Getting from Avignon to CDG -- need advice!
 

We're traveling to Provence in August. Getting there seems easy -- we arrive in the early morning and we'll take the TGV that leaves shortly before noon and goes directly to Avignon. We have 4 hours between when our flight is scheduled to land and when the train departs, which should give us plenty of time to get our baggage, go through customs etc. My question is how much time do we need to allow before our flight when we return from Avignon to CDG the following week? Our departure flight (to Athens) leaves at 7:30 pm, but there are only two possible TGV trains from Avignon to CDG that Saturday -- one arrives at CDG at 12:30 pm, which is 7 hours before departure, the other doesn't arrive until 5:34 pm, which is less than 2 hours before departure. Can anyone advise whether the later train is cutting it too close? We are flying on a foreign airline, which advised that we need not check in until an hour before departure, but I don't know how much time it takes to go through security at CDG etc. The airline will not allow us to check our bags until 2 hours before departure, so arriving 7 hrs early seems like a disaster. Are we better off driving back or can we take the later train? Any advice much appreciated!

I would never arrive at the TGV station at CDG only 2 hours before departure, let alone less than that. I always get there about 3 hours ahead, and don't really have that much extra time on my hands. And that's at the door where I'm supposed to be. You'll have to get from the TGV station to your departure gate first. Now flying within Europe, I don't arrive that far ahead, that is true, so I guess that is more like what you are doing. I'd aim for two hours, less than two would make me nervous. However, I would think that 5:30 pm things wouldn't be as busy (I could be wrong, I just don't think most people are flying out at that time of day).

It's a tough choice, as it's right on the border of being okay, and the times are so far apart. To be honest, I do aim to get at CDG 2 hours ahead for flights within Europe, so 5:34 is acceptable to me for a 7,30 pm flight. It would help if your flight out is within walking distance of the TGV station, though. YOu don't say what terminal you are flying out of? I think I'd risk arriving at 5:30. Security hasn't ever taken me over an hour at CDG, what can take a long time is the airline ticket window, in my experience. If you don't need to check bags and already have your airline ticket and boarding pass, I'd say the 5:30 would be okay.

Thanks Christina. We're on Aegean air and I don't know if they are within walking distance of TGV terminal -- I think Aegean is Terminal 1. I also don't know how long driving time would be (we'll actually be staying about an hour north of Avignon) to know if driving is a reasonable alterernative?

some of the terminals are a long-g-g walk. A taxi will take you to your terminal.

Do NOT take the one that gets you there only 2 hours ahead of time. Just don't. That said, I'm very surprised there are only those 2 TGVs between the two places. Have you checked for trains out of Avignon Central station?

Also check the trains from Aix or even Marseille - either would involved just a bit extra driving time vs. Avignon and might give you a much better connection in CDG...

-Kevin

I'd probably be too nervous to do it if it were a flight that wasn't frequent (ie, if it were an Air France flight within France and there were several more that day, I might risk it). I thought maybe if the flight were in 2E, or one right next to it, it would be okay. that isn't even the same terminal, though.

I also wonder if you are reading the train schedules wrong or getting wrong information. In august, there are trains to CDG from Avignon TGV at 7:47, 9:18, 13:41, and 14:16. That last one is the one that arrives at 5:34 pm. and the first at 10:57 am. However, there are two inbetween those, 9:18-12:29 pm and 1:41 pm-4:33 pm. I can't believe those are sold out yet. Now that was the first Sat in August, on the second there are slightly different times (there is still the 9:18 one and I think one at 13:41, and a couple others added due to the holiday. On 8/21 there is still the 9:18-12:29, plus a 12:10-15:31 train before the one that arrives at 5:30. Tickets are available right now, also.

where you are getting your train info from?

According to the official Aeroports de Paris site, Aegean flights from CDG to Athens depart from Terminal 1. Take the free 24/7 CDGVAL driverless shuttle train from the TGV station at Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.

The TGV that leaves Avignon TGV at 13:41 and arrives at CDG at 16:33 is the one I would choose.

We are leaving the second Saturday in August. I've checked the RailEurope website and the scnf site and I don't see a direct train that leaves Avignon TGV at 13:41 and arrives at CDG at 16:33 for that date. The only train between the two that I mention is one that connects in Lyon and gets in at the same time as the second train (17:34). I know that there is an earlier train on other Saturdays because I did check the rail schedules back when I bought my plane tickets, but the August schedule wasn't posted. Now of course that I can buy my TGV ticket for 8/14, I seem to only have a choice between a train that is 7 hours early or gets in less than 2 hours before departure. Am I missing something?? Do others see a train that gets in at 16:33 for 8/14???

Ooops, sorry, the link doesn't work the way I expected it to. There are trains at 12:10, 13:24, and 13:38

AVIGNON (84) - ROISSY (95)

Le 14/08 entre 12h10 et 13h38

Départ à 12h10 13h24 13h38
Durée 04h23 04h10 03h56

The SNCF site does list the 13:41 departure from Avignon TGV, but says that the train is unavailable for booking on 14 August. Since that train is available for booking on surrounding days, I imagine that it is sold out for 14 August.

I looked on the DB Bahn website and see the 16:33 CDG arrival leaving Avignon at 13:41 (direct, no stops). Details say "runs as TGV 9864 from Avignon to Marne la Vallee-Chessy then as TGV 9865". Try the link below:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

If I'm right about the 13:41 direct train being sold out, then here's a "Plan B." Take a TGV from Avignon TGV to Gare de Lyon, departing at 12:38 and arriving at 15:19. If you book ASAP on the SNCF site, you can still get a Loisir Reduit fare of €80.00. Take the RER D from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord, transfer to the RER B, and take it to CDG 1. The fare is €8.60. You'll easily be at CDG before 16:30. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure to get on a train that is going to CDG. Take the CDGVAL from CDG 1 to Terminal 1.

Sadly, the SNCF schedule shows the train that folks are citing for 8/14, but when you actually go to book it, the SNCF website says that it's unavailable. Since I tried to reserve my TGV tickets the day that they went on sale, I am assuming that while the regular Saturday schedule would include a train that leaves at 13:41 from Avignon, 8/14 seems to have a reduced schedule. In any case, that train is clearly not an option. So I am stuck with a risky 2 hr window or an unpleasant 7 hour window if we take the train. Does anyone know how long a drive it is from Avignon to CDG???

Viamichelin shows 6 1/2 hrs for the trip. On a Saturday in August, I might add 1 1/2 hrs for delays, lunch/pottie stops, plus an additional 1 hr to return the car & get to Terminal 1. Nine hours door-to-door.

Bad idea !!!

Stu Dudley

sfcccmd,

It looks like you were typing about the same time I was. See my post prior to this one.

viamichelin.com gives an estimated non-stop driving time of 6 1/2 hours.

One more option. If you like my idea of taking a train to Gare de Lyon but don't want to schlep your bags on and off two RER trains, then take Air France bus #4 directly from Gare de Lyon to CDG. Your bags go in the luggage bay. The fare is €16.50.

I would take a train to Gare de Lyon & taxi to CDG. I might even take a morning train, have late lunch at Train Bleu at the gare, then taxi to CDG. Very relaxing adventure. You don't want hassles & anxiety on flight day.

Stu Dudley