Could this TGV fare be possible?
Apr 19th, 2003, 09:32 AM
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Could this TGV fare be possible?
I received an unbelievable fare on the TGV in June going from Nice to Paris....only 25 Euro per person! The rate was so much higher with Rail Europe -105 dollars per person plus an additional 11 dollars per person for the actual reservation of specific date and seat. I have never used the TGV before so I feel like I must be doing something wrong on the internet site to have received such a great rate!
I had a few questions so I emailed SNCF directly. I haven't heard back from them yet and I am afraid that if I wait too much longer I might lose this great fare -if it truly is NOT too good to be true.
I would greatly appreciate it if those of you who are familiar with the TGV, and the SNCF website, could answer the questions I emailed SNCF directly. Please see a copy of my email message below.
Bonjour,
I am interested in taking the TGV #6172 from Nice to Paris on June 15, 2003, departing Nice at 7:15 AM and arriving in Paris at 12:51 PM. I have never before purchased tickets through the SNCF site and I have a few questions, please.
1) When I enter all of the required information necessary to make a reservation, I get a ticket cost of 25 Euros per person. This is for a second class ticket in non-smoking for the date and time mentioned above. Is this the correct fare and are there any additional charges?
The reason I am uncertain about this fare is that it would cost $105.00 per person for the ticket, plus another $11.00 per person for the seat reservation, if I werre to order these same tickets through RailEurope. This is a very large difference in price.
2) Is this fare applicable to United States citizens?
3) How would I be able to get a specific seat assignment?
4) How would I be able to guarantee that my seats would not be facing backwards on the train?
5) Is there a contact phone number I can call in case I have further questions or I have difficulty with my tickets?
I appreciate your time in answering my questions. I look forward to your reply and to traveling on the TGV this June.
Merci
Thanks again to anyone who can help answer my questions!
I had a few questions so I emailed SNCF directly. I haven't heard back from them yet and I am afraid that if I wait too much longer I might lose this great fare -if it truly is NOT too good to be true.
I would greatly appreciate it if those of you who are familiar with the TGV, and the SNCF website, could answer the questions I emailed SNCF directly. Please see a copy of my email message below.
Bonjour,
I am interested in taking the TGV #6172 from Nice to Paris on June 15, 2003, departing Nice at 7:15 AM and arriving in Paris at 12:51 PM. I have never before purchased tickets through the SNCF site and I have a few questions, please.
1) When I enter all of the required information necessary to make a reservation, I get a ticket cost of 25 Euros per person. This is for a second class ticket in non-smoking for the date and time mentioned above. Is this the correct fare and are there any additional charges?
The reason I am uncertain about this fare is that it would cost $105.00 per person for the ticket, plus another $11.00 per person for the seat reservation, if I werre to order these same tickets through RailEurope. This is a very large difference in price.
2) Is this fare applicable to United States citizens?
3) How would I be able to get a specific seat assignment?
4) How would I be able to guarantee that my seats would not be facing backwards on the train?
5) Is there a contact phone number I can call in case I have further questions or I have difficulty with my tickets?
I appreciate your time in answering my questions. I look forward to your reply and to traveling on the TGV this June.
Merci
Thanks again to anyone who can help answer my questions!
Apr 19th, 2003, 10:26 AM
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I'll do my best to answer your questions not based on personal experience but AVID (addictive) reading of this message board.
1)Raileurope is MUCH more exepnsive than purchasing directly from sncf.
2)The fare is available to anyone, but they will not mail your tickets to the US. You either have to pick them up in France (and have with you the credit card you used to purchase on the website) OR it has recently been posted that there's now a way to print the ticket off the website.
Not sure about getting reserved seats. Do a text search here for a thread called "Buying sncf tickets on line-question". It has about 40 responses. Pay particular attention to an early response by StCirq who discusses new low fares & the ticket printing option. Hopefully by reading further your seat reservation question will be answered.
Bonne chance.
1)Raileurope is MUCH more exepnsive than purchasing directly from sncf.
