I have searched the forums and cannot find the answer. Swiss Pass is confused with Swiss Travel Pass for tourists. As we are moving to Switzerland permanently I am trying to get Swiss Passes for residents. I read the explanation and registered on the site swisspass.ch but still cannot see how to get it online, the FAQ says get it at "all the usual outlets" - does it mean that I can only get it in person at a larger railway station? (smaller ones are unmanned)

Can be ordered online:

What do you need a Swiss Pass Half Fare Card ?
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...ravelcard.html

or the Swiss Pass GA/AG ?
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...passes/ga.html

Thanks. On this page:
https://www.swisspass.ch/faq?key=registration#common
it says:
"The SwissPass replaces the blue GA or Half-Fare travelcard and offers even more advantages than before. For with SwissPass Plus you have access to partner services such as Mobility Carsharing, PubliBike or SchweizMobil as well as winter sports facilities."

It sounds like Oyster Card (London) on steroids so I thought it would be a good idea to get them. I like the simplicity and having just one card for all.

Are there any drawbacks of the Swiss Pass idea?

I just noticed the price of GA card, WOW!! You have to travel a lot to spend this much on trains!

PS You cannot order it online if you never had a GA card before.

I'll be getting one next month when my old Halbtax runs out. It's a card that should allow more flexibility but it isn't loved. The conductors find it incredibly time consuming because it needs to be read on their machine and the idea of seeing its details using an online source is a real put off for many.

I'd be quite interested in hearing how commuters, etc., view their Swiss Passes.

No information on the website says that you must already have one.
You should be able to go through the standard SBB Ticket Shop process

They no longer even ask to see it, or scan it. When they read the QR code on my ticket on my phone they see my picture on their phone. Much quicker than the last iteration.

The Swiss Post now links your Swisspass to your online account. You logon with your email address and Swisspass password.

I’m not certain I like having all my eggs in one basket, but ...

I’m looking forward to the day ZVV add their Abos to Swisspass. The fewer cards I have to carry the better!

Remember it isn’t just trains, but rather pretty much every form of public transport in Switzerland. Personally I can’t make it work for me, but for people who don’t own a car it can certainly be a good value option.

GA cards for Seniors cost 2880 each, I assume this is allowing 50% off for Half Fare card?

There is no point having both. The GA gives you inclusive travel, the half fare (broadly) half price travel. The price for the GA is not contingent on having a half fare card.

Actually it's the bargain of the century. Free travel on basically all public transport throughout the country for considerably less than London commuters have to pay just for home counties to London. If you don't have a car, it's a no-brainer. If you do have a car then it's probably not worth while. But it make car/no-car a viable choice, especially in more urban areas

We don’t own a car and we have a family one plus Junior Card for NickatbaselJnr.

We could probably survive equally on a Zurich Zone 110 pass and Halbtax, but quite often we are travelling out of Zurich and it is convenient not to have to figure out the different local ticketing systems of various other towns in Switzerland, instead we can just hop on and off and not think about it.

So it is our one little luxury.

I’ve never totted up whether owning a car would work out dearer or cheaper. However since work is a 10 min bike commute, and Zurich is not very car friendly I think owning a car would be an inconvenience in the end.

Cheers,
Nick

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It does allow SBB to collect detailed data on the movements by all its passengers.

We don't own a car so this is the best deal ever. We also got one for our 13year old son so that he can travel on his own if he so wishes (vs Fr30 for the Junior Card which has the same privileges but must travel with one parent).

This Swiss Pass allows one to travel on most trains, ferries, gondolas, furniculars, trams and buses. However, on others you have to pay 50% for premium or private gondolas and ferries. The best thing is that you can also go to a few German border cities like Konstanz, Waldshut, Friedrichshafen too. Here's the link showing where it is valid: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/sbb/d...rrierefrei.pdf (scroll to the bottom right for details). Free travel on solid red, yellow, black or white lines. Half price for dotted red, yellow, black or white lines. Not valid for grey lines.

Also, you can notify SBB whenever you are away on vacation. They will refund you Fr10 per day (max 30days per year for refunds). Note that you have to pay Fr10 admin fee to process this. If your entire family is getting a GA each, then the spouse and child will both get a discount.

I love the fact that whenever it is foggy or rainy in Zug, we'll hop on the train to Lugano for some good pizza and gorgeous sunshine. The family gets to spend quality time catching up, and my son gets to finish all his homework. ;-) Win win situation.