I surely support the idea of fining people who use 1st class when buying 2nd class ticket as they take the seat of those who paid the 1st class seat to ensure they get a seat, especially for people with special needs (my case).
I take the S2 every day to Zurich and on my way back home it is extremely busy and hard to find a seat on 2nd class wagon. Since I`m pregnant and have motion sickness problems and back problems I buy the 1st class pass to ensure I get seated during my daily journey! I also pay 1st class when traveling to Milan every other weekend since the 2nd class wagon is extremely busy and really difficult to find a seat unless you reserve ahead of time.
I've heard about "eat for two", but "write for two"? I think, in general, no one has a different view about that, neither the thread opener.
Well you have my sympathy. It's expensive for a genuine mistake, I made one a few weeks ago on a bus journey. My own fault, should have checked rather than ask. Anyway I've learned me lesson.
How can you have first and second class on a bus?
Jim Crow returns.
Yeah ok but that happened a few weeks ago, not a few decades back
Hard luck. I've done similar things and felt really frustrated.
Not on S-Bahn and Regio trains... at least not in the 14 years I have been here. They have always had that little eye symbol that means you have to have a valid ticked before you get on.
You can still upgrade to first class on the train in InterRegio and Intercity trains I think, as they all have on-board staff as opposed to random inspections.
Not anymore, even Samichlaus and Schmutzli have to get their ticket before the train departs. A mobile ticked bought after the train left the station is not valid.
That is correct, since Dec 2011.
Even today, a lady living here in CH for over 22 years got caught unprepared / unaware that it was implemented 3 months ago. It was when I showed her the link that she relented and refrained from verbally abusing the Ticket Inspector, who fined her CHF90, a first ever for her apparently.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...-a-ticket.html
This was also discussed at length in other threads on here.
Ah, my mistake then... I had read somewhere else that you could still upgrade from Second to First on the train (provided you had a valid ticket before getting on).
Edit: no, I'm right: a little lower down on the same page http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...-a-ticket.html
Difference between regional and long-distance services.
On long-distance services (IC, ICN, IR and international trains), it is still possible to purchase a class or route upgrade on board the train without paying a supplement. The minimum price for a class upgrade is CHF 10. It is not possible to purchase ticket upgrades on regional services (RE, R, S, SN).
Klassenwechsel is still there though.
Dear Elena,
Why, oh why can't I groan at you??? We should catch up for /a bucket of/ Guinness sometime. I feel your pain... I miss Ireland so much and it's not getting any easier with time here:/ It felt like home there. Yes, I miss every dirty corner, wind that is always too strong, music on the streets every day and the country with all it's imperfections Not everyone can understand it I guess. Hold on there and wait... Will the Celtic Tiger ever roar again
And I thought Italians were homesick :-)
Garda? Garda Síochána? They are negotiators
Did you ever hear how they approach homeless on the street?
Something like: Dear Sir, would you please be so kind and consider relocation?
Miss it
This happened to me a few weeks ago.
I went into the train on second class, but when looking for a seat I reached the first class without realizing it (it does look the same) When the ticket inspector checked my ticket, there was no problem and I just paid the CHF 11.00 for the upgrade.
While waiting for a train I asked a conductor standing next to me about the reason for the change. He said they made the change so the conductors can get to more people to check tickets. The reasoning is that if people know there's a higher chance of getting caught they'll get a revenue increase from ticket sales.
It's probably just to stop iPhone users who never bought a ticket until they saw an inspector, and then they bought one quickly online.
Android users on the other hand get a big kiss and cuddle...
And a "there there" pat on the back.