2)The fare is available to anyone, but they will not mail your tickets to the US. You either have to pick them up in France (and have with you the credit card you used to purchase on the website) OR it has recently been posted that there's now a way to print the ticket off the website.
Not sure about getting reserved seats. Do a text search here for a thread called "Buying sncf tickets on line-question". It has about 40 responses. Pay particular attention to an early response by StCirq who discusses new low fares & the ticket printing option. Hopefully by reading further your seat reservation question will be answered.
Bonne chance.
Apr 19th, 2003, 10:30 AM
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Hi, happy2travel! Yes, you are lucky to have come upon one of the new "prem" ticket fares. There are probably not a lot of them available so if you want it you should act quickly.
I recently got 2 "Prem" tickets for the previous (holiday) weekend and had to pay 60 euros each for Paris-Avignon.
A few caveats: these tickets must be prepaid and are totally non-exchangeable, non-refunable. You will have to choose the option of printing them out yourself on your computer. You will be automatically assigned a car and a seat. (reservation included)
I, too, was worried about whether these tickets would be valid for Americans, since there are indications elsewhere on the SNCF site that it is not intended for residents of North America and a few other places (Australia, I think). So I called the SNCF (011 33 8 92 35 35 39 - English) and was assured there would be no problem. You must also present a passport or other proof of identity to the conductor along with the ticket and you do not stamp them in the "composteur" machine. I am still a bit nervous about all the details but it may be worth it since these tickets are so inexpensive. I would advise you to read all the details about rules and regulations for these tickets on the website.
There is a place where you can choose whether you sit on the upper or lower deck, window or aisle and you can at one point select to face the direction the train is moving. You must click on "add services" to get some of these options.
Check it all out carefully and then decide for yourself whether any possible problems are offset by the lower price. But do it quickly or they may well be gone. Good luck!
I recently got 2 "Prem" tickets for the previous (holiday) weekend and had to pay 60 euros each for Paris-Avignon.
A few caveats: these tickets must be prepaid and are totally non-exchangeable, non-refunable. You will have to choose the option of printing them out yourself on your computer. You will be automatically assigned a car and a seat. (reservation included)
I, too, was worried about whether these tickets would be valid for Americans, since there are indications elsewhere on the SNCF site that it is not intended for residents of North America and a few other places (Australia, I think). So I called the SNCF (011 33 8 92 35 35 39 - English) and was assured there would be no problem. You must also present a passport or other proof of identity to the conductor along with the ticket and you do not stamp them in the "composteur" machine. I am still a bit nervous about all the details but it may be worth it since these tickets are so inexpensive. I would advise you to read all the details about rules and regulations for these tickets on the website.
There is a place where you can choose whether you sit on the upper or lower deck, window or aisle and you can at one point select to face the direction the train is moving. You must click on "add services" to get some of these options.
Check it all out carefully and then decide for yourself whether any possible problems are offset by the lower price. But do it quickly or they may well be gone. Good luck!
Apr 19th, 2003, 10:36 AM
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Sorry, I forgot to mention that the "Prem" fares are apparently only available on the Internet and must either be mailed to an address in France or printed on your computer. But if you call, you might ask about other fares that would allow you to pick up your tickets in France.
Apr 19th, 2003, 06:27 PM
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Mclaurie, thank you so much for suggesting that I search for "Buying sncf tickets...." This post was very informative.
Betty, thanks for your post! You made me feel better about purchasing the tickets on-line. And I DID IT!!! Everything seemed to print out fine. I have several confirmation sheets as well as my tickets printed out.
I did not see the "additional services" section that you mentioned so I don't know if I am sitting on the first or second deck. I did, however, check that I wanted to sit facing the direction in which the train is moving. I have no idea whether my seats actually do sit facing the right way, though.
I might try calling the number that you gave me, which I truly appreciate. I tried calling earlier today before I actually purchased the tickets. However, although I started out in English, somehow, after being told that I would have a short wait for an operator, I wound up in French. Maybe I'll have better luck next time.
