TGV tickets: flight delay?
Aug 24th, 2005, 12:30 PM
#1
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TGV tickets: flight delay?
Hello all,
My fiance and I are arriving at CDG midday on a Monday in late October. I am wondering if we should buy PREM fare tickets for the TGV to Lyon, even though our flight could possibly be delayed (in which case, the PREM tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable). If we were to buy TGV tickets when we arrive, what are the odds that there would no longer be seats available? How much would a last-minute TGV train from CDG to Lyon likely cost? (It looks like we can get one-way PREM tickets for 40 euro each.) Just trying to figure out how to weigh the variables here . . . Thanks in advance to any pointers you can provide.
Best regards,
Libby
My fiance and I are arriving at CDG midday on a Monday in late October. I am wondering if we should buy PREM fare tickets for the TGV to Lyon, even though our flight could possibly be delayed (in which case, the PREM tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable). If we were to buy TGV tickets when we arrive, what are the odds that there would no longer be seats available? How much would a last-minute TGV train from CDG to Lyon likely cost? (It looks like we can get one-way PREM tickets for 40 euro each.) Just trying to figure out how to weigh the variables here . . . Thanks in advance to any pointers you can provide.
Best regards,
Libby
Aug 24th, 2005, 12:49 PM
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If you're going to buy a walk-up ticket at walk-up rates why don't you buy it online with a reservation - these type tickets should be able to be used on any train for the overall validity time frame - often up to two months - you'd have to make another reservation but you wouldn't lose the cost of the rail fare. I waited one hour in line at CDG TGV station last Sep to get to the ticket window to make a reservation with a railpass. I couldn't use the automatic machines to do this - you can buy regular tickets at the machines but i think it was Christina, who usually knows what she's talking about, but maybe some other expert who said you couldn't use foregn credit cards at these machines. I don't know myself but you may have to wait in a long line - maybe the lines won't be so bad - it was weird they only have 4 out of about a dozen ticket windows open and then when i got to Aubrais, my local station (I did TGV from airport to St-Pierre-des-corps then local train to Aubrais) there were three ticket windows open and no one there. No way to run a railway but typical of SNCF staffing. (SNCF butt of lots of French jokes - like one that goes- three kids talking about their parents jobs:
1- my dad works at a bank - he gets off at 7pm and is home by 8; another says my dad works at an insurance company - he gets off at 5pm and is home at 5:30pm - third kid says: my dad works for the SNCF - he gets off work at 6pm and is home by 3pm!)
If you bought a changeable ticket and miss the train my understanding is that you can use the automatic machines to make a new reservation.
1- my dad works at a bank - he gets off at 7pm and is home by 8; another says my dad works at an insurance company - he gets off at 5pm and is home at 5:30pm - third kid says: my dad works for the SNCF - he gets off work at 6pm and is home by 3pm!)
If you bought a changeable ticket and miss the train my understanding is that you can use the automatic machines to make a new reservation.
Aug 24th, 2005, 12:55 PM
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If you don't want to risk buying a PREM that you may not be able to use, buy an online regular ticket to be picked up once in France. If you miss the train, you can use that resesrvation number to get a different train. Be advised, though, that there are two price tiers for train tickets in France - période bleue trains and période blanche trains. If you pay the price online for a période bleue train and then arrive and want to switch to a période blanche train, you'll have to pay a supplement.
Aug 24th, 2005, 12:57 PM
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You can still buy nonPREM tickets online, if that's what you want, for that date. That way you will be assured of a seat, and can go later if your plane is late as those tickets would not be nonrefundable.
As for the fare -- it's right online on the SNCF website. They show you the regular fares as well as the PREM fares.
However, PalQ is incorrect, I believe, in that you can use this ticket for up to two months. They used to have that rule, but SNCF has changed their rules within the past year (just sometime early 2005, I think), and now tickets are only valid for the same date. However, that should be fine for you, as you are not likely to be later than the same day and there are lots of trains to Lyon.
It will save you the time of standing in line, but if you do need to go on a later train, you'll need to stand in line to get the seat reservation, even if you have a valid ticket.
I did say you couldn't use American credit cards at the SNCF machines in the stations because you can't, as far as I know. I've tried mine and they have never worked and the SNCF clerk also told me when I asked about it that they will not accept US cards (I don't know about other nonFrance countries).
As for the fare -- it's right online on the SNCF website. They show you the regular fares as well as the PREM fares.
