As Black Friday in Switzerland gets into full swing, an incredibly lucrative deal has emerged from a rather unlikely place. Until December 2, one Swiss retailer is offering Half Fare Travelcards (Halbtax) for half the regular price.

Half Fare Travelcards in Switzerland

While the cost of public transport tickets in Switzerland remains among the world's highest, there is always one surefire way to bring prices down: the Half Fare Travelcard or Halbtax-Abo. The annual pass allows users to travel across the country for half the standard adult price. 

At 190 francs a year for the first year, and 170 for every subsequent year (120 to 100 francs for those aged between 16 and 25), it isn’t long before the pass becomes value for money. However, this Black Friday weekend newcomers to Swiss public transport will be able to get the travel pass for half the regular price - and from quite a peculiar place.

Half-price Halbtax offered by Swiss tech store

From November 25 to December 2, Interdiscount will offer Half Fare Travelcards for 50 percent off. The half-price Halbtax is only available online on the Interdiscount website, costing 95 francs for an annual adult pass, and 60 francs for a youth pass.

The code provided by Interdiscount can be inputted when purchasing a Half Fare Travelcard on the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) website, or while purchasing the pass at a staffed ticket counter. Technically speaking, the discount is aimed at new customers, but this is defined as “someone who does not have a valid Half Fare ticket on the first day of [the discounted card's] validity." 

Those who buy the ticket have until December 20 to purchase the pass with SBB. Its validity must begin between when the pass was bought and February 20, 2025.

Why is Interdiscount offering discount public transport tickets?

With Interdiscount, a subsidiary of Swiss supermarket Coop, having more to do with TVs and gadgets than trains and buses, some may be confused as to why such a good deal is available through them.

Speaking to Watson, a spokesperson for Alliance SwissPass - the company which handles ticketing in Switzerland - explained that the “campaign is intended for target audiences different from those who access the usual communication and sales channels [via the SBB site or app], with a view to acquiring new customers."

To get your hands on the cut-price Halbtax, check out the Interdiscount website.

Thumb image credit: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com