The great thing about having to try and navigate my way through some French websites, and having to listen to French voicemail, is that I am picking up quite a few French words. I feel like it is definitely beginning to get a bit easier. That's great considering I knew absolutely NO French when I began planning this trip (aside from basic words such as bonjour, merci, etc.). I am so excited about this upcoming trip!
And I am so excited about the great fare I got for the TGV tickets! I can't believe the difference in price. The cost went from $247 for two people inclusive of reservation and mailing fees through RailEurope to a total cost of 50 Euros through the SNCF site. That's incredible ! Now I have more money to spend on other things.
Betty, I don't know how well versed in French you are so, if you are fluent, please just disregard this tidbit of information, but maybe it will help someone else. www.dictionary.com has an excellent language translator. You can translate whole paragraphs of information almost instantly! I have found it to be a great help, especially with purchasing the SNCF tickets.
Anyway, thanks again so much for your help! Have you already come back from your trip? If not, when will you be going?
Betty, thanks for your post! You made me feel better about purchasing the tickets on-line. And I DID IT!!! Everything seemed to print out fine. I have several confirmation sheets as well as my tickets printed out.
I did not see the "additional services" section that you mentioned so I don't know if I am sitting on the first or second deck. I did, however, check that I wanted to sit facing the direction in which the train is moving. I have no idea whether my seats actually do sit facing the right way, though.
I might try calling the number that you gave me, which I truly appreciate. I tried calling earlier today before I actually purchased the tickets. However, although I started out in English, somehow, after being told that I would have a short wait for an operator, I wound up in French. Maybe I'll have better luck next time.
The great thing about having to try and navigate my way through some French websites, and having to listen to French voicemail, is that I am picking up quite a few French words. I feel like it is definitely beginning to get a bit easier. That's great considering I knew absolutely NO French when I began planning this trip (aside from basic words such as bonjour, merci, etc.). I am so excited about this upcoming trip!
And I am so excited about the great fare I got for the TGV tickets! I can't believe the difference in price. The cost went from $247 for two people inclusive of reservation and mailing fees through RailEurope to a total cost of 50 Euros through the SNCF site. That's incredible ! Now I have more money to spend on other things.
Betty, I don't know how well versed in French you are so, if you are fluent, please just disregard this tidbit of information, but maybe it will help someone else. www.dictionary.com has an excellent language translator. You can translate whole paragraphs of information almost instantly! I have found it to be a great help, especially with purchasing the SNCF tickets.
Anyway, thanks again so much for your help! Have you already come back from your trip? If not, when will you be going?
Apr 19th, 2003, 07:32 PM
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Glad you got your tickets and are happy, "happy." My tickets are for June 7 this year so, no, I have not used them yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that what I was told on the phone is true and we will have no problems using them.
I do speak French but I'm still a big "chicken" when it comes to speaking French on the phone especially when the situation is complicated as mine was. (If you read my posts under the thread that mclaurie cited, you know what I mean.) That number I gave you, by the way, should connect you with a real person who speaks English although you might hear some French at the beginning. It only operates however during certain hours- I think 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, French time of course. If you do call try to verify again that Americans can use these Internet "prem" tickets and post what you are told. I still feel the need for some reassurance! And congratulations on beginning to understand French better!
I do speak French but I'm still a big "chicken" when it comes to speaking French on the phone especially when the situation is complicated as mine was. (If you read my posts under the thread that mclaurie cited, you know what I mean.) That number I gave you, by the way, should connect you with a real person who speaks English although you might hear some French at the beginning. It only operates however during certain hours- I think 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, French time of course. If you do call try to verify again that Americans can use these Internet "prem" tickets and post what you are told. I still feel the need for some reassurance! And congratulations on beginning to understand French better!
Apr 19th, 2003, 07:50 PM
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Yes, you are the lucky recipient of one of the fabulous new Prem fares! I just got back from France Thursday night, and I paid about three times more for my train tickets to the Dordogne because I bought them before the Prem fares were introduced, than I would have had I bought them under the new scheme.
