Flexible return Geneva airport to Geneva Cornavin

[settlelad]

Is it possible to buy a return from Geneva airport to Geneva city centre (Cornavin) to travel into the city on a Friday in August, and return on Friday 7 days later, but without specifying the time of day.

Looking on sbb.ch, it seems like ticket purchases are for a timed train, although there appears to be some flexibility of any train after the one booked, but possibly only within an hour, it's a bit of a struggle to work out how much flexibility there is.

I know it's only a short journey (~7 mins), and I could buy a ticket when I get to the respective station (buying from a ticket office/machine may even take longer than the journey), but I'd quite like not to have to deal with purchase at the time/station and buy onlne/in advance.

In the case of the outward journey, flight delays and passport queues (EES) mean I can't be precise about which train I may need to get into the city.
In the case of the the return journey, I already have a ticket into Geneva Cointrin, and would just like to hop on the next train to the airport and not have to go and buy another ticket.

Any thoughts on the best way to purchase these online with flexibility on time of day, or the best way to do this? Many thanks. (If this was the UK, I'd buy an Anytime return, but I can't seem to work out how to do that for this Geneva journey, or if it exists)

 

[matt]

I'd suggest you buy it when you arrive on the SBB app.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Download the Fairtiq app and use that to pay. Just "swipe" the button in the app before starting the journey and "swipe it back" when you've finished. It'll then find the best price

 

[AdamWW]

If anyone like me was wondering if SBB had abolished flexible tickets, this appears to be because the SBB site is selling a local multi-mode zone ticket for this local journey.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If anyone like me was wondering if SBB had abolished flexible tickets, this appears to be because the SBB site is selling a local multi-mode zone ticket for this local journey.

I did think it odd.

Switzerland works like Germany in that if it's a Verbund area only the Verbund tickets will be available. It's probably thus better to buy it on the day. There are plenty of TVMs and a few booking office windows at the airport station.

 

[rvdborgt]

Correct, it's not an SBB ticket but indeed an unireso ticket for Geneva zone 10 (central zone). There's no return ticket and certainly none that's valid for a week.
The "single ticket" is in fact a network ticket valid on all public transport within zone 10 for an hour. The SBB app does sell it, but there are also ticket machines and a ticket office.

 

[Bletchleyite]

By the way I'm fairly sure any SBB ticket machine will sell a ticket from any station, you just tap the origin and select the different station. I'm not 100% sure about the Verbund fares but it'd be easy to try it out on arrival and get the app if not (for the way back).

 

[in_luzern]

And typically, if you select a return journey within a Verbund area, what you will actually get is a day pass for the selected zones, as Verbund day passes cost the same as two singles (there may be exceptions, but that's certainly how it works around Luzern and Zürich).

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, it is very similar to Germany... except that Verbund fares in Switzerland are valid on all Long Distance trains as well (and this is the only way to make the journey the OP seeks insight on...).

So there is no way of buying a fully flexible return half. You have to get one that's valid on a single day only (although it can be bought some days in advance, if that's easier).

 

[Mike395]

Worth mentioning that if you are staying at a hotel/Airbnb in Geneva you should get a public transport card valid for your entire stay, which also covers journeys from/to the airport.

 

[route101]

Yes, I don't remember return tickets from Geneva. A lot of Europe is one way tickets only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, I don't remember return tickets from Geneva. A lot of Europe is one way tickets only.

SBB does sell return tickets, but at twice the relevant single. I seem to remember they're day returns under a certain distance and period returns above it but can't 100% remember.

The Verbund areas however have their own policies, and like Germany this tends to mean day tickets are the main thing sold and these (like many UK urban bus operations) substitute for return tickets.

Return tickets attracting a discount against two singles is relatively rare across Europe, usually returns are just priced at two singles and are sold for convenience, though I think the Dutch do or did that. It was even the case when I was there frequently that a 6 journey "clippercard" just cost the price of 6 singles.

 

[Gaelan]

Return tickets attracting a discount against two singles is relatively rare across Europe, usually returns are just priced at two singles and are sold for convenience, though I think the Dutch do or did that.

There might be the occasional promotional fare that's a return, but standard Dutch tickets are priced as singles with no advantage to buying a return (and indeed the vast majority of people will use PAYG).

