mini fares and swiss train system

I am also considering the Swiss card - Is that a good choice since we will be going up the Jungfrau and travelling in the OB for a week?

Lots of questions, but I'll try to answer a couple of them. If the mini fare shows up as 29 euros then the 9 euro fares are all gone. They are limited, and when gone the price goes up to 19, then 29, etc. The 2-for-1 deal on Swiss Passes is for passes that will be USED in april or may (also September and October). They are not good for travel in July, so won't help you.
Be careful about buying a ticket from Milan to lauterbrunnen from SBB as they add shipping. See if you can get a "Smart Fare" on Trenitalia from Milan to Spiez. Or if you are going to geet a Swiss Card it wil cover your trip starting at Domodossola. So you would buy a ticket from Milan to there.

On which dates are you traveling? Mini-fares in Italy used to be assigned by date, run, type of train, etc. As soon as they are sold out, they're gone for that run. Thus, it helps to know the dates you are traveling. The 9E fare is simply incredible. As for the Swiss rail system at www.rail.ch, pick the first Lauterbrunnen at the top of the list. Also, in the "VIA" line, type Spiez. Looking in May, I do see special fares of 40CHF (Swiss Francs - not Euros). I realize that you want to travel in July but you may not be able to book more that 90 days out.

larry, Trenitalia has a new tiered system for mini fares. They really do start at 9 euros. Not for all trains, but for enough. There are only a few tickets at 9 euros and then they go up to the next tier, 19 euro. When those are gone, up again. Check out th enew Trenitalia webiste, use a date in late May, and you should see some 9 euro minifares.

Sasha, I have seen and used the new Trenitalia website. I'm familiar with the mini-fares and have seen the 9E fares.

OK, I thought when you said the 9 euro fare is "simply incredible" that you didn't believe they really exist. That is one way to read "incredible."

Thanks for the help. Strangely enough I was able to get a 9E mini fare for Venice to Milan in July just ten minutes ago - even though I had been trying to purchase one at 29E earlier and it kept rejecting me - so weird - I ended up registering and then it took me back to the 9E fare! Yippee :) Now - I have to figure out the rest of the trip to Lauterbrunnen - I do think the Swiss Card is the way I will go - do I buy that on line? I have been trying different options all day and sometimes I will get a price and other times I won't - I am going crazy! Thanks for the tip on which Lauterbrunnen - so confused :)
Donna

I fought the two Trenitalia sites this morning (the old one and the new one). I speculate that the once a 9E ticket goes into a shopping cart it's no longer available to other shoppers. Once the web session times out, the ticket is available to other shoppers. Also, in their transition from the old site to the new site, it's just funky crazy... it's like they are doing live development or data transfer and they have erratic behavior. Don't Swiss tickets go on sale one month before??? Pete
June 2012 (London, Paris, Colmar, Lauterbrunnen, Venice, 5T)

Smart Fare is the Trenitalia mini equivalent for trips that cross the border into Switzerland.

Thanks Pete - that makes sense about the tickets -- just glad it all worked out with the mini fares - can't believe the money I saved since it is four of us going :) I think we will end up purchasing the 1/2 off card - seems to make the most sense right now....just hope I have time to do that in between Italian trains and Swiss trains since I can't get it ahead of time. I am so nervous about all this since I have NO experience on train travel. Thanks for your help - you are doing some of the same things as I am so I like your posts :)
Donna

Donna, you can buy a ticket from Trenitalia for Milan to Spiez. These cross-border trips have Smart fares rather than mini fares. a train and the next page will have a drop-down menu for fares. It should offer Smart and Smart 2 if you book far enough ahead. The Srart 2 fare for early June is 29 euro. I didn't check July but it may be even better. At Speiz you can use your Half Fare card to buy tickets for the rest of the journey to Lauterbrunnen. You can buy the Half Fare card there too, or buy in advance from Swiss Travel Syster.

Thanks so much Lola! I checked and it is 29E for July also - I didn't realize I could pick a Smart Fare for an option - could you explain what it is? Is it just a cheaper fare like the mini fare for advance purchase? I love saving money :) Thanks!
Donna

OOO!!!! I just checked the Smart fare and it is 19E!!!