Changing an IC Economy ticket

Noseemee70

As part of a longer trip I have bought (via SNCF) a ticket on IC 972 between Interlaken and Basel in a few weeks time. I now need to travel on an earlier train on the same day. The SNCF receipt states that the ticket is “IC Economy” and that it is non-exchangeable and non-refundable but I wanted to see if this is really correct as I noticed they were wrong about another ticket. Is “Economy” equal to Supersaver (which I have read about) and if so is it impossible to exchange this ticket for an earlier departure on the same day? Thanks!

Krist

The ticket should show its validity.

If the ticket shows valid from dd/mm/yyyy 00:00 till dd+1/mm/yyyy 05:00 you have a flexible ticket. A flexible ticket can be used for a single trip on trains of your choice on the route during that time, so you would not need to exchange anything.

I though SNCF was still unable to sell Swiss tickets btw… Where did you buy your ticket?

Danhiel

Krist I though SNCF was still unable to sell Swiss tickets

Yes, it is again possible to buy Swiss tickets on the SNCF site. I made once a test, the ticket was emitted by Rail Europe.

Noseemee70

Thank you for the quick responses! It was possible to buy a ticket from Paris to Interlaken via Basel on the SNCF website. I now opened the ticket and it says “Supersaver” and the two adult tickets are for the specific train and say “Special conditions: The ticket is not refundable. In case of disruption (e.g. train cancellation), the ticket is valid on the next available service”. I assume in this case I have to buy new tickets for the earlier train? Or is it worth contacting SBB client services to see? The child ticket that I have bought is a day pass so that should be valid on any train. Thanks!

Ex-Bähnler

Noseemee70 in this case I have to buy new tickets for the earlier train?

Yes.

Noseemee70 Or is it worth contacting SBB client services to see?

No. Because you bought the tickets on the SNCF-website, SBB can do nothing for you.

Danhiel

Hello Noseemee70

I suppose that you could exchange the TGV ticket to arrive earlier in Basel.

If you could buy an exchangeable (semi flex) TGV ticket from Paris to Basel and a non-exchangeable non-refundable ticket from Basel to Interlaken in the same transaction, it is not logical. In this case, I suggest to ask the SNCF customer service to know why it was possible.

If you bought the tickets in two separate transactions, you have two contracts with their own conditions.

Kind regards
Danhiel