Made SBB seat reservation, but "wagons" are unmarked

oferet · #1 01.01.2011, 17:38

Hi,
At several long rides (lugano, arosa), we reserved seats but never found them.
In the case of Lugano, they've joined two trains together so the wagon numbers were 11, 12, 13... on the first train and 21, 22, 23... on the second train. We had seats in wagon 3, so we had to give up and look for other seats.

In the case of Arosa (or Chur-Basel in specific), the wagons were not marked at all!

What's the justification for charging for such a non-service?

Longbyt · #2 01.01.2011, 17:44

Ask the SBB. I wrote to them about transfering timetable excerpts from SBB to my Palm and although I wasn't happy with their reply, at least I got one!

Snoopy · #3 01.01.2011, 18:55

	Quote:	oferet
	Hi, At several long rides (lugano, arosa), we reserved seats but never found them. In the case of Lugano, they've joined two trains together so the wagon numbers were 11, 12, 13... on the first train and 21, 22, 23... on the second train. We had seats in wagon 3, so we had to give up and look for other seats. In the case of Arosa (or Chur-Basel in specific), the wagons were not marked at all! What's the justification for charging for such a non-service?

If the ride was that long surely you would have seen one or the other "chef de train" (aka conductor / Kontrolleur / ticket collector). They would have either been able to point you in the right direction or, alternatively, give you some confirmation that the seat didn't exist so that you could reclaim the booking fee from the ticket counter. Without such a confirmation it may not be as straight forward as it could have been.

Mowvich · #4 01.01.2011, 20:27

Tbh, i have never heard about seat reservation when traveling within Switzerland (and i travel on daily basis), i think this applies only on international travel on TGV or Cisalpino

#5 01.01.2011, 20:30

	Quote:	Mowvich
	Tbh, i have never heard about seat reservation when traveling within Switzerland (and i travel on daily basis), i think this applies only on international travel on TGV or Cisalpino

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisezeit/r...it_kontakt.htm

The principal services:
ordering tickets and travelcardsreserving seats (Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe)
obtaining timetable information

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/faqs.htm#r16
Is it also possible to reserve seats online?
It is not possible to reserve seats online at the SBB Ticket Shop for journeys within Switzerland. We ask you to reserve the seats you require either at your nearest ticket counter or by calling Rail Service on 0900 300 300 (CHF 1.19/min. from the Swiss fixed-line network).

jrspet · #6 01.01.2011, 20:39

Reservations exists even for local routes:

See the bottom of this link

#7 01.01.2011, 20:47

Get it off your chest here?

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisezeit/r...it_kontakt.htm
bottom of page:

SBB Customer Service.
We are always keen to hear your ideas, suggestions and complaints.

Write to us at:
SBB Customer Service
P.O. Box
CH-3000 Berne 65

Freephone:
0800 401 401 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

oferet · #8 01.01.2011, 20:54

	Quote:	Snoopy
	If the ride was that long surely you would have seen one or the other "chef de train" (aka conductor / Kontrolleur / ticket collector). They would have either been able to point you in the right direction or, alternatively, give you some confirmation that the seat didn't exist so that you could reclaim the booking fee from the ticket counter. Without such a confirmation it may not be as straight forward as it could have been.

As far as I know, 15 minutes into the ride the seat reservation becomes void and anyone may take them, so finding a conductor later on is not going to retrieve the seats in any case, but I understand your point on getting an approval for a refund.