traveling with children younger than 6, need for reservation?

[est]

Hello, our group will be traveling with 2 children younger than 6 years old. As we are interested in the Gotthard panoramic express, will we need to also get seat reservations for them - since they do not pay for their ticket? Do not want to end up in a situation where they have to share our seats just because I didn't reserve/pay for them.

Also, I am considering the first class Swiss pass because firstly, the Gotthard express requires first class tickets anyway and also secondly, my main concern is not getting seats on busy rides or not getting seats as a family. This is considering the fact I have 2 young children and luggages, it is preferable we seat together. My itinerary is as such - Zurich > Lucerne > Lugano (via Gotthard express) > Grindewald > Zurich. Is the first class pass worth it? 

Thank you in advance for any advice!

[AuroraD · Accepted solution]

Hello @est 

If you want a seatreservation for your children then you have to pay for it. We recommend to do the reservations in the Panorama trains for the other trains it's normally not nessesary. 

In first class you will have more space and the seat are more comfortable. You can do also only a class change for a partial route. 

Greetings, AuroraD.

[est]

Hello @AuroraD 

Thank you for replying my question! Can I check apart for paying for the seat reservation, do we have to pay for the ride for the child below 6 for the panorama trains? I.e pay for the ticket fare of that route. If it just the reservation cost I am ok, but if we also have to pay for the ticket fare for the 2 children below 6, I probably will give it a miss then..

Best Regards,
Est

[FatimaH]

Hello @est 

Yes, as soon as a reservation is made for the child under 6 years old, it also needs a ticket for the train. Unless the child travels on the lap of an accompanying person, then it does not need a ticket and also no reservation.

Please note that in most of the panorama trains a reservation is obligatory (noted in the timetable).

I wish you a nice day.

Kind regards,
FatimaH

[AC2]

A follow up question: which ticket should I buy for a child under six to allow reservation? I wanted to make a reservation for Treno Gottardo. Via SBB web interface and mobile app I can enter a child as a passenger and it says the price is zero. At the checkout, the ticket just vanishes. If I try to buy it via sob.ch, it again sets the price to zero, but the purchasing process fails with an error "invalid price" (after I select the reservation as well).

[AuroraD]

Hello @AC2 

If it doesn't work online i recommend you to call us or do it a counter. 

Have a nice day. Greetings, AuroraD.

[AC2]

Thanks, but which ticket should I buy? Half-fare, same as for 6-16 kids?

[FatimaH]

Hello @AC2 

Yes, if you want to make a seat reservation for a child under 6 years old, you need to buy the same ticket as for a child 6-16 years.

Kind regards, 
FatimaH

[est]

Dear AuroraD,

Thank you for replying my question! Can I check apart for paying for the seat reservation, do we have to pay for the ride for the child below 6 for the panorama trains? I.e pay for the ticket fare of that route. If it just the reservation cost I am ok, but if we also have to pay for the ticket fare for the 2 children below 6, I probably will give it a miss then..

Best Regards,
Esther