I'm sure this has been addressed before, but my searches haven't been successful. We're taking the TGV from CDG to Avignon. After much procrastination, at this late date it seems we can't get discounted fares. The cost difference between 1st and 2nd class is significant, but we will have just flown overnight from the US. What are the differences between 1st and 2nd class on the TGV? Is it worth the extra 73 Euros? Thanks for your input.

Really not much of a difference. There are fewer seats in 1st class cars and therefore more space. I have never noticed a significant difference in the comfort of the seat (unlike airplanes).

Hi MT,

It's only 3 hr.

Go 2 cl and use the money for a cab from the TGV station to your hotel.

Here is a diagram showing the layout of cl.1 & cl. 2 cars on Thalys trains, which are basically repainted TGV's modified to run on various national railways:
http://www.thalys.com/be/en/travel-g...train-diagrams

The seating layout should be pretty similar for the Paris - Avignon train.

Generally on trains, in second class there are four seats across the width of the train, and in first class there are three. The space between the seats is also bigger.
For an extra 50% in the fare, you therefore get about 10% to 20% more space. If you're exceptionally large, you may really need the extra space, but second-class seats are adequate for most people. I'd suggest spending the extra money on something else.

I am butting into this thread with a question ripit.....we have taken the train from Paris to Avignon. I am in the process of booking train from Marseille to BO for June. We have always had a table between us, it this 1st or 2nd. I looked at the diagram and put this into my favorites, good information, thank you.

When you book on the SNCF site, it lets you choose how you want to be seated -- side by side, face to face, with a table or not, etc.

In both first and second class, some seats have tables between them. It depends on the type of carriage, rather than the class.

Well since the first class carriages are in the middle of the train...sometimes 2nd class arrives at the station a tad earlier than 1st class and at other times 1st class arrives a tad earlier than 2nd class.

I prefer first class for longer trips, or when I'm moving with baggage. I always do second class for day trips. First class is just nicer, that's all -- it is on most European trains. It's often less crowded, quieter, more space, etc. ON some trains, the seats are more comfortable, also.

But if that money is really major to you, definitely take second class because it's fine. It's not like you're in with the chickens or anything. That 73 euro isn't the difference in fare for one person, I suspect, but two. One reason I take first class for long trips is that the price isn't usually that different, it is worth it to me. For Roissy to Avignon, the fare difference is around 35-40 euro per person on regular fares. It's only around 15 euro difference on PREMs. Sometimes you can even get a first class PREM as cheap as second class. You can actually save some just by going at a different time of day, also -- morning "rush hour" or around 8-9 am is about 15 euro PP higher than early afternoon, for example.

Actually, today I bought a 1st class Paris-Avignon for 45€ and a 2nd class Avignon-Paris for 20€ for my trip to the festival in July. The reason for the 1st class Prem's ticket was because the cheapest available 2nd class ticket for the train I wanted was 55€.

Yes, just like Kerouac I just bought Geneva - Paris return ticket. GVA-PARIS for 20€/2nd cls but I bought PAR/GVA in 1st cls just because it was the same 50€ as 2nd cls offer.

It should be mentioned: the SNCF website started its summer sale today, hence the 20€ tickets. Must be bought soon but valid until something like August 20 (but it depends on the route).

No big deal. For 3 hs. save your money