Differences between "Swiss Card" vs. "Swiss Half Fare Card"?
 

Hi Fodorites,

I'm trying to comprehend the bewildering array of train options for an upcoming, 12 day trip to Switzerland. At this point I'm considering the Swiss Card (186 CHF) and Swiss Pass (110 CHF), but can't figure out exactly what is and isn't included in each option.

Both are half-price cards. The Swiss Card also offers free travel to and from the airport.

Questions:

1) Would both cards give me 1/2 price travel for the boat network around Lucerne?
2) How about the Mt. Rigi train?
3) How about the Jungfrau train?
4) Are most of the cablecars / trams / trains in the Wengen area supported by both cards?
5) Our final leg of departure is Weggis to Zurich Airport. Will the Swiss Card's "free travel to the airport" apply to the small town of Weggis?

The 110 CHF Swiss Pass seems to be the better option assuming the only difference is free travel to the airport.

THANKS!!

My original thread was here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...1-day-trip.cfm

This is the site where I'm getting info on these passes
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...e-card-en.html

I am using www.sbb.ch to price individual legs of the journey, but the site itself is confusing with so many options and I don't see any mention of the Swiss Pass or Swiss Card on the site.

Sorry in the post above I confuse the Half Price Card with the Swiss Pass a few times.

I am indeed evaluating the Swiss Card (186 CHF) vs. Swiss Half Price Card (110 CHF). The Swiss Pass is too pricey as the 8 day option is not enough.

Did you look at the Swiss validity map? It's on your swisstravelsystem link. Load the map and then zoom to about 100% so you can see by color what is covered or discounted. If you scroll to the bottom of the map, it's listed there for the Swiss Card.

Hi ABCDEFG,

The only difference between the two cards is the transportation from the Swiss border to a destination and the transport from a destination to the Swiss border that the Swiss Card gives you. Obviously, it's only a good option if the transport for those two trips will be more than 76 chf.

1. yes
2. yes
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes

Have fun as you plan!

s

What Swandav said. The Swiss Card is a Half Fare Card (50% off everything) PLUS two free trips, your first and last days.

In your situation, i.e. you have to travel from ZHR to Wengen by train and vice versa, you can leave out the Swiss Half Fare Card, since your journey from ZHR to Wengen both ways, will cost you already (half price assumed, for one person): CHF 82.60 second class, CHF 136.80 first class. So the additional 76 CHF for the Swiss Card saves you CHF 6.60 on second class ;)

You can check out the prices on the SBB time table, any time.

Traveling in Switzerland is expensive (even with half price cards), so keep this in mind.

Therefor, based on your itenary, I would even take into consideration the Swiss Pass (if you travel every day), or its more flexible version: Swiss Flexi Pass (probably not your option). But you have to check out all the costs in order to see which one is better. The advantage of the Swiss (Flexi) Pass is, you don't have to take care anywhere in Switzerland, just get in and out. Except for the dotted lines on the validity map! Even the buses and trams in cities are included then!

Just an example: ZHR Airport to Zurich, valid for 24 hours (that's the local kind of both ways ticket, including so called 3 Zones) costs you (second class) CHF 6.40 (half-fare assumed), respectively CHF 12.80 (non half-fare cards available, e.g. Swiss Card). But then all public transport (train, bus, tram, boat) in these 3 zones are included for 24 hours since purchase! As long as you stay within on the ticket printed 3 zones (the city of Zurich (zone 10) counts for 2 zones; http://www.zvv.ch/en/routes-and-zone...zone-plan.html).
If you have a Swiss Pass, you don't even have to take care about this.

Therefor, being an owner of the Swiss Card, means:

1: Yes, half fare (no additional costs with Swiss (Flexi) Pass)
2: Yes, half fare (no additional costs with Swiss (Flexi) Pass)
2b Mount Pilatus (dotted lines): Yes, half fare (also half fare even for owners of Swiss (Flexi) Pass)
3: Yes, but only 25% reduction! This is also true even for owners of Swiss (Flexi) Passes (well, it is a very, very well known destination!)
4: As I said in 3), from Wengen or Grindelwald to Kl. Scheiddegg to Jungfraujoch: only 25% reduction.
other dotted lines: e.g. cable cars normaly 50% reduction (means half fare). That applies also to the Swiss (Flexi) Pass!
Trains (not dotted lines): half fare with Swiss Card, included with Swiss Pass (no additional costs).
5: I am not sure, if you have to validate your Swiss Card for only one destination (then the answer would be no). But ask them! (by contact form or phone)

So the summary is:

Swiss Card: half fare (almost) everywhere, except for the Junfraujoch train (only 25% reduction).

Swiss (Flexi) Pass: free (almost everywhere) including local buses and trams in cities, except for the dotted lines on the validity map (normaly cable cars and rack railways). Then a reduction of half fare price. One Exception: Jungfraujoch train: only 25% reduction!

Also take into account: http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...Questions.html

and I would recomend you to opt for 1st class tickets...I just read some of your trip reports ;) .. If you like to spend €550 a night, I would not even think a second about second class!

Thanks thanks thanks thanks to everyone for the help!

We're going 2nd class all the way; beats the subway in NYC that's for sure.

So if I need to buy a Half Price Card, will I be able to buy these at the airport train station? Or do I need to buy them in advance?

Yes, you can buy the Half Fare Card at almost all train stations in Switzerland. No need to buy in advance.

Have fun!

s