App finds the right public transport ticket for you: This is how fairtiq works

Traveling by public transport could be so easy – if it weren't for the vastly different tickets and fares in each city. A solution to such problems has been developed in Switzerland: an app called fairtiq.

It offers help with the sometimes confusing ticketing options for public transport. With a single swipe, the required ticket is generated, and you're ready to go. We'll explain how the app works and in which regions you can use the service.

Once you've registered in the app, all you have to do is open it at the station and wait a moment until the correct stop is displayed. Then simply swipe right and the universal ticket will start. Then you simply show the QR code to the ticket inspector, and that's it.

It's not even a problem if you forget to close the ticket when you get off. The new Smart Stop feature has also been added. You have to activate it manually in the settings, and then the journey will end automatically. If you haven't activated the feature, the app will still ask you after a while whether you're still on the train or whether the ticket can be ended. The cost will then be calculated and debited from your specified account.

If you're not traveling alone and want to purchase a ticket for your fellow passenger, you must first register them in the app menu under "Companions." You can then select them on the home screen before starting your journey and swipe right as well. Then you'll both be issued a ticket.

The app is generally only used for public transport, meaning you can't use it for train journeys across Germany. However, it's worth it if, for example, you're traveling to a foreign city and want to use the tram or bus there without having to dig through fare zones and validity areas beforehand.

This map shows all regions where the fairtiq app can be used. The red icons indicate all locations where you only use the app, while the yellow icons indicate where fairtiq is integrated into local apps. A pilot project is currently underway in the Halle region, marked with the blue icon.

The use is not limited to Germany, but is already offered in Austria , Switzerland , Liechtenstein , the Zlín region inthe Czech Republic , Piedmont in Italy , Denmark , parts ofFrance and the border area with Belgium and the Netherlands .

If you're traveling in a region that supports fairtiq and want to travel to another city that's also served by the app, you can use it for the entire trip. However, if there's a region in between where fairtiq doesn't offer services, it won't work.

It's therefore a good idea to check the website beforehand to see whether the app can be used in your region. In Italy, for example, fairtiq can only be used for single tickets, and only for journeys on Arenaways trains on the Piedmontese routes.

It's not uncommon for network disruptions to occur on train journeys through Germany. It's just annoying when the ticket inspector wants to see your ticket at that exact moment.

The people responsible for the fairtiq app have built in security mechanisms to prevent this from becoming a problem, they explain in their blog. "The app can rely on historical travel data to ensure accurate fare calculation," they state.

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