It has been over a year since I planned my last trip and I can't remember some of the fine points of the SNCF site (including my user name and password, of course!)For the PREM fares, do you have to use the site in French? and are these fares only available on routes totally within France or could I book a Lausanne/Paris trip? Thanks! SueC1

Hi sue,

You can use the English language site.

You don't need a username and password.

I didn't see any prem fares for the few dates I checked. Full fare is 67E 2cl.

As far as I know there never is PREM's fare available for the route Lausanne-Paris. There are PREM's for Geneva-Paris though. Probably it has to do with the fact that GVA-PAR is a 100% SNCF operated line due to the agreement between SNCF and CFF (Swiss Rail)in spite of a few 10 kilometers of rail actually in the Swiss territory - so there is no Swiss VAT on this ticket) whereas LAU-PAR does include Swiss route (there is Swiss VAT). So SNCF is free to sell promotional fares on GVA-PAR but not on LAU-PAR.

If you go to the Prem's reservation page, you will see the list of departure/arrival stations available with Prem's fare. Go to "L". Lasuanne is not listed. Go to P for Paris. Lausanne is not listed on the arrival stations. That means Prem's fare never is possible on this route.

Last night I checked the SNCF site and out of curiousity I put my dates for June. I could actually buy the Prem tickets Avignon-Paris for June 23rd, but only if I travel after 6pm..

I could not find anything sooner..I rather wait and check the site again 2 months before June 23rd.

kismet:

Keep an eye out for the new IDTGV fares on the Paris-Marseille route, too. They're only 19€ each way. There are often IDTVG fares to Avignon, and if you can determine that the train stops in Avignon, you could just as easily buy a ticket to Marseille and get off early.

Great Info. Now...are you able to get Prem fares in person at the station, or do you have to buy them on line in advance?

Thanks for the tip St.Cirq..

Wren Prem fare tickets are available only on line.You must print the tickets .
Before you buy them , make certain that you know when and at what time you want to travel.
Be aware that if you miss your train , the tickets are worthless. No refunds or exchanges are allowed with PREM fare.

Thanks, Kismet. I will do this before I leave this June. Our fares last summer seemed a little steep!