Help with buying Prem tix on SNCF
 

Are there any of the SNCF experts out there? I've been trying to buy Prem's tickets through the SNCF website for weeks now going from Geneva to Marseille on December 29. Every time I do a search I get a message that says certain trajectories are not open to reservations yet. I've purchased Prem's lots of times through the site with no problem so cannot understand what the problem is.

When I enter the cities and dates, the 8:17 train comes up on the schedule but then when I try purchasing the tickets, it disappears and a train at 10:16 for 103.60€ comes up.

I started trying this 90 days before our departure date and have continually gotten this message daily. Does anyone know why? Or what the problem is with these dates? Thanks, I am starting to go nuts about this.

I've just checked on the French version and unfortunately I had the same thing. This 8h17 train exists but IMO it might be already fully booked.
The rate I found is 51.80€ on the 10h16 train(TER not TGV).
If you're already in France, try to go to a SNCF agency, they'll tell you why.

Good luck and happy travel :-)
coco

Coco, thanks for your info. I'm in Switzerland so maybe I will try at our train station.

You said that you were able to purchase prem tickets in the past. Were they from Switzerland to France? I never found out whether one can get prem from France to another country or vice versa. This is an information I would like to acquire for future trips.

New timetables for all of Europe will take effect around 10 December. I presume those timetables haen't been loaded yet and that is why you can't buy PREM'S even though you're within the normal three-month range.

Yes, you can get Prems in Switzerland by using the box at the bottom where it asks for country and then on the next page it asks for payment options and I always choose "Pay online in Euros" and then they mail the tickets to me, usually within 2 or 3 days.

Well, how bizarre that you can't buy tickets for the Christmas period until 2 weeks beforehand. Makes life difficult for planning.

I have bought Prem's tickets many times Geneva/Switzerland and Paris or Marseille.

I'm taking TGV for Marseille this Saturday for which I bought Prem's ticket for 25€ 2 months ago.

And voyages-sncf.com is really having a problem since a few days for me now. I cannot check prices and timtables for some time. The problem may be due to the timetable change above poster said or maybe due to a general change in sncf tariff system. They were saying after this change, SNCF tickets will be e.g. harder to change even for changeable/refundable ticktes(like it costs €10 to modify dates or train and so on) that users are very unhappy about.

I confirm that only the 10:16 train comes up for 51.80 trying today.

Hi B,

The 8:17 doesn't come up at www.voyages-sncf.com for any Sat in Dec except the 29th.

www.bahn.de only goes up to the 8th, but that train is listed there either.

It also doesn't appear on www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

I think that it might be a glitch.

Try calling SNCF:
SNCF tickets by phone: If you want tickets mailed to your home in the USA you can do it by buying by telephone. Call the English speaking agent at 011 33 8 92 35 35 39 or 011 33 8 92 35 35 35 and buy the tickets. Ask the agent to mail them to you.

((I))

beaupeep,

I don't think you will have to literally wait until after 10 December to book online. I think the new timetables will be loaded sometime in November. Unless you decide to call SNCF, I suggest that you check online once or twice a week until you succeed in being allowed to complete the booking process.

I just read on another board that booking on the SNCF site for 9 December - 10 January will open tomorrow.

kerouac, how did you get 50-something? I keep getting 103.60. And I will try tomorrow since you say they will put in the schedule/prices then, TimS. I don't try once or twice a week but once or twice a day!

103.60 would be the round trip -- or else tickets for 2 people.

Duh, you're right! It is for me and my husband!

beaupeep,


It is now 11 October in France and booking is open for 29 December. You can get a PREM'S fare of €25 on a Geneve-Marseille TGV if you act fast.

Ira--Question--can you call SNCF from US and have tickets mailed here and still receive Prem's fares?

JR

Hooray, thanks for all of your help - I just bought them for 25€ each and they are on their way to me here in Switzerland.