outwest

I've seen a great deal for a flight from Victoria, BC to Brussels and returning from Amsterdam via Air France/KLM next March. When I proceeded further with the reservation I found out that the Paris to Brussels portion of the flight would actually be by train. This is the message I received: Your journey involves a connection to the train (TGV = high-speed train). When you arrive at Paris airport please pick up your luggage and proceed to the TGV train station at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2, where you will be issued a train ticket by SNCF staff members at the TGVAir counter.

I wasn't really anticipating this—has anyone done it before? Is it a problem—easier or more complicated than catching a connecting flight?

The ironic thing is we were actually planning on spending most of our time in Paris (we were in Brussels a few months ago) and were only using Brussels as an arrival city because the airfare was such a deal.

Any opinions or experience?

DonTopaz

It's actually easier and faster than catching a flight.

The TGV station is right at the airport. You don't have to go through the same security as for a flight. The train is enormously more comfortable than the plane, and you don't have to stay seated at various times. The TGV is the high-speed train (similar to Japanese bullet train), and the trip to Brussels is non-stop and takes less than 2 hours. You will not be delayed by air traffic, thunderstorms, or low clouds. And when you arrive in Brussels, you are downtown and not out in Zaventem at the airport.


Don
Owner ... Don Topaz Travel

rkkwan

I wonder how good AF is in checking whether people booking to Brussels actually get on the train or not. For example, over here, one will have an issue if booked on Continental with a AMTRAK connection at Newark and not get on the train (but of course, one can always get off at the next station).

qwovadis

www.seat61.com France CDG

piece of cake have done it

airtransat.ca great prices too

usually better than AF this year

but you will be fine very easy a nice ride.

qwovadis

But if you want to be in Paris skip it no worries.

outwest

Thanks for the replies—that sets my mind at ease. It did say something to the effect of, if you don't get on the train to Brussels you forfeit your return ticket, so we probably would go there for a night or two if we decide to do this. Mainly it just took me by surprise and I didn't want to book the tickets before fully understanding what we were getting into. We only plan to spend a week in Paris so a day or two in Belgium isn't really a problem—