The kid will travel for free everywhere (on trains, buses, boats, trams, cable cars,...) whether you choose the Swiss Half-fare card or Travel Pass.

To use the half-fare discount : you buy half-fare tickets on ticket machines, ticket counters or on sbb.ch/SBB app, at any point until boarding. It is really easy, don't worry. You show both the ticket and the half-fare whenever asked.

As you discovered half-fare is always the first price shown since millions of Swiss people have it.

On Day 3 when buying Lucerne - Engelberg "return" you'll get a 7 zones ticket valid for the whole day, including on Lucerne buses. No need to buy another ticket.

Maybe this link will help : https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-switzerland.htm

So I’m looking at the Saver day pass, wow I have to buy this way in advance and set the day that it will be used.

I actually just booked my return ticket to the US as a more desirable flight became available. I will now fly back from FRA. This will give me one extra day whether it be in Lucern, Zurich or FRA.

I will probably still travel to ZRH late day 4 and need to hang out in ZRH day 5 or a nearby day trip. The only issue w this is most trains to FRA route through Lucerne so there’s some back tracking. I”d have to leave from ZRH in the afternoon on Day 5 for my US flight from FRA (2pm day 6).

When I priced the train from ZRH to FRA I got a quote as low as 48CHF. Could I buy a day pass and use that to get to FRA (It’s in Germany)?

Hotel wise I’d prefer ZRH than Lucerne due to my Hyatt status.

4 day SP is 49CHF more which is the cost of the ticket vs Half Fare to FRA If I go day 5 than morning of day 6)

Looks like SP is the way to go despite it probably being slightly more expensive. Previously the math was SP 292 (60 for Titlis) vs the 277 math with 2 day passes 29x2 + Rigi 39 and 60 for Titlis.

This is a difference of 15.

Yes German advance tickets are quite cheap on bahn.com.

Please note that Basel Bad Bf is the border point, from there Saver Day Passes, half-fare or Travel Pass is not valid. Either you buy a ticket Zurich - Frankfurt Airport or Basel - Frankfurt Airport, usually both costing the same.

Trains from Zurich to Germany do not go through Lucerne.

Saver Day Passes are a great deal since yes you have to buy them in advance (otherwise the price goes up to 39, 49, 59 CHF) but you can then travel unlimited across the country. Your dates are fixed and you do not need to decide where you're going until you board the train.

Now you decide whatever you want/need.

Thanks. I didn't realise that there were different conditions for the normal 1/2 tax Abo and the tourist 1 month 1/2 tax Abo when it comes to travelling with children. 

Yeah it took me some time to get that...

oh oh, i misinterpreted. I thought the entire ride from ZRH to FRA was free. I think i’m overanalyzing…

thanks for your time.