otto2

What is the difference between TGV tickets... Economy, Comfort and Premier?

I am planning to ride from CDG to Avignon... only a few hours. Is there a difference where I place my luggage?

How far ahead should I board?

Thanks.

Sarastro

I am only familiar with first class or second class seats. Within those categories, there are price ranges depending upon when you purchase tickets, from whom you purchase them, and if you want a refundable ticket.

If you are trying to catch a train after having made an international arrival at CDG, there are two board ticket purchase options:

1. Purchase tickets upon arrival for the next available train departure. Tickets purchased on the spot for Avignon can cost up to 115€.

2. Purchase tickets well in advance (prices start as low as 19€) and give yourself at least 3 hours between scheduled landing and train departure to cover unknown events. These tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.

There are luggage racks near the boarding points of each train car where you can place your luggage.

StCirq

Economy = 2nd class
Comfort = 1st class
Premier = PREM fares (discounted, often deeply, but nonexchangeable and nonrefundable)

ardithl

In response to your question about boarding the train: CDG is an intermediate stop on the train, so the train will be at the station for about 5 minutes. You need to be standing at the right spot on the platform to board your car when the train arrives.

When you board a train at the originating station, such as Paris, platform numbers are usually posted 20 minutes before departure.

ardithl

Economy, comfort, and premier are categories used on RailEurope. Premier is a refundable ticket, unlike Prems tickets (sold by SNCF) which are not refundable.

You will usually find cheaper tickets and more available trains on www.tgv-europe.com/en (do not choose US as your country, or you will bounce back to RailEurope).

Jeff801

Otto,

We did that connection a few years ago. It is an easy walk to the train station from any place in Terminal 2. You will not need to use escalators or elevators until you are at the train station, directly under the Sheraton.

If you are in first class you will be able to use a first class lounge on the east side of the waiting area. When you go to the platform where your train will be arriving, there are monitors which will show you the precise location of the car on which you are arriving.

There are luggage racks as mentioned by Sarastro. But, the trains are mostly double decker, and you may have to take your luggage up a short flight of stairs.

When you arrive in Avignon, you will be some distance south of the city. Car rental is on the right of the direction of travel, public transportation is on the left.

Christina

I thought those were Raileurope categories, also, not SNCF.

StCirq

Economy, comfort, and premier are categories used on RailEurope. Premier is a refundable ticket, unlike Prems tickets (sold by SNCF) which are not refundable.

Well, I never, ever use the Rail Europe site, and I know that PREM is an abbreviation for Premier (at least that's how SNCF introduced those fares way back when), so I just extrapolated from that. Appears I'm mistaken.

Otto, please don't buy those tickets from RailEurope if that's what you're doing. You've been given lots of good information thus far - use it to get the best deals.

PalenQ

Otto may want a fully flexible ticket if landing and then wanting to take the next convenient train and if plane late be able to change that ticket to the next train - the discounted tickets are non-changeble non-refundable I believe.


Q for StCirq - why do you say 'please do not buy thru RailEurope' - your obvious reason is a price differential so about how much more would Otto pay thru RE than the SNCF? Is it really as much of a rip-off as you seem to warn. And do you advise Otto to buy a fully flexible and changeable ticket because he is landing and heading straight to the train?

If traveling much by train around France then otto may even want to investigate the France Railpass as that can be used on any train - he would or should make the required seat reservation when buying the pass for the CDG train but if he misses if he is only out 3 or 4 euros to change it to another train as the pass would cover any train. But Otto would have to be taking several more trains and may be.

anyway great sites for loads of great info on French trains - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com

kerouac

The announcements in the stations in Paris request that you board the TGVs at least 2 minutes before the posted departure time.

StCirq

Here's why I suggest that, Pal. Full-fare refundable/exchangeable ticket is likely going to cost him 80-100 euro or more. A PREM fare from the SNCF site could cost him 19 euro, maybe 25. I would happily sit at the train station or elsewhere at CDG for an extra hour or two to make sure I got on a 19-euro train. I could have a decent lunch and a glass of wine and still be far ahead of the game.

kerouac

Actually, <i>Prem's</i> is a French playground elementary school term that means "Me first!"

StCirq

I've heard that, kerouac, but when those first PREMs fares came out, I'm almost certain they were calling them Premiers, with the abbreviation following.

kerouac

No way! -- it would have confused people wanting 1st class tickets.

StCirq

Well, it must be amnesia, then...

cornelius01

I have purchased Prem Tickets many times and they were always in 2nd class.

Sarastro

You can purchase first class PREMs just as easily as second class. I have seen first class PREMS which cost less than the remaining available second class seats meaning first class travel would be cheaper than second class.

However, the iDTGV tickets can be much less expensive than PREMs for a given route and time.

kerouac

I often buy Prem's 1st class tickets -- and sometimes they are weirdly cheaper than 2nd class tickets.

PalenQ

Well St Cirq for that price difference I would wait too - and if I missed the 19 euro train well I would be out 19 euros - can always buy a full-fare ticket? No as many TGVs going south IME are full up in 2nd class. so leave 3-4 hours fudge time if you have to go south by rail for sure or prepare to buy mega bucks for first class but that too can be booked up with PREM tickets Kerouac talks about

Christina

There is no prediction on idTGV compared to PREMs. they can be a little cheaper or can actually be more expensive, I've seen both those scenarios. But I do also often by 1st class PREMs as they are a good deal.

Actually, SNCF did say in press releases that the word PREM came from "premier" as the "first, best price" I read the press release. I don't think it could be confusing because no one cares what it means, they just know the word. I presume the playground word comes from the word premier, also. I never saw them call them Premiers, though, I just remember reading the press release and the point of it was to explain to the public what the word PREM meant, which is why I don't think they called them "premiers" as tickets, I thin it was the original press release when it started. I knew SNCF never used the term "comfort" and "economy" so figured that must be Raileurope and I knew Raileurope didn't sell PREMs. I think I'd seen those terms on their website, anyway.