My family and I are traveling from Zurich airport to Zermatt mid-December. I would prefer to travel 1st class. Should I purchase my SBB tickets in advance? Or is it OK to purchase on the day of? We arrive Sunday morning but with possible flight delays and my unfamiliarity with time to clear customs in Zurich, I was unsure if I should purchase tickets in advance with a specific time?
Posted by
Green Bay
22823 posts
What is your family make up? Number and ages?
You can just buy tickets when you arrive. Buy in advance gives you no advantage over someone who buys a ticket 5 minutes before departure with their app. Then just take the first available train from the airport that gets you to Zermatt. Tickets are good for any trains on that route for the day.
A full fare 1st class ticket from Zurich Airport to Zermatt is 141 CHF. But you can buy a Saver Day Pass 1st class for 88 CHF now. Good for any trains in Switzerland any time on that day. If you buy Half Fare Travel Cards for 120 CHF, it is 59 CHF and you may be able to get a free Family Card so kids under 16 travel with you for free.
Posted by
Wengen
3446 posts
On the SBB site you always start your purchase with picking a train from a schedule nowadays. However that does not automatically mean that your ticket will only be for that train.
SBB has several offers:
- Standard tickets, regrettably called "point-to-point" are good for one trip along the route you bought, and that for a whole day till the next day 5 AM. So no restrictions, and tickets can be refunded. The price is always the same, and tickets are always vailable.
So with such a PtP ticket from Zurich Airport to Zermatt you can just hop on the next train on that route, find yourself a free seat and enjoy the ride.
Supersaver tickets: Discounted tickets that come with restrictions. You must take the trains you selected on the schedule, and there are no refunds. Not a good option when arriving by aire.
Supersaver tickets are discounted, but available only in limited quantities, and they get more expensive to closer to the travel date you buy them.- Saver Day Pass: A pass that gives you unlimited travel on all public transit in Switzerland for a whole day. Not refundable, and a good option when arriving by air. Buy as soon as possible as they only get more expensive.
On www.sbb.ch you will be offered the standard fare, and supersaver and saver day passes provided that there are still available at a price point below the standard fare.
And on all those fares you can get additional reduction with the Half Fare Card, which comes with the Family Card giving free travel to kids under 16 when accompanied by their parents, provided these have a valid ticket or pass.