MorganB's guide to booking SNCF French train tickets
Feb 22nd, 2006, 06:58 PM
#42
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Here's something else new and different. I booked PREM tickets as well as regular TER tickets for myself for a trip in March, and then a friend decided to come along with me on my trip, and I wanted to get her tickets on the same trains, same cars, etc., but two months after I booked my own tickets.
Called the SNCF number and got the nicest lady (in French - couldn't access the English site anymore, but no matter). She booked my friend on the same trains I was on (this was definitely not a possibility using the online service), in the closest possible seats at the best possible prices (PREM fares from Paris to Bordeaux, but not the super-cheap ones because it was way more than 30 days out).
Do use the SNCF number if you have any problems with the website at all. I have now called them a half-dozen times and every time gotten an incredibly helpful person who solved my problem.
Called the SNCF number and got the nicest lady (in French - couldn't access the English site anymore, but no matter). She booked my friend on the same trains I was on (this was definitely not a possibility using the online service), in the closest possible seats at the best possible prices (PREM fares from Paris to Bordeaux, but not the super-cheap ones because it was way more than 30 days out).
Do use the SNCF number if you have any problems with the website at all. I have now called them a half-dozen times and every time gotten an incredibly helpful person who solved my problem.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 09:02 PM
#43
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Can you list the phone number to call, StCirq? I have been trying that darn site (English AND French) all day and night and it will NOT give me a choice of how to receive the tickets (only option is mail), even though I have made completely certain that they are prem tix for two adults. I've already missed the cheapest fares and now I'm getting really furieux! I'm about to give up and decide to just drive from Paris to Avignon! I have NEVER seen such an inept website (except maybe the RATP one)... <mutter, grumble, grumble, curse> %$*^#&!
Feb 22nd, 2006, 09:50 PM
#44
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G33kgrl,
I dont have the number or I would give it to you. You know the form for the address is always there, no matter what the option? What matters is what options are given with the little radio buttons below the phrase "Confirm your order by paying online and choose to
quot; .
I dont have the number or I would give it to you. You know the form for the address is always there, no matter what the option? What matters is what options are given with the little radio buttons below the phrase "Confirm your order by paying online and choose to
quot; .
Feb 23rd, 2006, 06:07 AM
#46
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Thanks, MorganB. The problem is, I'm not <i>given</i> a choice; there are no radio buttons. It just says:
Confirm your order by paying online and choose to:
Receive your ticket free by post
One of the confirmation screens before that (the one where you choose whether or not to get the cancellation insurance--which I've tried both ways), lists the tickets as "PREM's" and when I first selected those tickets, the ticket description said "have them mailed to you or print online."
I'm trying to get 2 tickets (either 2 adult or 1 adult 1 senior, doesn't matter) from AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV to AVIGNON TGV on May 9, at 11:24. The train number is 5012. The 2nd-class PREM tickets for 2 people are 118E and 1st is 128E (which I'd prefer since it is only 5E more per person, but again, I have tried both types and get the same result). If only I could order them!!!!
Confirm your order by paying online and choose to:
Receive your ticket free by post
One of the confirmation screens before that (the one where you choose whether or not to get the cancellation insurance--which I've tried both ways), lists the tickets as "PREM's" and when I first selected those tickets, the ticket description said "have them mailed to you or print online."
I'm trying to get 2 tickets (either 2 adult or 1 adult 1 senior, doesn't matter) from AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV to AVIGNON TGV on May 9, at 11:24. The train number is 5012. The 2nd-class PREM tickets for 2 people are 118E and 1st is 128E (which I'd prefer since it is only 5E more per person, but again, I have tried both types and get the same result). If only I could order them!!!!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 06:19 AM
#47
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How strange. I put in the exact date, train etc and in addition to the mail option I got:
Print your ticket yourself to save time
Hmmmm I have no idea why you would get different results. Perhaps you are doing something slightly different? Did u leave the country as France? Are you starting out at http://www.voyages-sncf.com ? I wish I could make the booking for you! I found the phone numbers for the SNCF. Not sure if they are still good or not as I have had them for a while. Here they are:
08 92 35 35 35 (French)
08 92 35 35 37 (Italian)
08 92 35 35 38 (Spanish)
08 92 35 35 39 (English)
Print your ticket yourself to save time
Hmmmm I have no idea why you would get different results. Perhaps you are doing something slightly different? Did u leave the country as France? Are you starting out at http://www.voyages-sncf.com ? I wish I could make the booking for you! I found the phone numbers for the SNCF. Not sure if they are still good or not as I have had them for a while. Here they are:
08 92 35 35 35 (French)
08 92 35 35 37 (Italian)
08 92 35 35 38 (Spanish)
08 92 35 35 39 (English)
Feb 23rd, 2006, 06:45 AM
#48
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Going thru the www.thalys.com site, it DOES give me the option to print the tickets. Is it OK (legal) for a US resident to purchase tickets online this way?
The SNCF obviously just doesn't like me!! I even tried clearing the cookies and cache on my browser in case it retaining something from a previous visit.
