Hi ackis,

Here is what the SNCF website says:

Obtaining tickets ordered by Internet, telephone or Minitel
When ordering tickets, you will be asked to choose one of two options :

Remote payment (minimum payment: 1 &euro. You may then opt to :


have tickets sent free of charge to your home, if your order is placed at least four days prior to travel (or seven days if you are resident outside France) ;


have tickets issued, up until the departure time, at any SNCF station, ticket outlet or automatic ticket machine. When collecting tickets, clients must quote their order reference and produce the credit card used to pay for tickets (this does not apply to pre-paid orders made using integrated credit card readers with the Magis minitel terminal).


Pay for tickets at the time of issue. Clients selecting this option receive a final date for ticket issue and a "booking reference" which should be conserved and quoted when collecting tickets from SNCF stations, automatic ticket machines or SNCF ticket outlets. Clients should also note that time limits for ticket issue are subject to variation.

I expect that they will give you a confirmation number, just as if you had bought the ticket online.

Looking at your original posts, I see that you are landing in Brussels right about now but I thought I would add this for others in the same boat. I actually did the very same thing a few weeks ago - my friend and I flew into Brussels and then left for Paris. I gave us 3 hours between the time our plane landed at Brussels National and the time our train left at the Brussels Midi station. Even though our plane was on time and the luggage/customs went quickly and smoothly, we were very happy we alotted the 3 hour period. We didn't feel rushed and had time to orient ourselves at the new airport and train station, which was a little confusing at first. Watch out for the 1st/2nd class cars - my friend and I got on the first car we saw (which happened to be 1st class) even though we had a 2nd class ticket. The guy who checked our ticket let it slide since we were getting off at the next station, but be careful anyways. Also, we took a TGV train which took us only to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, but it was simple enough to get into the city from there, plus it adds other time options to the Thalys trains.

Just to back up what ira said, you MUST show the credit card that you used to purchase the tickets. At least one Fodorite has posted a report about their highly frustrating experience about trying to pick up tickets without having on them the credit card they used to order the tickets...so don't change credit cards or use a card about to expire!