Train Geneva to Vienna

I don't understand. If you bike from Vienna to Geneva, and you open jaw into Vienna out of Geneva home, why do you need to train/bus/fly back?

The train ride is scenic, but you'll presumably see a lot of that same area on your bike tour.

I agree with you Andrew, didn't make sense to me based on the wording of the post. Either you fly open jaw, into one and home from the other with the bicycle tour between them, OR you fly round trip into one and take the train from wherever the tour ends up back to that airport.

Apologies. Distracted with trip planning. Meant to say, we plan to book a roundtrip between SFO & Geneva. Then, will train or bus or fly to Vienna to start tour. But I think it the answer is, that would likely be pretty scenic. Thanks for making me focus on details!

Is there are reason not to fly open jaw? Don't look for two one-ways, but instead, use the "multi city" or "multiple destinations" option on Kayak, Google Flights, airline websites, etc. It's true that sometimes a multi city itinerary is more expensive than a simple round trip, but even if it is, you save time and money not backtracking.

If you do fly round trip and need to get between Vienna and Geneva:

To find flights within Europe, use Skyscanner: https://www.skyscanner.com/
To find train schedules, you can use Swiss Rail: https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
For buses, look at Eurolines: https://www.eurolines.eu/node as well as Flixbus: https://www.flixbus.com/bus/geneva

If you are planning on taking a tandem bike on any bus it may be worth while checking that they can take any bike let alone a tandem.

Same with the train - they will have specific policies and procedures, and because you plan on taking trains the full width of Switzerland the full width of Austria I presume that you will break up the train trip. Any bike will need a train ticket - I believe that several trains will prohibit a tandem. Some trains simply won't have room or facilities. Check to avoid embarrassment.

Fill us in, because we are guessing. Is this a "tour" where the operator provides the bikes and has luggage transport town to town on the way? If so, then make life easy and fly open jaw.

I am trying to fathom the logistics of doing on your own, but then I am not a bike-tourer. Maybe it is quite common. Bringing your own bike or renting? If a rental, need to return the bike to the original rental point or is shipping provided? Bikes with luggage racks?