The SNCF obviously just doesn't like me!! I even tried clearing the cookies and cache on my browser in case it retaining something from a previous visit.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:00 AM
#49
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St. Cirq and/or MorganB
I will need to purchase my 11 tickets in about a week. Still not sure whether I should try the website or try calling. For that many tickets I think I should try to contact SNCF as soon as possible to get the best fares, i. e. at 12:01am (6:01 pm here) 3 months prior to my departure date. Would I be able to get someone on the phone at that time? If not, how long would I have to wait?
St. Cirq, did you mean in your last post that the English phone no. that MorganB lists above did not work? Did you call the French no. she gives?
About getting the insurance, which I would like to have, the website says
<<L'assurance annulation " toutes causes " d'Elvia couvre le remboursement du billet non échangeables et non remboursables payé en ligne exclusivement (hors Billet Imprimé
.>>
I interpret this to mean that you can't get the insurance if you print your ticket. (Corollary: you can't print your ticket if you ask for the insurance?) I wonder, g33kgrl, if this is why you aren't getting the option to print? I know you said you tried it with and without the insurance option, but maybe it somehow held on to that choice and therefore did not let you print? If I call I'll ask about this.(I have just now seen the last post from g33kgrl. I'm glad you were able to solve your problem.)
Unless I hear otherwise from one of you experts, I guess I'll try calling the French no. listed above and, if that doesn't answer at that time, I'll go with the website and forego the insurance. Thanks again. B
I will need to purchase my 11 tickets in about a week. Still not sure whether I should try the website or try calling. For that many tickets I think I should try to contact SNCF as soon as possible to get the best fares, i. e. at 12:01am (6:01 pm here) 3 months prior to my departure date. Would I be able to get someone on the phone at that time? If not, how long would I have to wait?
St. Cirq, did you mean in your last post that the English phone no. that MorganB lists above did not work? Did you call the French no. she gives?
About getting the insurance, which I would like to have, the website says
<<L'assurance annulation " toutes causes " d'Elvia couvre le remboursement du billet non échangeables et non remboursables payé en ligne exclusivement (hors Billet Imprimé
.>>I interpret this to mean that you can't get the insurance if you print your ticket. (Corollary: you can't print your ticket if you ask for the insurance?) I wonder, g33kgrl, if this is why you aren't getting the option to print? I know you said you tried it with and without the insurance option, but maybe it somehow held on to that choice and therefore did not let you print? If I call I'll ask about this.(I have just now seen the last post from g33kgrl. I'm glad you were able to solve your problem.)
Unless I hear otherwise from one of you experts, I guess I'll try calling the French no. listed above and, if that doesn't answer at that time, I'll go with the website and forego the insurance. Thanks again. B
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:03 AM
#50
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Great! How odd that it wouldnt give you the print option. Yes you may book them this way and you might want to do it very soon as it is showing the last seats available at that fare.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:08 AM
#51
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On voyages-sncf.com if you are playing around with booking as go all the way to the order page without buying it will leave the orders in your basket. When you then go to order it will pull down all the orders for you. You didnt happen to have an older order or something you were testing in your basket? Of course if you deleted cookies that should take care of that. At any rate looks like you found a work around.
Have a great trip!
Feb 25th, 2006, 09:27 PM
#54
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I didn't have a problem up to the point where it says "By ticking this box I acknowledge having read the SNCF Conditions of sale and I accept them." You are agreeing that "Only residents of countries listed in Appendices 1 and 2 may book train tickets and/or rail passes online and pay for them at the time of order collection.
Residents of countries listed in Appendix 3, must pay online at the time of ordering.
Mt problem is that the USA isn't in any of the Appendices, or at least I can't find it. Am I reading this incorrectly or do I just ignore it?
Residents of countries listed in Appendix 3, must pay online at the time of ordering.
Mt problem is that the USA isn't in any of the Appendices, or at least I can't find it. Am I reading this incorrectly or do I just ignore it?
Feb 26th, 2006, 12:59 PM
#55
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Skiddy, its up to you. The official distributor for French tickets is RailEurope and tickets from them are much more costly than when booked directly.
People in the US book via the website all the time and travel on the tickets they booked. I have never heard of someone being turned away from boarding a train because they purchased their tickets from the US.
People in the US book via the website all the time and travel on the tickets they booked. I have never heard of someone being turned away from boarding a train because they purchased their tickets from the US.
Mar 1st, 2006, 08:37 AM
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MorganB or anyone who may know:
I tried to buy tickets on line. I never got a screen or button that allowed me to print until after I paid. Then it would not accept my info (the DOB kept populating with today's day) and the message said it could not print tickets after transaction was completed. They are Prem rate tickets. Can I get the tickets at the counter when I arrive in Paris? Also since I bought them so far out in advance (2 1/2 months) might there be a problem?
I couldn't get the train schedules I needed through the advanced search feature so went through train schedules and was able to find trains/tickets, etc. I have my e-mail confirmation but not the official tickets.
I tried to buy tickets on line. I never got a screen or button that allowed me to print until after I paid. Then it would not accept my info (the DOB kept populating with today's day) and the message said it could not print tickets after transaction was completed. They are Prem rate tickets. Can I get the tickets at the counter when I arrive in Paris? Also since I bought them so far out in advance (2 1/2 months) might there be a problem?
I couldn't get the train schedules I needed through the advanced search feature so went through train schedules and was able to find trains/tickets, etc. I have my e-mail confirmation but not the official tickets.
