We are purchasing Swiss Flexi Passes - 2nd class for several days of travel in Switzerland. Does anyone know if it's possbile to upgrade to 1st class for one portion of our trip the Golden Pass Train from Interlaken to Lausanne? We want to reserve "Grand Vue" VIP seating at the front of the train and have to have a first class ticket to do so? Also, if it is possible to upgrade and reserve the seats, does anyone know how you go about reserving forward facing seats at the front of the train vs. rear facing seats at the rear of the train.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
You can upgrade and make seat reservations, of course you will have to pay a supplement. Simply head to any train station in Switzerland to make the arrangements. The Golden Pass only goes as fare as Montreux, from there you will have to transfer a regular inter-city train to get to Lausanne.
Posted by
OP
Pleasanton, CA, USA
6 posts
Thanks for the info, Michael. Do you know if we can make the reservation and upgrade in advance, rather than waiting until we get to Switzerland? We're going at a busy time in the summer and I understand there are only 8 VIP seats available per trip. It would just be fun to reserve those!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
You can make advance seat reservations at: http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_services_bookings To upgrade from second to first class, you'll have to do that at a train station.
Posted by
OP
Pleasanton, CA, USA
6 posts
So I can make the reservation in advance on the Golden Pass website, then upgrade to 1st class when we get to Switzerland?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Exactly. The website handles the seat reservation, the upgrade has to done at the train station.
Posted by
OP
Pleasanton, CA, USA
6 posts
That's what I'm going to do. Thanks so much for your help!
Posted by
Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
80 posts
How far in advance can you purchase Golden Pass tickets?
Posted by
OP
Pleasanton, CA, USA
6 posts
I know you can purchase at least five months in advance if you do it on the internet at www.goldenpass.ch. I just made VIP seat reservations for July and printed my confirmation!
Posted by
Clarksburg, MD, USA
111 posts
My Mom, sister and I took the Golden Pass Train last year. We travelled in the second class compartment using our Swiss Pass. The second class seats were great and the coach had huge windows that let us see everything very clearly. I'm sure that the seats will be even better in first class, but I just wanted to let you know that you will not be skimping if you travel second class on the Golden Pass Train! Penn
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
On the scenic Golden Pass train between Zweisimmen and Montreau, there are 8 seats over the engineers on top of the main engine. I'm not sure if these are the VIP seats that are being referred to above.
Posted by
OP
Pleasanton, CA, USA
6 posts
Yes, those are the seats we reserved... only it showed 4 VIP seats across the front, not 8. We're taking a regular non-panoramic train from Interlaken to Zweisemann in order to make the connection to the panoramic train with the VIP seats. If we couldn't have gotten the VIP seats, I was going to take the Golden Pass Panorama all the way in second class and not bother with reservations. I've heard from several resources -- as well as the one above -- that second class is great and not to bother reserving seats in first class unless you can get the VIPs. We'll see!