JulieVikmanis

If I pre-book a train with tickets via Capitainetrain.com (thanks for tipping me onto that wonderful site here) which are NOT non-refundable, non changeable PREMS tickets, can I use the ticket on any train on the route I've booked on the day I've booked for? e.g. if I booked a 7 a.m. train from Paris to Troyes and decide I'd rather take a later train (or an earlier train) can I just stamp my ticket and get on the train I have decided to take instead of what I booked or must I go to a counter and exchange my tickets? Are there names (like PREMS) for tickets with different types of exchange options?

kerouac

You just slide them into one of the yellow ticket machines and follow the instructions on the screen for the exchange.

You can see the exchange slot on this little video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZZk-uq9tp8

JulieVikmanis

Thanks. I'm afraid I've really gotten spoiled from traveling Swiss trains. Love the convenience.

kerouac

That's because most of the Swiss have unlimited passes for going anywhere in the country.

FrenchMystiqueTours

If you've booked non-exchangeable, non-refundable PREMS then they are valid only on those specific trains you have booked. You can not exchange your tickets at the counter because, well, they are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. You'd have to buy a new ticket. There are other tickets you can buy (more expensive than PREMS) if you think you might exchange or want a refund but you have to look at the specific conditions for each of those kinds of tickets.

FrenchMystiqueTours

For the Paris to Troyes journey other types of tickets are Intercités Loisir, Tarif Normal and Intercités PREMS First Class, but again, you need to look at the conditions for each of these tickets and when/how they can be exchanged or refunded.

Sarastro

The answer is that it depends upon the type of ticket you have. Some allow changes, some allow very limited changes but changes must be done prior to your boarding the train.

kerouac

The OP made a point of saying that non-Prem's tickets were to be booked, so there is probably little point in repeating the drawbacks of Prem's tickets.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Darn, I read that the other way around.

Michael

Non-PREM tickets can have reserved seats. For that reason, I would think that the ticket must be exchanged.

JulieVikmanis

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to use our trip to Troyes as a learning experience and book an Intercites Loisiers ticket and see what happens. Worst that may occur will be that I lose the cost of the ticket and have to book a last minute substitute but I will know more for future trips. Sure got spoiled with the Swiss system.