Other than the price, what is the difference in 1st and 2nd class on the TGV? Thanks for your advice.

In my experience, more room for you and the luggage, and nice fabric on the seats.

nicer fabric..

2nd class is 4 seats across (2+2); 1st class is 3 seats (1+2). There's also more legroom (distance between seats).

2nd class is likely to be noisier (more kids), though there's obviously no guarantee.

Later this month, I plan to take the TGV from Brussels to Nice and going first class. Do they serve a meal at your seat the way they do in the Thalys first class?

I believe this route is handled by a french TGV and in that case , no you would not have a meal at your seat. Only the Thalys and the Eurostar have meals at your seat included with the ticket.

I've never been on a TGV that served meals. There is always a café car (though it's not always open for the duration of the ride - for example, sometimes they don't open up until you're about 45 minutes out of Paris) that sells sandwiches and pastries and water and coffee and sodas - nothing terribly appealing and more than you'd pay if you picked up something ahead of time at the station.

Thanks for the headsup--looks like I'll be bringing along a picnic lunch.

We were really crowded last Sept. going from Paris to Nice in 2nd class. A man opposite me had his large dog under the table. The woman opposite my husband had her legs stretched out well into his space and she had put her rather large, high sack plunk on the table, again encroaching into his half, also cutting off much of our window view. Next time we'll try first.

Daph, how was the scenery on the ride? I know the scenery from Brussels to Paris quite well, but what was it like once you got about 30 minutes south of Paris?

The scenery is quite pretty once you get into Burgundy, but you really can't see it very well once the train gets up to speed--especially if you have your back to the engine.

I think you have more space in first class. The seateing density is not so high, each seat is a little wider, and a little more leg room. As a result the feeling is that the car is less crowded.

On the TGV runs I have taken, no meal served as part of the ticket price. But a vendor did come through the train selling food.

There was also a bar car/snack car.

We are a family of 5 that will be travelling on the TGV (Bern to Paris) and the Thalys (Paris to Amsterdam-Schiphol) in August. I think we are going to go first class (a little more room for the kids). We have a choice between seats that face each other or airline configuration (two behind two, one behind one across the aisle). Any thoughts? Is there less leg room in the seats that face each other? Also, any seat numbers to be avoided (not next to a window, etc.)? Thanks.

We took the TGV from Berne to Paris in 2nd class. It was only my husband, my teenaged son, and I. Our seats were facing each other and I think there was a table in the middle.
Second class was fine and it was comfortable. Funny thing is we boarded the train and found that our reserved seats were occupied already. The people sitting in them obviously didn't have reservations and decided to take a chance to sit there hoping no one would have the seats reserved. Well, they thought wrong and had to move but I don't know where; maybe to another set of vacant seats.

One other thing about first class: the cars generally arrive closest to the station, leaving you with a shorter distance to go with your luggage--and perhaps get to the taxi rank more quickly.

There is less leg room in the seats facing each other around a table because you are sharing leg room with the person in front of you. Your legs are basically intertwined but it is not really that bad. You just move your legs out of the way of the other person so you can both stretch them out. When I am traveling with more than one person I like the table arrangement because it is easy to have conversations.

If you dont want to talk to the people you are traveling with then dont get the table configuration. I dont think there are any seats to be avoided. Close to the ends of the cars can be a pain because you have to listen to the door open and close as people go through.

Does Europass mean 1st class autmatically? on TGV?

Our legs were not intertwined. Of course, if you should choose to do so, it is possible.

i'm traveling alone, have travelled without comforts by train on 12 hour trips and doesn't worry me because i can get out and walk anyway. BUT was thinking of TGVing from paris to marseille or montpellier and the idea of hvaing to share with a dog or luggage is a problem for me. In 2nd class is this really likely to see a dog (i don't have problems with seeing dogs for the blind) and isn't there luggage bays?

Yes, there are luggage bays--but presently they're blocked off for security reasons.