For others purchasing the new-fare tickets, keep in mind that if your destination is on a line that ends at one of the Prem promotion fare destinations, but is before the final destination, buy the cheap ticket to the final destination. No French train controller is going to have a problem if you get off the train before what your ticket says is your destination. In other words, if you're going to some intermediary stop between, say, Paris and Nice, buy the cheap Prem fare and get off wherever you need to in between if it's cheaper (as it probably will be) than buying a ticket to your exact destination. Be SURE to check the train's schedule, though, to make sure it stops where you want to get off.
For others purchasing the new-fare tickets, keep in mind that if your destination is on a line that ends at one of the Prem promotion fare destinations, but is before the final destination, buy the cheap ticket to the final destination. No French train controller is going to have a problem if you get off the train before what your ticket says is your destination. In other words, if you're going to some intermediary stop between, say, Paris and Nice, buy the cheap Prem fare and get off wherever you need to in between if it's cheaper (as it probably will be) than buying a ticket to your exact destination. Be SURE to check the train's schedule, though, to make sure it stops where you want to get off.
Apr 20th, 2003, 09:07 AM
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Betty, I called SNCF today at the number you gave me. I had better luck this time and did get to speak with an operator.
Katrina told me that Americans can book these tickets and she reassured me that there is no special paper necessary. She said that printing it out on a regular white piece of computer paper is fine as long as all of the information fits on 1 page. I have to admit that this made me feel alot better since the one point I was worried about was that special paper the directions said was necessary.
Katrina further put my mind at ease when she pulled up my booking, repeated all of the information specific to my reservation, and then reconfirmed that the booking went through perfectly and all was well.
Betty, I hope that this makes you feel more at ease. Thank you again for your help with booking my tickets. And I wish you a fab trip in June! BTW, when are you leaving? My husband and I will be in France at the same time you will be there. I will leave the States on June 5 and will return on June 23.
Katrina told me that Americans can book these tickets and she reassured me that there is no special paper necessary. She said that printing it out on a regular white piece of computer paper is fine as long as all of the information fits on 1 page. I have to admit that this made me feel alot better since the one point I was worried about was that special paper the directions said was necessary.
Katrina further put my mind at ease when she pulled up my booking, repeated all of the information specific to my reservation, and then reconfirmed that the booking went through perfectly and all was well.
Betty, I hope that this makes you feel more at ease. Thank you again for your help with booking my tickets. And I wish you a fab trip in June! BTW, when are you leaving? My husband and I will be in France at the same time you will be there. I will leave the States on June 5 and will return on June 23.
Apr 20th, 2003, 09:10 AM
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Oops! Forgot to mention that they do not have layouts of the trains so Katrina couldn't tell me whether I will be seated on the upper or lower deck, or whether I will be seated facing forward or not. Just wanted to let you know.
Apr 20th, 2003, 10:33 AM
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Thanks, "happy," that does make me feel better. We will be in Paris June 4-6, taking the train to Avignon on June 7 for a week's stay in the Luberon, then on to Albi, Dordogne, Loire Valley, returning to Paris on June 22 and flying back to the States on June 24. So it looks like we might overlap a bit in Paris. E-mail me if you like at [email protected]. Maybe we could have a drink somewhere.
If your tickets look like mine you should have a notation about your seat assignment. Mine says "Voiture 8 Place No. 75 Assis Non Fumeur Duplex En Haut (upper deck) Couloir (aisle)." My seatmate has the window seat, "Fenetre." Don't know for sure which way we are facing, but I think most seats do face the direction the train is moving. (At least that was the case when I took the TGV from Avignon to Paris last summer.) Again, congratulations on snagging such a great fare. (I'll know next time not to travel on a holiday weekend!) Bon voyage!
If your tickets look like mine you should have a notation about your seat assignment. Mine says "Voiture 8 Place No. 75 Assis Non Fumeur Duplex En Haut (upper deck) Couloir (aisle)." My seatmate has the window seat, "Fenetre." Don't know for sure which way we are facing, but I think most seats do face the direction the train is moving. (At least that was the case when I took the TGV from Avignon to Paris last summer.) Again, congratulations on snagging such a great fare. (I'll know next time not to travel on a holiday weekend!) Bon voyage!
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