kappa, thanks for the info. Duo cote a cote wasn't a choice, it was indifferent, kiosque or carre--that's what had me confused I usually don't like choosing indifferent, either

It appears that the SNCF site is down for purchasing tickets online which I discovered after several attempts

Having Fodor's is such a help when you are presented by so many obstacles in planning something simple like purchasing a train ticket.

For me today, in trying to place my reservation I have had 1. the seat selection question 2. whether a train car allows smoking 3. having Capital One Visa question fraudulent activity of my card and now 4. finding the voyages-SNCF site down for online purchases.

Tomorrow should be a better day for me to buy my tickets, I hope ;;) Deborah

> Duo cote a cote wasn't a choice, it was indifferent, kiosque or carre--

Then I would think Duo côte à côte is no longer available (or the train you want to book does not have that seating?). You could try higher rates (if shown on the choice). They might still have Duo côte à côte. Then it's up to you to pay more for your preference or not.

Kappa, I tried your suggestion and as I am selecting seats on the first day these Premium seats are available for purchase, May 5, I checked all the more expensive seats in 2e classe and the options for all were indifferent, carre and kiosque.

Thank you very much for trying to help me though this.

I think all in all I'll just buy 1e classe tickets where I know the seat option duo vis a vis is available. I might even be able to sleep after our trans-atlantic flight on the train in 1e classe ;;) Deborah

Deborah, you may not need any more info but the following site seems to explain better than above mentioned site or all what I have written so far.

http://www.tgv-europe.be/europe/BE/e...hoix_placement

By the way, I tried to find your train but couldn't. Are you taking one of the few (or only one) direct train Charles de Gaulle TGV (Roissy) to Strasbourg departing about 07:00 in the morning? Most others seems to require 1 change. Just being curious. sncf site is not really user friendly, e.g. finding Paris Airport TGV station. I went to Swiss Railway site (that I am used to use), put Charles de Gaulle TGV and got the timetable right away even if you don't know the locality name Roissy. Also Strasbourg has no "TGV" station (like Avignon-TGV vs Avignon-Ville), it seems. Only one station (Strasbourg-Ville) for all the trains incuding TGV trains, doesn't it?

Ooops, my above post messed up your thread with the long URL. I didn't bother with tinyurl.com bacause usually somehow my posts don't get this problem when I post long URL's(don't know why). Sorry.

Thanks Kappa, yes, there are three direct trains for Roissy CDG2 TGV to Stasbourg, which I found thanks to Ira--we have a fairly long wait for the 12:56 train but it won't require getting into Paris. Something that makes my husband happy as he is just a little surly after a usually sleepless flight!!

My link (which did work with the tiny url) was the same one you gave but in French, it was good to see your English site.

Don't worry about the long link, at least it wasn't in the title ;;) you know how that throws all 50 threads around it off.

My post will just gently fade away but I've learned so much about choosing train seats!!! Thanks again, Deborah