I am looking at a flight ( because it is cheaper than the options of Manchester - Zurich) that the first flight lands in Basel from Manchester and the return starts with a train journey from Basel to Zurich and then a flight from Zurich to Manchester.

Now actually I live in Zurich so for the return journey , it would be much easier IF I did not take the train BUT will I be allowed to take the flight IF I have not been on the train : Is there any way they would know ?

Has anyone ever done this type of rail/fly ticket from Basel and comment on my question. I cannot believe with on line check in etc they can check this .
Also where do you check you luggage in for such a rail / plane variant ?
Thanks

I have done this. There is no problem with getting on your flight even if you have not taken the train. From recollection the tickets were separate.

Have a look at Swiss AirTrain

Just read this .. so does not sound like anything I did or took! Seems like it may have changed ...

Done Basel to London a few times in the past couple of months including trips that start or end with a train between Basel and Zurich, and I've skipped the train trip a few times in both directions.

Flying UK to Basel via Zurich you have to collect your luggage at Zurich before your board the train and vice versa.

Only thing to really watch out for, especially if you flying Basel to UK via Zurich is to make sure you've checked in online beforehand.

It's still the same just the marketing is jazzed up. The check in office has always been there though.

To supplement Snoopy's reply, you don't check your luggage for the train, it's just like a normal train journey but the ticket's included in your airfare. Train ticket checking people scan the barcode, but I don't know if it's connected.

For anyone doing the full Zurich-Basel ongoing train part, the connections they give you aren't always the fastest - if you're prepared to change trains you can go a different route, I've done this without a problem (although no seat reservation, obv)

Now this is how I remember it. I didn't use the recommended train either as I wanted one that stopped in Olten so I could change to a local train to where I live .. all of which was no problem (and my ticket was checked and scanned).

PS on the way out, I didn't use the train at all, and again no problem at airport but had definitely checked in online before hand.

I also researched this a few months back. Apparently at one time there was only specific Zürich airport - Basel rail station trains that you could use with the ticket. There they could check just by having ticket collectors always on those trains, but then they changed the system to allow you to use any trains, from then they lost the ability to ascertain whether you'd taken the train segment or not...

Correct. I live in Basel and fly often from Zürich, using the "Air Train". SWISS has no way of knowing whether you've used the train segment or not -- and the best bit is, you get Miles & More points for the train journey (whether you use it or not, since SWISS doesn't know) if the flight ticket as a whole is eligible for Miles & More points.

Baggage check-in and collection is done at Zürich Airport. As snoopy1664 said, if you do want to use the train segment, be sure to check in online BEFORE you travel from Basel and print your boarding passes or get them delivered to your phone -- otherwise you will have no train ticket and will be liable to a fine (I've seen it happen). There is almost always a ticket inspection on the Basel-Zürich HB or Basel-Zürich Flughafen trains.

And finally, as planetali commented, if you want to use the train, you don't have to use the Basel-Zürich Airport direct service. In fact, it's never the fastest option -- the non-stop train to Zürich HB, then appropriate connection to Zürich Flughafen, is always faster but involves a change.