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When to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass

Posted by (Arizona) on

I will be heading to Switzerland in mid September. My plan is to use the regional trains as well as the tourist trains (Glacier Express and the Bernina Express) with the help of a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass (STP) . I know that seat reservations can be made on these trains which is in addition to the actual ticket reservation and is not covered by the STP.

My question relates to the purchase of the Swiss Travel Pass .

- Does the start time for the use of the Travel Pass begin when I make a reservation and/or purchase a train ticket? or,
- Does the start time begin at my chosen date ( the start of the actual trip) and I can use the STP information when I make reservation/purchase the tickets which would be months earlier?

I am hoping it is the later since tickets for the Glacier Express become available in late June for my dates of travel so I have to get these tickets 2-3 months before I start the trip. .

Thanks for your help.

Posted by
2971 posts

The pass starts on the date that you choose as start date when purchasing it. And you have till the moment you actually board your first train to buy it. So you can wait till you have landed at the airport and just buy it there for example.

With the pass you do not need to buy tickets for trains that are covered by the pass. That includes the Glacier Express. There is no such thing as a "ticket reservation". To travel you need either a pass or a ticket. On the Glacier Express you also need a reservation.

Reservations live in a different universe from tickets, so it is not necessary to already be in posession of a ticket of pass to get the reservations. Just go on www.rhb.ch, and get your reservation. You do that by just selecting "reservation only" under discounts. The rticket or pass you can then decide about later.

Posted by
6311 posts

You can ride the regional trains for the Bernina Express route- on the same exact tracks. These trains do not require a seat reservation, have more schedule options, and I prefer them: less crowded (you can move to either side of the train for pix,) and the windows open (better pix).
I like buying the STP a little in advance, because I like having an electronic copy, which can go into your Apple Wallet. Then you have no worries about losing your Pass.
Have a great trip!

Posted by
2971 posts

You can even travel on the Bernina Express without a reservation, as the BEX Panorama cars are actually attached to the back of a normal regional train. So you can sit in the front without a reservation.

Posted by
3532 posts

As far as when to buy the Swiss Travel Pass, I like to buy mine a few days before I leave. That way I can print out a few copies at home. I prefer to use the paper copy instead of the QR code on my phone, but they both work equally well.

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