Point to Point travel card is way more expensive than the GA, is this a mistake?

Joockoiyoa61

While I was checking for potential reductions on a regular point to point travel, I stumbled upon a discrepancy: an annual point to point travelcard for the 2nd class between “Zürich HB - Interlaken, Ost” is (significantly) more expensive than the 2nd GA travelcard (5805 CHF vs 3995 CHF), which can be used anywhere, not just on a certain route. Is this a mistake?

RolandP

Hello Joockoiyoa61

This is not a mistake, it is by design.
All depends on the route you are travelling. Simply grab what suits you best and do not overthink the tariff.

Kind regards,
Roland

Joockoiyoa61

RolandP But why would anyone pay 1810 CHF more, to have a way more restricted travelcard? With the GA you can travel on that point to point route AND in the entire country, for 1810 CHF cheaper than what that point to point travelcard costs. If this is by design, I don’t see the point.

RolandP

Hello Joockoiyoa61

Because this type of ticket is calculated on kilometers, plus it includes a surcharge for the fast route from Olten to Bern, that explains the variable cost, while the GA has got a fixed price.

The cheapest way from ZUE to IO is, by the way, via Lucerne.

For example, commuters from Lucerne to Zug, or from Basel to Olten definitely use the Streckenabo because the GA is more expensive.
SBB is very transparent on their product website about that fact; see below, where it reads “it is worth …”.

This is why we always recommend to carefully compare the different ticket offers.

Krist

But why does this travel card even exist? It makes no sense for someone to buy a p-t-p travelcard when a GA is cheaper.

If it makes no sense for someone to buy this product, then it follows that it also makes no sense for SBB to offer it. Logically they should just cap the prices for travelcard at the level of a GA.

Danhiel

Krist Logically they should just cap the prices for travelcard at the level of a GA.

It is probably not possible to cap the prices, because the system don’t know how old you are or if you could have any other discount. You have a lot of different prices for the GA (Adults, Seniors, Youth, 25 years old, Family, etc). A GA may be cheaper for seniors but not for adults.

RolandP

Krist

You mean the same behaviour as when you purchase a p2p-ticket and the system suggests the SDP?

Yeah, it would simply need someone to program a routine/check, that is indeed not that trivial (@Danhiel pointed it out). Assuming the low number of Streckenabos sold online would probably not make worth the effort. People who want to purchase a travel card inform themselves about the different options available before purchasing, just as the OP, too.