Difference between 1st class & 2nd class?
 

I will be traveling this summer from Basel, Switzerland to Paris, France via train. Besides price, what is the difference between a first class ticket & a second class ticket? Thanks a lot.

This trip takes between 5 and 6.5 hours, depending on time of day and intermediate stops.
First class often gets you a slightly nicer bathroom, slightly wider and slightly cushier seats. It MAY get you a two-tiered train (although second class would still be available on it).
Both first and second-classes have smoking and nonsmoking cars. The dining car (if present) is available to either class. Otherwise a food trolley makes the rounds up the center aisle.
It depends on the level of pampering required for this length trip. I personally would rather spend my money on a nicer meal, accomodations or sightseeing.

I wouldn't characterize the difference as "slightly larger" on the first class. they are much larges seats, much more comfortable and generous with the cushion and reclines to a comfortable degree.

With a substantial amount of exhausting activities and insufficient sleep when travelling in Europe, we find that the price difference for a 5-6 hour comfortable train ride is always negligible.

First class will be air conditioned, second class may not.

First class might also be a bit less crowded.

Hi T,

If you are over forty, 1 cl is worth the difference.

I have yet to be on a train in which First Class was air conditioned and Second Class wasn't.

I've also never noticed much difference in the WC's either.

There are often fewer seats in the same amount of space in First vs. Second. Second usually fills up faster than First because it is cheaper so First is often less crowded.

The people who travel in First can be just as friendly and just as "local" as the people in Second; the former are simply willing to spend more money.

I wouldn't call the basics of travel, i.e., seats, seat cushions, windows, etc., "pampering"...I'd call it expected.

Only you can decide if it is worth it and here's one way to do so:

go Second and while you are on the train walk through the First Class coaches. If you end up wishing you were there then it would have been worth it. If you don't, then you made a wise money decision.

Enjoy your trip.

Singletail, last June we took an ICE train from Basel in which first class was air conditioned and second class was not. We had second class seats but after 15 minutes in that sauna (heat wave+fully packed compartment+non-opening windows=miserable trip), we upgraded to first class for the AC. The extra $$ was well worth it.
I have taken the train from Basel to Paris a couple of times and it's a fairly dull ride, not too much in the way of interesting scenery. First class will be less crowded and the seats are definitely more comfortable. In the summer months, when trains tend to be more crowded, I would go for the first class option if it doesn't make a dent in your budget. But whichever class you choose, be sure to get a seat reseration. Given how crowded the trains have been lately, I would take a reserved seat in second class over an unreserved seat in first (although a reserved first class seat would be best).
As for the drinks trolley, don't count on it as a refreshment source. On my train from Como to Nice on Tuesday, which was completely booked, by the time the refreshment trolley reached us he was sold out of almost everything except a few cans of peach soda.
Basel train station has a nice little grocery store--better to pick up a few things there (water, snacks, chocolate, etc). Or go to the food hall at the Globus department store (on the Marktplatz) and get some delicious gourmet takeout.

ICE trains are definitely air conditioned in both first and second class - that's why the windows don't open. If the second class is too hot, that's because the air conditioning isn't working properly.

Geoff, I'm perfectly aware of that NORMALLY both second and first class trains are supposed to have AC. But last summer they were having a lot of trouble with the AC systems and on the ICE trains, all the first class compartments got priority. Ours was not the only ICE train by any means to have AC in first class and none in second. The train conductor said there were similar problems on many other trains.

To All:
Thank you very much for the advice. Based on what my husband prefers, we'll probably be traveling 1st class. I would suffer and go 2nd but for the extra cost, he would feel it would be worth it.
On another note, BTilke, thanks for all your Belgium posts in other areas...they have been helpful to me as I plan my trip to Antwerp, Brussels, and Bruges.

I have reservations to Nice from Paris in June. I was going to get my seat reservations when I got to Paris-do you think I will have a problem? We are traveling in first class.