However, PalQ is incorrect, I believe, in that you can use this ticket for up to two months. They used to have that rule, but SNCF has changed their rules within the past year (just sometime early 2005, I think), and now tickets are only valid for the same date. However, that should be fine for you, as you are not likely to be later than the same day and there are lots of trains to Lyon.
It will save you the time of standing in line, but if you do need to go on a later train, you'll need to stand in line to get the seat reservation, even if you have a valid ticket.
I did say you couldn't use American credit cards at the SNCF machines in the stations because you can't, as far as I know. I've tried mine and they have never worked and the SNCF clerk also told me when I asked about it that they will not accept US cards (I don't know about other nonFrance countries).
Aug 24th, 2005, 01:01 PM
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I realized I made a mistake as if you buy a regular TGV ticket online, you will still have to stand in line to pick it up. It's only the PREMs you can print. So, you'd have to be in line to pick it up even if your plane weren't delayed.
From some other posts, the PREMs printing function isn't working now anyway, so that option is out right now.
From some other posts, the PREMs printing function isn't working now anyway, so that option is out right now.
Aug 24th, 2005, 01:36 PM
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Thank you all for the information -- you've been very helpful! It sounds like one clear advantage to purchasing full fare tickets in advance is having reserved seats for the train we hope to catch. But if we were to wait and buy tickets in person, would the prices for full fare TGV tickets go up between now and then? In other words, would it be advantageous to purchase tickets online now so as to avoid paying a higher price later? Thanks again for your help!
Aug 24th, 2005, 02:47 PM
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no, the regular fare wouldn't change, the only reason to do so would be if you thought it could be sold out. It also could save you just a bit of time if you have the train ticket and just need a reservation.
That seems extremely unlikely for midday Monday to Lyon that all seats would be sold out. I wouldn't worry about that part.
That seems extremely unlikely for midday Monday to Lyon that all seats would be sold out. I wouldn't worry about that part.
Aug 24th, 2005, 04:46 PM
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As I mentioned in another post today, it IS possible the fare would change, but not significantly. If you purchased a période bleue fare originally, then missed a train and wanted to book a seat on a période blanche train, you might have to pay a supplement. This happened to me and my kids when traveling on August 6 to Périgueux from the Gare d'Austerlitz. We got in about 2 hours earlier than expected and saw that there was a train that would get us to Périgueux 2 hours earlier than the one we had booked. We turned over our confirmation number and got changed to the earlier train, but not without paying a supplement of 25 euros, because our original train was one running during a "blue period" and the one we switched to was running during the higher-priced "white period."
It's a complicated system. Nonetheless, you're probably safe booking a midday Monday train to Lyon. I think only if you wanted an earlier train than the one you booked might you have to pay a supplement, because the période blanche trains seem to be ones at rush hours and when there is expected high traffic.
It's a complicated system. Nonetheless, you're probably safe booking a midday Monday train to Lyon. I think only if you wanted an earlier train than the one you booked might you have to pay a supplement, because the période blanche trains seem to be ones at rush hours and when there is expected high traffic.
Aug 25th, 2005, 05:03 AM
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Hi LL,
>...arriving at CDG midday...
Trains leave CDG for Lyon at 13:11, 14:03, 16:03, 17:03 and 18:05.
If you are arriving at 12:00, you should make the 16:03.
Waiting at the airport for an hour ought to be worth the 50-100E savings.
>...arriving at CDG midday...
Trains leave CDG for Lyon at 13:11, 14:03, 16:03, 17:03 and 18:05.
If you are arriving at 12:00, you should make the 16:03.
Waiting at the airport for an hour ought to be worth the 50-100E savings.
Aug 25th, 2005, 10:14 AM
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If TGV trains are full you can always ask for a ticket called "sur-reservation" (? exact name) that lets you on the train and then conductor will show you no-show seats or at worst put you in pull down seats between cars. Not sure of details but this was what it was a few years ago.
Sep 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM
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Libby:
I purchased and printed my own PREM ticket for a train from Paris to Rennes w.o any trouble. There was indeed something wrong with the print it yourself option. I emailed SNCF and a day later, I was able to but and print my own ticket with no trouble. I hope you are taking into account that your incoming flight could be delayed,in which case, if you miss your train, you cannot use the PREM ticket as it is valid only for THAT train..
Regards..
Luis
I purchased and printed my own PREM ticket for a train from Paris to Rennes w.o any trouble. There was indeed something wrong with the print it yourself option. I emailed SNCF and a day later, I was able to but and print my own ticket with no trouble. I hope you are taking into account that your incoming flight could be delayed,in which case, if you miss your train, you cannot use the PREM ticket as it is valid only for THAT train..
Regards..
Luis
