figured out a better alternative because I could just look up the train schedule in real time on the app. Also, the second class pass is all that you need. I would NOT spend the money on first class. You won't need it. Have a GREAT time!

You would get the 8 Day Swiss Travel Pass. With that you don't need to buy tickets for regular trains.
You just get on and then each adult traveler has to show the pass and passport to the conductor.
(The conductor asked to see passport with Swiss Travel Pass about 90% of the time, my last trip).

However the Swiss Travel Pass does not cover certain mountain excursions or just gives you a discount.
Those mountain excursions (accomplished by taking cogwheel trains and lifts or gondolas) require you to buy tickets. So you need tickets for Mt. Titlis, Jungfrau, and the Schilthorn. Those are 25% off with a Swiss Travel Pass.
You have to look at the area validity that comes with the pass to see what is covered.
This is the new one for 2020
https://cdn-doc.myswissalps.com/docs/default-source/rail-network-maps/swisstravelsystem.pdf?sfvrsn=7788603a_40

Also for any scenic or theme trains like Bernina Express Golden Pass Line you need a seat reservation. So those you can not just hop on and show a pass. People do hop on not knowing and end up paying for it. The conductors are use to the confusion that comes with the Swiss Travel Pass it seems and are prepared with credit card machines. The only the thing you can do is read everything thoroughly as far as what is covered.

No shortcut -- list out all the trains you plan to ride, price each from SBB website (times 2 -- website assumes you, like most Swiss, have a half-price card) and compare to pass price. Go through the numbers again using the stated price and compare the savings to the cost of the half-price card.

Thank you all for the information!