Hey Folks,

Any opinions on whether it is worth it to purchase a four day 1st class pass rather than 2nd class? We will also be getting the Swiss Family pass so the kids ride free. I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks

Hi s,

Are you sure that you will need a pass?

The trains are very clean, safe and not crowded. The distances are not so big, so I suppose you will not have too long trips. I would buy second class.

Well there's always, in my hundreds of trips on Swiss trains been empty seats in first class - usually lots so your family could spread out. 2nd class in Switzerland is good too but since your kids are getting free passes (if under 16) then the extra you pay for first class is less than if all were buying passes. 2nd class on some trains, especially during rush hours can be very crowded but not usually.
Also depends on what types of trains you'll be taking - short trips or longer trips - but i think for finding seats for all together it's much better chance in 1st class.
Many Fodorites will differ with me on this but that's my opinion.
As for Swiss Passes this year the flexipasses good for one month and then for a certain number of days are a much better deal than ever as for the whole month you get 50% off everything besides your three (min days on flexipass) and your kids always go free even when you buy 50% off - like on the Jungfrau trains - you get 50% off with a Swiss Pass and they go free (full fare over $100!) For the whole month you get 50% off everything that moves in Switzerland - buses, trams, boats, trains, etc. On the three 100% days you get free entry to 400+ Swiss museums as well - like at the Ballenberg Open-Air museum near Interlaken - saving about $10-15 p.p. There is also a Half-Fare card, Swiss Card and Swiss Transfer ticket but the Swiss Pass with three days on 100% coverage and then 50% off everything else for many is the best bet. Consecutive day passes are much cheaper per day than the flexipass and could be better for short stays.
Swiss Passes can be bought in Switzerland but currently they are significantly cheaper in the U.S. and in Switzerland you have to pay SF20 for the Family Card which is free in U.S. when you buy the pass. Check Swiss prices at: www.sbb.ch - for Swiss Passes in U.S. i always recommend BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com; ask on the site for their excellent free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a great chapter on Switzerland and Swiss train travel) for their expertise - passes are same price in U.S. wherever you buy them so i go by the service you get. I also like www.ricksteves.com for his Swiss rail info and www.euraide.com too.
So back to OP - second class will be fine but first class will be finer. (the age of your kids is a deciding factor perhaps - older kids 12 and up don't have to sit with you and may not want to and won't always perhaps be able in 2nd class but should always in first class. With toddlers and up to 10 or so i'd automatically go first class.

I also like Ira's usual admonition about classes - if you're over 30 (or35?) he says go first class, if under go 2nd class. I think there's a lot of merit in that.

well, Ira, I just assumed we did...we leave from Venice to Luzern on an overnight. I figured we'd use the pass once we arrived in Luzern We'll spend two days in Luzern then over to the Berner Oberland for 4 days then to Geneva for 1 day before we leave from Geneva to Boston. I didn't cost out a point-to-point as I assumed the pass would be a better deal for the day excursions and any boat trips, plus the discount at the museums. I think tonight I'll cost out point-point.

Valtor, I was thinking the same thing too but just wanted to check. I believe that we can still make reservations in second class as we'll be travelling in August.

thanks

Thanks PalQ ....our kids our 13 and 11 and as the Swiss portion of our trip is the last leg of nearly 3 weeks of family togetherness, probably none of us will want to sit together!!!

I do like Ira's relationship of age to class!!!

I usually agree with Ira, but. . . we are well past 30, travel in a group of five to seven (including kids under 30), and always go second class in Switzerland. The one and only time we have had trouble finding seats was going into Zürich on the day of the Love Parade.

thanks enzian...you've been so helpful

I should not have put words in Ira's mouth even though he has said that often and he may not in terms of Switzerland - i was amiss in that. And as Enzian always seems to give good advice too, as Ira does, i value what he says - especially since he has traveled with a boat load of kids and found no problem.
Does Zurich still have a Love Parade - i know Berlin's incredibly bit the dust.

I think, perhaps incorrectly, that if you are using a Swiss pass of any sort that it will take effect as soon as you cross into Switzerland and that could, possibly, affect the rate for that night train.

I'm not sure how you would go about getting the tickets using the pass but someone here can probably elaborate on that aspect of things.

Also, be aware that your pass will entitle you to use local transportation services in selected Swiss cities and towns.

Re 1 and 2 cl:

I think I have said "over 45 for 1 cl and under 30 for 2 cl".

In addition, my rule of thumb is 2cl for trips under 4 hr.

There are some regional trains, however, where you would want to go 1 cl all the time.


Speaking ex cathedra

Ira - again sorry for putting (wrong) words in your mouth...but what do folks between 30 and 45 ride in? Is there a third class?

Ecuador where you can actually ride on the TOP of some of the rolling stock. However, for a few of us, that is actually a perk!

I just came back from Switzerland on 27th of May. I had a first class pass.
Based on what I saw if you are travelling during low season like I was, theres no point in waisting money. Most of the time we had entire coach to ourselves and ocassionaly very few old people (50+ maybe). During peak season this might be a 'slightly' different story. For long or important journey (e.g. 2 hrs.+ train journey on the last day to airport to catch flight back home) you could always buy the 'reservation' that will gurantee you seat.

We travel as a pair and have always found second class clean and uncrowded, and I would say the Swiss riding in second class are a bit friendlier, but in first class I think of them as being businessmen busy working.

The exception would be the scenic routes, where I seem to recall the panoramic cars at the front of the train with the windshield view are first class. We have ridden some of these routes in second class and were able to see everything, but I think the kids would really enjoy being in one of the front rows.

So my recommendation would be, if you find a pass advantageous (and you very may well if you are taking some of the excursions in the Bernese Oberland where the passes save a lot), buy a second class pass, and upgrade for any of the scenic routes you take.

PalQ---yes, Zürich does have a Love Parade---we've managed (?) to hit it twice, in 2001 and 2005. I think it's a replacement for the now-defunct Berlin one. I've never seen so much body paint, and aluminum foil, and so many feathers, in my life! And the aroma of the air in the Zürich Hauptbahnhof is very. . . interesting.

It seems to take place the second Saturday in August.

I would suggest it is personal perference, if you want to sit together i would say 1st class if you don't mind being split up then 2nd class, but as other posters have said 2nd class can get busy. My preference as a 50+ British female travelling alone I go 1st. i get peace and quiet, sorry, I don't like noise kids and cell phones. I'm a miserable old woman sometimes