 

[DanielB]

It's quite some time ago, but Dutch return tickets where originally slightly cheaper than singles. That was abandoned in the introduction phase of the OV-chipkaart as that card works with single trips only.
There used to be a 5-return-ticket as well, which simply were 5 return tickets purchased in one go, which were slightly cheaper than a normal return.

Also on buses returns were common when paper tickets were still a thing.

 

[mad_rich]

It was a long time ago that I last flew into GVA, but there used to be a ticket machine in the baggage hall that gave the 1 hour ticket for free, for arriving air passengers. Is it still there?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was a long time ago that I last flew into GVA, but there used to be a ticket machine in the baggage hall that gave the 1 hour ticket for free, for arriving air passengers. Is it still there?

Unfortunately this is no longer offered.

 

[yorkie]

Worth mentioning that if you are staying at a hotel/Airbnb in Geneva you should get a public transport card valid for your entire stay, which also covers journeys from/to the airport.

True, but I've previously had to pay for the transport to the hotel. Maybe someone knows of a way to somehow get the benefit before arriving at the hotel...

 

[Nigel]

True, but I've previously had to pay for the transport to the hotel. Maybe someone knows of a way to somehow get the benefit before arriving at the hotel...

When I was in Switzerland earlier this year, most hotels (including one in Geneva) e-mailed me the transport pass in advance. In one place that didn't, I enquired at the Tourist Information Office, who said that you are allowed to travel from your point of arrival to your hotel and if challenged by a ticket inspector, just show your hotel reservation.

 

[AdamWW]

When I was in Switzerland earlier this year, most hotels (including one in Geneva) e-mailed me the transport pass in advance.

Yes I had that last year.

But I also stayed in an Airbnb in Bern which I believe is an area where you should get a transport pass in such accommodation and not just hotels, and didn't get anything at all.
Not that I needed it. But I could have had a brief trip on a double bendy bus for nothing.

 

[Richard Scott]

True, but I've previously had to pay for the transport to the hotel. Maybe someone knows of a way to somehow get the benefit before arriving at the hotel...

Both times I've been in past 2 years the hotel has emailed travel tickets in advance without prompting.

 

[duesselmartin]

station ticket machine offers flexible tickets, however a return costs double as a single, so there is no point.

 

[Siebrand]

True, but I've previously had to pay for the transport to the hotel. Maybe someone knows of a way to somehow get the benefit before arriving at the hotel...

I stayed in a hotel in Geneva in 2024. I received an email from Geneva Tourism three day in advance with a personal link to a form on their website. After filling in this form, I received another email with the Geneva Tourist Card as a PDF.

 

[johncrossley]

But I also stayed in an Airbnb in Bern which I believe is an area where you should get a transport pass in such accommodation and not just hotels, and didn't get anything at all.
Not that I needed it. But I could have had a brief trip on a double bendy bus for nothing.

I was offered free travel by my Airbnb host in Bern but I declined it because I already had a nationwide Saver Day Pass for both days.

 

[Gordon]

I'm late to this discussion as I have been on a circuit Soton - Norway - Iceland - NYC - LHR over the last 3 weeks.

However as an expert of 60+ years on Geneva (my family lived and worked in the area) I can sum up:

1) Swiss railway system has not had 'return' ticket of any kind in the modern era
2) If you stay in a Swiss city you should get the local city transport pass for the duration of your stay. However, staying in an Air BnB instead of a recognised hotel puts you at risk of not getting this benefit
3) In some of the Swiss cities, evidence of your accommodation reservation is enough but don't rely on that. Check with your accommodation provider as to which way you will receive your pass.
4) If you don't get the free pass, walk 5 minutes from the arrivals hall to the Airport railway station - find the ticket machines and ask it for a ticket to the nearest station of public transport stop to your accommodation.

 

[Alpine Rider]

The alternative is to simply buy a 3CHF pass which is available for 80 minutes travel across all Unireso/TPG transport modes (SBB train, bus, tram, trolleybus and Leman Express) 80 minutes should get you from the airport to pretty much anywhere on the TPG network out to zone 10.

 

[Porty]

When I was in Switzerland earlier this year, most hotels (including one in Geneva) e-mailed me the transport pass in advance. In one place that didn't, I enquired at the Tourist Information Office, who said that you are allowed to travel from your point of arrival to your hotel and if challenged by a ticket inspector, just show your hotel reservation.

The same applies in Basel and includes travel on the airport bus.