Anyone else with advice on TGV seating (face to face vs. airline style in 1st class)?

I agree with the poster who told you there may seem to be less leg room if you are facing another person, child or otherwise. Are the kids going to have headphones strapped on? If so, there is no need to necessarily promote conversation so go with the usual seating. On the other hand, if you plan to share food along the way, facing each other would be better I think.

We took the TGV from Paris to Avignon last year with our then 3 year old, who didn't require a ticket so she sat on our laps and in between our seats. We had the 1st class seats with the table in-between, and an older French couple sat opposite us, so the whole time I was worried that our daughter would kick their legs. We were constantly shifting around, trying to sit sideways so we wouldn't bump their legs. Also, the table was too small for all of us to share comfortably. On our return trip, we had the airline style seats (again 1st class), and this worked out much much better for us. So having said that, I for one would recommend the airline seats over the table.

I think the table is a pretty good size. Did you fold it out?

I had the table type seat from CDG to Avignon after an all night flight. I was so sleepy and trying to nap. I constantly had to worry and shift my legs around trying not to bump the young men across the table. I much prefer the other type seat, have had good naps in these before, Eurostar and TGV. I think the seats in 1st class, airplane style, are larger and more comfortable. The 2nd class airplane style weren't too bad. I really did not like the table. I also did not like looking into someone else's space/face constantly in front of me.

Once we had the table seats, with 2 very active kids across from us. (Their smart parent sat across the aisle.) It was a LONG trip.

Some of the first-class cars have separate compartments for business meetings, and there are also some with separate areas reserved for school groups. We're always interested in seeing what turns up.

MikeMazz - the difference between 1st & 2nd class on the TGV may vary depending on the season in which you travel and whether PREM fares are available for the train.

We generally travel in 2nd class in the off season, as we haven't found the minor difference between 1st & 2nd class travel worth the difference in cost. However, last week we took the TGV from Avignon to Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, each with a small carry-on sized rollaboard and a tote. I'd purchased our tickets online - PREM fares, for a train in the middle of the day.

When we got on the train, our car was already full with the exception of the two seats we'd reserved. The overhead luggage space was jammed, and we were lucky to find a small space for one of our carryons. We managed, but it was not the most comfortable three-hour ride with one rollaboard, two totes and two adults in two seats.

The 1st-class car ahead of us was sparsely filled, and there was plenty of space for additional luggage overhead. So in the future - at least as long as the baggage bays at the end of the cars are blocked for security reasons, I'll think twice before I automatically opt for 2nd class in the more heavily traveled times of the year.

Bhuty2003 - you asked about dogs in 2nd class. I saw three in our car, all very well-behaved.

>Does Europass mean 1st class autmatically? on TGV? <

If you have a 1 cl railpass you can ride 1 cl on the TGV BUT you have to buy a reservation.