Help with zone upgrades or connecting tickets for existing travelcards.
Already have a Point-to-Point Travelcard or Regional Travelcard but your destination is not on a valid route or in a valid zone? Then you should buy a zone upgrade or connecting ticket. Find out how to do this here.
This depends on the type of travelcard you have.
With a Point-to-Point Travelcard.
Buy a normal ticket for the missing route.
With a Regional Travelcard (e.g. ZVV, Libero, TNW, Passepartout, etc.).
Buy a zone upgrade for the missing number of zones within a fare network.
Travelling to a destination outside of your fare network?
Go to your desired fare network and select the relevant ‘Extension ticket’ option.
Enter the additional route you require in the timetable (tip: refer to the zone map and validity).
Buy the ticket for the additional route required.
Via SBB Mobile.
Almost all Regional Travelcards are integrated onto the SwissPass and can be viewed under ‘Travelcards on your SwissPass’ in the ‘Tickets & Travelcards’ tab when you are signed in to the app with your SwissPass login.
If you then enter a connection within the same fare network (without Z-Pass), your Regional Travelcard will be automatically taken into account and you will only pay for the additional route. For this to happen, you must select ‘Zone upgrade’ under ‘Ticket options’ when making your purchase. Your Regional Travelcard will not be taken into account if you buy a “normal” ticket.
Tip: most fare networks have a maximum number of zones, and the zone ticket becomes valid for all zones when the maximum number is reached. You may therefore not need the full number of missing zones. Please refer to the rules of your fare network.
ZVV as an example: if your existing ZVV ticket or ZVV travelcard plus zone upgrade gives you a total of 8 zones, you are entitled to unlimited travel across the whole ZVV network (all zones) during the validity period of the zone upgrade.
You can buy a zone upgrade from a ticket machine, online at SBB.ch or in the SBB Mobile app.
Enter the additional route you require.
Buy the ticket and present it alongside your Regional Travelcard during the ticket inspection.
Please note the stopping points of your chosen means of transport.
In order to buy the right zone upgrade, you need to know where your chosen means of transport (train, s-bahn, bus, tram, etc.) stops. This is because on journeys that go beyond the borders of the network, zone tickets or travelcards are only valid until the last scheduled stop within the zones included in your ticket or travelcard. In this case, buy a ticket from the last stop your chosen means of transport calls at within the zones your travelcard/ticket is valid for.
Example: you want to travel from A to D.
Your travelcard/ticket is valid, for example, up to and including zone 30.
If your chosen means of transport stops at location C, you should buy a zone upgrade from C to D.
If your chosen means of transport stops in A and B, but not in C, you should buy a zone upgrade from B to D.
If your chosen means of transport is travelling from A to D without stopping, purchase a standard ticket for the journey from A to D.
The easiest workaround is the automatic ticketing function ‘EasyRide’ in the SBB Mobile app. All you need to do is check in, start your journey and then check out again. Any Regional Travelcards you have stored will be automatically taken into account and at the end of the day, the correct fare for the zone upgrade will be calculated.
Hello everyone, This afternoon I bought Saver Day Pass for my roundtrip by using the Bernina Express Train because yesterday a few people answered my question regarding if I could upgrade my Saver Day Pass to 1st class but only for my St.Moritz-Tirano leg (because my Tirano-St. Moritz route is 2nd class) Unfortunately, I didn’t find the option to upgrade my Saver Day Pass for my 1st class route so I’m kinda confused how should I upgrade only for my return journey ticket to Tirano? I just need it for my return journey. or is it possible if I upgrade on last minute on the D-day after I ride to St.Moritz in the Morning? Thank you.
Hello karixelleLink opens in new window. Use the SBB Mobile App or purchase the class upgrade ticket once you are here, at the ticket desk. SBB Mobile App: Enter from St.Moritz to Tirano. Select the connection Select the point-to-point class upgrade ticket from listed as additional offer. Purchase Class upgrade tickets are not available on www.sbb.ch. If you hold a Swiss Half Card, you can purchase it at half fare, otherwise choose a full fare. It is highly recommended to reserve a seat in 1st class. First check the availability of seats before you are purchasing a class upgrade ticket. Kind regards, Roland Link opens in new window.Image: https://static.community.sbb.ch/2026-07-14/1784035219-583150-a81d3b39-d259-4333-b0bc-8816da4302e0.pngLink opens in new window.
International travel: change ticket from 2nd class to 1st class
Hello everyone, I have ordered a ticket the Arth-goldau to Florence, Italy. But I forget to select 1st class when I order my tickets. I have a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass. How can I change my tickets from 2nd class seat to 1st class seat? Many thanks.
Hello Fooyejoak47Link opens in new window. Sorry @Tafunge25Link opens in new window. , your answer is not exact for Italy. No problem in Switzerland, you can travel in 1st class with or without reservation. But, in Italy, you need a mandatory seat reservation. If you also want to travel in 1st class in Italy, you have to exchange your 2nd class ticket. I don’t know if a class upgrade is possible or if you have to cancel your 2nd class ticket (unfortunately with a 20% fee) and buy a new one in 1st class. Discounted tickets may be not refundable or not exchangeable. I suggest to contact SBB by phone or chat, look at the bottom of this page: https://www.sbb.ch/en/help-and-contact.html Kind regards Danhiel
Hi there, I hope you are well. We are an older Australian couple heading to Switzerland and are booked for travel in September, our ticket details are. Libero Individual Ticket Zones 100 101 115 126 626 700 701 710 720 730 740 750 Your choice: Interlaken Ost via direct Ber I have just added the SBB Mobile App to my phone and notice we have a booking on two Trains on the 21.09.26 the 9.59am departure and 11.59am departure? Just checking if that’s because of the type of ticket we purchased - we can travel on either journey or i double booked? Thank you, will appreciate your response.
Trains are mass transit in Switzelrand, just like in Australia. The SBB network is the same size as the Sydney Trains network. And it operates on a “turn up and go” basis, just like in Australia. So to get from Interlaken you buy a ticket from Interlaken to Bern, and what you get is just a time and zone based ticket for the Libero tariff system. So you have unlimited travel on all public transit in the zones mentioned for 180 minutes after the time mentioned on your ticket. You can see the zone map here: https://www.mylibero.ch/sites/default/files/2025-12/Libero-Gesamtzonenplan-2026.pdfLink opens in new window. Public transit works like that in many places in Europe. You have a zone system, and to travel you buy a number of zones, and can use any public transit within those zones. If you have two tickets one with validity starting at 9:59 and another starting at 11:59 you did do something odd there. Are you only going one way, or are you doing a day trip? Because in that case buying a day ticket (which is twice the price of a single) is that best option, as that gives you a whole day of unlimited travel in those zones. Also there is absolutely no advantage, and quite a few disadvantages in buying such tickets in advance. This is mass transit. You can easily buy these tickets on the day itself. When I go to Bern I usually buy the ticket richt after I have put my hat on to get out of the door :-) Maybe just see if you can cancel the tickets. Your plans might change.
Do you have any questions about rail travel, tickets or travelcards? Book a free consultation at an SBB Travel Centre or make an appointment for a callback.
