SBB Supersaver Tickets are the easiest way to travel inexpensively by train in Switzerland!
Now that the number of train passengers in Switzerland has continuously risen, SBB would like to attract more people to its trains with individualised prices. Hence, for times which are less busy due to the countrywide interval timetable.
Therefore, the Swiss Railways concept will also include more savings tickets – with discounts of up to 70 per cent to lure to travel at times with lower demand or on different trains. With discount tickets available up to 2 months in advance, anyone can travel by train, even on most public transport and train routes.
One of SBB’s latest disruptive innovations is the Supersaver Ticket for the route and the Supersaver Ticket in the form of a day pass.
Supersaver Tickets at a glance
- only bookable online
- up to 70% discount on the regular – price
- further reduction with Half-Fare travelcard
- fixed train connection
- 1st or 2nd class
- generally no exchange, no refund
With SBB savings tickets, the 1st class can be cheaper than the 2nd class. This pattern is due to the dynamically calculated prices.
How many of these SBB Supersaver tickets are available?
SBB does not provide any information on this. Hence, it is clear that there are train-bound quotas for low-cost tickets. If no more tickets are available, you can either travel at the regular price, switch to another connection or change your travel schedule.
Early booking with SBB is particularly worthwhile to get tickets for the contingents you are interested in.
Difference to standard tickets
While you always enjoy free train choices with standard tickets in Switzerland. However, with the SBB Supersaver ticket, you have a specific train to take. If you decide to buy a train ticket, you are bound to a particular connection shown on your online ticket, from which you may not deviate. If you miss the train, for example, because you are late for the station, you will need a new ticket. You can only cancel the train connection with the Supersaver ticket by buying a regular ticket.
It is also necessary for you to present both the original Supersaver Ticket and the new ticket at the regular price during the check on the train. You will then receive a confirmation with which you can refund the Supersaver Ticket at the ticket counter minus a processing fee of CHF 10.
In no other country is the average number of kilometres travelled by rail per person per year as high as in Switzerland. Perhaps this is why many Swiss people complain about the SBB, the Swiss Federal Railways. SBB is one of the most punctual railways in the world!
We love the Supersaver option and are happy to travel either early morning or during the afternoon.
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22 Responses
I noticed that the offer of Supersaver Tickets is not the same on different media at the same time. I mean, on the SBB app I got the message that my selected (and offered for sale) Supersaver ticket was no longer available. Immediately afterwards, I bought the same one via the SBB homepage on the desktop (100% same specification). This is annoying, especially when I’m on the road and have to buy via the app. I don’t want to imply intent, but I must have thought about it.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t reach anyone by phone. I used my son’s account to buy a Supersaver ticket for 14.08.22 Gossau Bahnhof to Zurich Airport at 6.44 am. Unfortunately, I forgot to change my name and my son’s name is now automatically printed on the ticket. What can I do? Unfortunately there is no tab to change this.
I travel sporadically from Pfäffikon SZ to Chur and back. To do this, I buy Supersaver Tickets. Before the timetable change, the line was operated by SBB with SBB rolling stock (double-decker trains), and the prices for 1st class Supersaver Tickets were between CHF 10-15 each way.
Since the timetable change, the SOB has been operating the line with FLIRT regional trains, which on the one hand, represents a massive loss of competitiveness compared to SBB rolling stock. In addition, the fares for Sparbilettes are now around CHF 21-25 each way. That shouldn’t be correct.
We always use economy tickets for our ski holidays.
I find it exciting when people complain about “discounts”.
To Paris for 39 francs, to Vienna for 53 francs or to Milan for 22 francs. The SBB advertise cheap train tickets for journeys all over Europe. But if a customer wants to travel at the advertised price, he is often disappointed.
Switzerland, unlike Germany, has it under control. The 9-euro ticket was a total disaster, and we have the idiotic Green Party to thank for that.
It is not really surprising that the 9-euro ticket did not have the expected climate protection effect. On the contrary, there would be even more traffic.
Initial evaluations show that people have not abandoned their cars despite the project. The results of the three-month ticket campaign are therefore rather miserable in terms of climate protection, if not even worrying.
Hopefully, the Foreign Minister was at least happy with the fact that people had to stand a little closer to each other. Maybe she needed it.
The next pipe burst from the socialist mothballs: The 9-euro ticket was supposed to relieve the citizens and protect the climate. Now a study has shown that despite the cheap ticket, Germans did not switch from the car to the slow train.
The 9-euro ticket was a good idea, but it could have been more practical. First, better conditions – more trains, equipment suitable for the masses … would have to be created. As an occasional rail customer, I now only use the Nightjet. Commuters have switched back to their cars because it is an imposition to have to travel home standing in an overcrowded train after a long day at work.
Look at Switzerland – most people there go to work by public transport.
Great article, is totally what I was looking for. Switzerland, I am ready for my ski holidays.
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web address. Does anyone know whether we can also buy the Supersaver Tickets from abroad?
I love it.
While you always have a free choice of a train with standard tickets in Switzerland, the SBB Supersaver Ticket is tied to a specific train. This means that when you buy your ticket, you are already committed to a connection from which you cannot deviate. If you miss the train, for example, because you arrive too late at the station, you need a new ticket. That’s a bit stupid, but it’s part of the deal.
I think the possibility of the Supersaver Tickets is very good. Thank you SBB.
I very often use the Supersaver Tickets. What is stupid, however, is the refund principle.
The intelligent own the world. People without computers and iPhones in this age have no place here.
SBB is top-notch and the Supersaver Tickets are a very good invention. I have already travelled first class to Lugano for less than 20 euros. So I treated myself to a good wine with lunch.
I think SBB does it very well. The new trains from Zurich to Lugano are pure luxury.
Selling tickets only via the Internet or mobile phone app is, in my opinion, an abusive competition because people who do not have a computer or mobile phone cannot buy such tickets. My husband, for example, is one of these people. So is it the case that people who don’t want to use such electronic devices can only travel by train to a limited extent or pay higher fares? This confirms that we will continue to travel by car since filling up the tank does not yet depend on owning a computer.
FAIRTIQ – the most straightforward ticket
This statement is emblazoned on the FAIRTIQ website, and it is indeed true. After downloading the app, you create an account, grant the necessary permissions (location access) and set up an account by entering your information and a means of payment. If you have a discount card, such as a Half-Fare Card, you can also register it. The easiest way to do this is with your SwissPass, then FAIRTIQ always knows which passes and cards you have and are currently valid. These are automatically included in the price calculation.
It is not only the selection of Supersaver Tickets that is causing a stir. On the new “SBB Mobile” app, which was launched in November 2016, Supersaver Tickets were initially prominently displayed. Now it takes a short diversion to call them up. However, SBB promises that this will be improved in the coming weeks.