MorganB's French Rail SNCF Booking guide version 2
Mar 6th, 2007, 06:49 AM
#181
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MorganB, Didn't i read somewhere in this post that Prem fares usually can't be picked up at station? That was one concern. ALso, do you know if there is some deadline to pick up tickets x days after booking or before travel? Seems like i read this somewhere on sncf site? This ticket is for travel June 3 and we won't be arriving until May 31 in Paris. One other potential issue - will this ticket then have to be validated with credit card at station? Which may be a problem with US CC? Actually, BETS was pretty helpful - they booked the other 5 railpass couchettes for me - and was able to look up my confirmation number for the Prem fare (1 traveller - Mom not travelling on railpass) and it is in the system - so does make me feel little better....
Mar 6th, 2007, 09:02 AM
#182
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Hi VeeBee,
You can pick up your tickets anytime before travel up to as close as you can cut it and still get on the train because you have already paid for the tickets. At one time PREMS were internet only but thats changed so you can pick them up in the station. Your US credit card will work fine to pick up your tickets but only at the ticket window, not the automatic ticket machines. You must take your credit card used to buy the tickets and your reservation number to get the tickets. Its all good
You can pick up your tickets anytime before travel up to as close as you can cut it and still get on the train because you have already paid for the tickets. At one time PREMS were internet only but thats changed so you can pick them up in the station. Your US credit card will work fine to pick up your tickets but only at the ticket window, not the automatic ticket machines. You must take your credit card used to buy the tickets and your reservation number to get the tickets. Its all good
Mar 12th, 2007, 08:59 AM
#185
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We will be in France in June on the first day we can buy PREM tickets for our Sept trip. I will not have my PC with me, so can't order using the internet.
Can I purchase PREM tickets at any SNCF station? I prefer this method over calling them and having the tickets mailed to our Gite in France or to the US. On this thread, the following is the only reference I've found about buying them at a ticket office. I would like some sort of second confirmation of this.
>>Author: MorganB
Date: 08/21/2006, 06:03 pm
Hi Ferros. Prems cannot be picked up at the counter which is why you arent getting the option. You must print them, have them mailed, or buy them directly at the station or boutique<<
I understand that PREMs can now be picked up at the counter, but I'm trying to find out if they can be purchased at the counter.
Also, when I was doing a little planning yesterday, I noticed that starting April 1, Thalys no longer provides service from Brussels to CDG - only the TGV goes there after that date.
Stu Dudley
Can I purchase PREM tickets at any SNCF station? I prefer this method over calling them and having the tickets mailed to our Gite in France or to the US. On this thread, the following is the only reference I've found about buying them at a ticket office. I would like some sort of second confirmation of this.
>>Author: MorganB
Date: 08/21/2006, 06:03 pm
Hi Ferros. Prems cannot be picked up at the counter which is why you arent getting the option. You must print them, have them mailed, or buy them directly at the station or boutique<<
I understand that PREMs can now be picked up at the counter, but I'm trying to find out if they can be purchased at the counter.
Also, when I was doing a little planning yesterday, I noticed that starting April 1, Thalys no longer provides service from Brussels to CDG - only the TGV goes there after that date.
Stu Dudley
Mar 13th, 2007, 04:51 AM
#188
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You can have tickets mailed to the US if you call the SNCF directly. However, recently someone tried and reported that the agent told them they were no longer mailing them to the US. They were offered a pick up at the station option instead. I am not sure if this was just the agent who was wrong or a new policy.
Mar 13th, 2007, 07:04 AM
#190
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>>>Hi Stu, yes you can now purchase PREMS at the ticket windows and boutiques<<
Thank you.
I also got tickets mailed to me in the US - but that was about 6 years ago. We called the English number.
Stu Dudley
Thank you.
I also got tickets mailed to me in the US - but that was about 6 years ago. We called the English number.
Stu Dudley
Mar 13th, 2007, 05:06 PM
#191
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i'm the one who recently called - made booking and then when asked for address and gave US address - she said no mailing to US. She even went off to ck with her supervisor who confirmed no mailing to US "anymore" and offered for tickets to be picked up at a station with no problem. Wish they had mailed them - guess just depends who you get on the phone?
Mar 16th, 2007, 09:24 AM
#192
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Thanks to MorganB for excellent instructions! Last night I successfully booked tickets from Paris to Avignon for June, and printed them at home without a hitch.
The detail you provided made it almost a no brainer. Thank you.
In addition, I rechecked availability for the same time and route this morning to find the 25 euor tickets no longer available. New fares seem to be posted midnight France time, and are available here the evening before. If you are sure of your travel dates 90 days in advance and book immediately you can save nearly half per ticket.
One question. Should I be worried about Coach 18? It must be the caboose!
The detail you provided made it almost a no brainer. Thank you.
In addition, I rechecked availability for the same time and route this morning to find the 25 euor tickets no longer available. New fares seem to be posted midnight France time, and are available here the evening before. If you are sure of your travel dates 90 days in advance and book immediately you can save nearly half per ticket.
One question. Should I be worried about Coach 18? It must be the caboose!
Mar 16th, 2007, 02:35 PM
#195
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Hi Charnina,
Glad the instructions helped! Hope you have a great trip. Coach 18 is fine. The TGV are a bit strange in numbering. The first train set might be 1-9 and the second 10 - 18 but 18 might be in the middle. So the train would be :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10.
Or it could be in number order or 18 could be at the head of the train . You just never know. They connect the trains together at different stations and they come from different directions so 1 is not always in front. Just read the LCD screens next to the door and allow 10 minutes to walk the full length of the train.
Glad the instructions helped! Hope you have a great trip. Coach 18 is fine. The TGV are a bit strange in numbering. The first train set might be 1-9 and the second 10 - 18 but 18 might be in the middle. So the train would be :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10.
Or it could be in number order or 18 could be at the head of the train . You just never know. They connect the trains together at different stations and they come from different directions so 1 is not always in front. Just read the LCD screens next to the door and allow 10 minutes to walk the full length of the train.
Mar 20th, 2007, 05:54 PM
#196
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I plan to book PREM from Avignon to Roissy (CDG) for June 29 at the SNCF website. I have been watching the available trains, and interested in the 18h41 train. Somehow after June 8 this time schedule is no longer available, does any one know why? Thanks!
Mar 21st, 2007, 09:54 AM
#197
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Well, I screwed up. See my other post above where I said the agent would mail the tix to me in the US. She told me they would do it free of charge. However I didn't have my credit card with me so I needed to call back to buy the tickets.
That was two weeks ago. I called back today and now apparently they're not mailing them to the US anymore and I have to buy them through Rail Europe.
That was two weeks ago. I called back today and now apparently they're not mailing them to the US anymore and I have to buy them through Rail Europe.
Mar 21st, 2007, 11:53 PM
#198
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Jenblaz, You might give the Swiss rail site a try. I know they have online booking but do not know the ins and outs of it. It would probably be the same price as the SNCF site and they might offer rail station pickup.
Mar 22nd, 2007, 08:44 PM
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MorganB - I'm waiting for the days to tick over to make my ticket purchase - I want the Roissy - St Pierre des Corps route. We fly in at 13.00 and the train I want is 15.42 - I have figured after reading lots of posts that we probably have time to make it. My question is, as PREMS don't seem to be available on that route and the fares don't seem to vary that much, should I purchase ahead to collect at the station and risk not making the train, or purchase them when we arrive at the station? Does anyone know if these trains are ever totally full?
Any suggestions would really be appreciated!
Nerida
Any suggestions would really be appreciated!
Nerida
