Hi!!
Does anyone know if 1st class is worth the extra money to travel in a swiss rail? I am buying the rail pass for 5 days and I was wondering if its worth the extra money to but 1st class.....I would rather have a great holiday than an OK one....whats the big difference between the two classes?
Hope some can answer this....Thank you.

Swiss trains are pretty comfortable even in second class - they're probably better than first class in some other European countries.

Hi Ankita,

Of course the obvious difference is that the seats tend to be larger. The second difference is that the cars are less full.

s

I have used Swiss rail and I much prefer 1st because of more chance of good empty seats, especially on bussy timing when people go to their works. Regards from Bahrian.

I have visited Switzerland a lot and ridden the train extensively. I go second class. I never saw the need to spend the extra money. Most of the Swiss coaches are in good repair and comfortable.

I guess the decision is based on how much income you have. Some people find the extra cost to be trivial.

First class is less crowded and with bigger seats. And normally quieter. IMO depends on the route and time whether it is worth the money.

For instance, I buy 1st class coming out from the Geneva airport (after a long flight and with a suitcase) to Montreux if it happens to be during the business commuter rush hour in the evening. If I was simply hopping a train to go between two nearby towns, 2nd would be fine.

Be sure to buy your Swiss Pass in the US, if an American, rather than in Switzerland as they are significantly cheaper in US dollar prices than at the stations in Switzerland. Compare: www.sbb.ch; for US prices call BETS (800-441-9413) who i always buy my passes from - whoever you talk to there will have riddent Swiss trains for years and can answer all your questions - ask for their free excelelent European Planning & Rail Guide which has tons of info on Swiss trains such as blurbs on the Glacier, Bernina, Wm Tell expresses, Golden Pass, etc. They also don't charge RailEurope's handling fee. 2nd class is fine in Switzerland but first class is always much nicer - lots more room and usually half full - can move from side to side for changing views - 2nd class tends to be fairly full, especially at rush hours. Some trains, like Glacier Express, Golden Pass, etc. have observation domed cars but only in first class - some Glacier Express trains are first class only. In my opinion would be worth it to buy first class with your expressed desire to have a great holiday. Oh and if taking those swell Swiss lake boats - free with Swiss railpass, first class lets you onto the upper deck - second class has to go below.

I'd choose 1st class, after all how often do you get to go to Switzerland, but am curious what is the difference in price?

I think you've answered your own question when you say you'd rather have a great vacation than an OK one.

By the way, one of my favorite things about a Swiss First Class pass is riding the lake steamers where you get the top deck, not the very crowded and less exciting bottom one. A Swiss Rail pass includes those steamers.

Patrick, you're absolutely right about having access to the first-class deck on the steamers.

Last year in Lucerne while cruising the lake, we spent a glorious sunny day on the basically empty top deck. The bottom deck was packed to the gills. Hardly a place to stand or sit.

Re: difference in pass prices:
5 day flexi saverpass:
1st cl = $304 per person vs $204 in second class, or about $20 a day - not insignificant! Note again that these figures would be $30-50 higher i believe if buy in Switzerland for same pass.

OK, here is the dilemma. I like the 2nd class coaches in the trains - would love to put my head (and more importantly, my camera) out and enjoy the alpine air.

But I want the upper deck in the steamers. Do the steamers also have an upgrade option? Would I be better off just buying 1st class and hopping into the 2nd class and riding the steamers on top or should I pay the steamers for the upgrade option?

I'm not sure what you mean by "preferring" the second class cars and putting your head out. I've taken many pictures out of the open windows of first class Swiss rail cars -- why is that different than in second? I haven't ever ridden with my head out the window however, which is probably why it is still attached to my shoulders!

As mentioned above, you'll probably be able to move from side to side in first class to get better views and pictures than in more busy second class. And with more people in second, you are more likely to get people who insist you put the windows up.

Kram: yes, if you have a second class ticket for the trains you can still ride the top of the steamers in first class, when the ticket man comes around you will just have to pay a suppliment. We also are happy with second class, but occasionaly we want first and just pay the difference

Hi kram,

Be aware that there are tiny ticket offices onboard the steamers at the center of the ferry just next to the stairs. As you get ready to go upstairs, you should pass it. I wouldn't wait for the conductor to come around . . .

s

You can also buy a 1st Class pass and ride in 2nd Class if you do get on a train in which the 2nd Class cars have windows which open and the windows in 1st do not.

I think someone has already commented that 2nd Class tends to fill up faster than 1st but with the number of services over most route in Switzerland this is probably a non-issue.

I live in Switzerland and have a 1st class yearly pass as does my husband. The main reason we did this was due to the times we rode the train. When I worked in Lucerne I would have to catch 3 trains in the morning (the Voralpen did not get there on time for me going in). The first and the middle of these trains were standing room only in 2nd but I could usually get one of the last seats in first. The next station to me first was standing for a while also. The same is true for my husband going to work.

Now that I travel usually outside of working hours I find I can get a group of 4 in first class to myself most of the time which is terrific with the baby and her associated paraphenalia.

In some trains the viewing is better from 1st, eg the Voralpen has bigger windows in first. The previously mentioned panorama wagons on the Glacier express and the upper decks of the steamers.

If it were me, I would buy a first class pass. A good alternative would be a second class pass and upgrade on certain services as needed.

Have fun.

swandav2000: I had no idea that they had a ticket booth on the boats!!! I will be there in September and am glad to have found this out...thanks. I also don't try to fool them, I say right away that we would like to pay the suppliment, and they have always been very nice about it.

for kram and others:

Do you mean that the 2nd class train cars have windows that open and the 1st class ones do not?

Hmmm... I've ridden Swiss trains a bit and don't remember that being true. Anyone else?

In my mind this is not true either and have happily leaned out many a first class window - often easier to do because there are seats empty by the windows whereas second class is often fairly full.