[SWITZERLAND] How to reserve the perfect seat on Zentralbahn Panoramic Lucerne-Interlaken Express

[@srdmont]

You are really great! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Ihcimil]

Thank you and happy holiday!

[@cookmaster3626]

Good Information with details. Thanks! Some Questions since I will be travelling in Mid August the busy season. 1. When the train comes i board and take an empty seat. How do i know it is Reserved or not. 2. Do they allow only seated passengers, or can you stand and travel if seats are full. Wont be fun standing and travelling but cant waste the time for the next train. 3. Do they accept Drivers Licence as a proof of Identity since I don't like to travel every day with the passport all the time in my hand. Thanks in advance.

[@Ihcimil]

Hi there! 1. There will be little cards stickers on the window of the reserved seats (which we noticed when we boarded a 2nd class car). For our first class trip with reserved seats, the staff came around to put on the stickers on our seat window much later during our journey. 2. I travelled during a low season, so i didnt see anyone standing throughout the train ride. Sorry i couldn't help with this question. 3. I am not sure if the staff accept drivers license or not. Throughout my switzerland trip when they do the random checking on trains, i was only asked to provide identity proof once (on this Panoramic Express) and the staff asked for passport. Therefore i do not know if drivers license is accepted or not. Hope you have a great time in Swiss!

[@cookmaster3626]

@@Ihcimil -Thanks for the time you took to respond. Sincerely appreciated.

[@milespalero]

This is so helpful. Is the train station for the panoramic ride in Lucerne same as the regular train?

[@Ihcimil]

Thanks! Yes, it is the same train station.

[@sonaliaggarwalmakeupartist162]

I am still confused which side of the train I should seat myself going from Luzern to interlaken ost and vice Versha trip . Can u pls clarify that . Am travelling this weekend

[@Ihcimil]

Hi there! I agree it is very confusing. If you want to reserve the seat, just go for the lowest row on the booking sheet. If you are not reserving, 1 thing that helps to orientate yourself is by observing the first class carriage (1+2 seat configuration) - the double seating is the side that is facing the beautiful lake views. Once you have confirmed which side then you can move to second class carriage sticking to that side (depending on what ticket class you are on). Hope that helps!

[@mferraro8737]

I reserved two seat on Zentralbahn Interlaken OST - Lucerne route.?Second class seats are way cheaper is cheaper than first class tickets. Just booked my seats two days ago.

[@Ihcimil]

Hi there, as far as i understand, the "reservation fees" are CHF16 on peak and CHF12 on non-peak season (from the website). Just making sure you have a "ticket" to board the train because that is what the staff is checking - and ticket is usually more expensive than the reservation fees. For me, i had a Swiss Travel Pass - this is a pass allowing user unlimited travel with swiss trains, buses, or boats. Hope you have a great time in Swiss!

[@mferraro8737]

@@Ihcimil We have a Swiss half fare card and Berner Oberland Pass. Berner Oberland Pass includes the scenic train which is Zentralbahn's Luzern-Interlaken route or vice versa.

[@lenlen4388]

hello, when us8ng the SBB app, and you are travelling from Luzern to Interlaken, what icon does the Luzern-Interlaken Express look like? PE? IC?IR?

[@Ihcimil]

It's PE

[@lenlen4388]

@@Ihcimil thank you!

[@AnupamMApte]

Thanks very helpful video. 2 questions - 1. Are you allowed to travel in 1st class with a 2nd class swiss travel pass if you reserve seats in 1st class? 2. Even for Lucern to Interlaken should I book the lower rows? I mean is it applicable on both side travel. Thanks

[@Ihcimil]

Hi there! 1. Yes. It was allowed to do so. We had a 2nd class swiss travel pass and we reserved for the 1st class car by paying the reservation fees online on the website. The train staff scanned our swiss travel pass tickets QR codes, and just had a quick look on our reservation slip (she didnt scan that). To make it easier to understand: Swiss Travel Pass = you can board this train Seat reservation = where you can sit on the train including the first class. 2. Yes - go for lowest/lower rows on the booking graph on the website while booking even from Lucern to Interlaken. In other words, this works for both directions. Hope it helps! Enjoy your vacation in Switzerland 😄

[@moonattack4745]

​@@Ihcimil This is incorrect. The reservation is not valid as a ticket. If you do not have a first class ticket you are therefore not allowed to travel in first class. It may have worked for this trip but please be aware that technically it should not have. Once again; a reservation is not to be confused with a ticket. You always need to hold a ticket of the according class when travelling. Otherwise who would bother buying a first class ticket, if you could just buy the reservation instead?

[@Ihcimil]

​@@moonattack4745 hi, thank you for watching. I am simply sharing based on my own experience.

[@moonattack4745]

@@Ihcimil No worries! I understand that and am aware that in your case you might have gotten away with it! But I just wanted to raise awareness to the fact that the rules state that you need a first class ticket, not just a first class reservation.

[@WilliamTanCM]

​@@moonattack4745@lhcimil Thanks for the video. May I just check I have bought the tickets from SBB website, how do I link my tickets to do the reservation here?