Time to allow for catching TGV train at CDG
 

Hello all you travel experts. I am about to book TGV tickets from CDG airport to Avignon, and am clueless as to how much time to allow after we land. I understand that the TGV station is beneath terminal 2, but what I don't know is: (1)if our Air France flight from SF will arrive at terminal 2; (2) how much time it takes to go though customs, pick up luggage and walk to the train station; (3) how much time we need at the train station before boarding (can we get right on at the last minute or is there a check in procedure as in air travel).We are scheduled to arrive at 11:35 am., and there are trains leaving at 1:20 pm and 2:04. Are either of these times possible to make? The 1:20 pm train is preferable as it is 2 hrs and 40 mins as opposed to 3 hrs 10 mins to Avignon--but I don't want to make us frantic trying to make the earlier train if that's a squeeze. Any suggestions?

Since the less preferable train only takes 30 minutes longer AND assuming your AF flight arrives on time and your luggage comes off in a timely manner, etc...to be safe I would opt for the later train..and topping this for you to get other opinions

I, too, had the same problem for a United flight arriving CDG at 9:20A and whether we could make the 11:20 TGV from the airport. The suggestion I received (and what I plan to do)is buy an exchangeable/refundable ticket for the train departing around 2P and then if everything works out (flight arrivals, customs, luggage, transfer to TGV station, etc., etc.), we can exchange the 2P ticket for the 11:20 ticket. I don't want to be rushed and am not sure the time it will take to get from Terminal 1 where United will land and Terminal 2 where the TGV is. I don't want to sit around the airport until 2P, however, if we're able to exchange our tickets for the earlier train. I also prefer the 2h40m to the 3h10m train.

Hope all works out well for you!

Just one caution: while you can exchange your ticket for a different train, there's always the possibility that no seats will be available--the TGVs tend to run fairly full.

Similar situation... We are arrving on UA at 10:30 and need to catch a TGV to Bordeaux at around 1:30pm. I was worried we would be stuck sitting around, but it sounds like it may take more time to get from point A to Point B than I thought.

I have been looking at the maps on the Paris aiport site that is frequently posted here. Getting from Terminal 1 to the TGV station is not too clear.

We purchased Prem tickets, which I think are non-refundable... so hopefully we will have enough time.

Stephanie...what did you pay for the PREMS...I kept trying for prems and missed out...so we got a four day rail pass for much less money than 4 separate legs via TGV.
Stu T

On a trip last May I had to make the same decision. My plane arrived at 9:20 and the TGV to Avignon was at 11:24. I easily made the train and had time to spare. My flight arrived at Terminal 2.
Be sure to check with Air France to see which terminal yours arrives at. I even took a chance with a PREM ticket (25 euros) so I was a little nervous about the time frame. Maybe I've just been lucky, but on my many flights into CDG I've never had much of a wait after arrival. I feel sure you can make the earlier flight IF your plane arrives on time. But that is always a big factor.

Here's directions for getting from Terminal 1 to the CDG TGV station. Although I too fretted before arrival, it was absolutely not difficult.

Arrived at CDG Terminal 1 via United in September 2005. The plane was in the gate at 6:45 am, and I cleared customs by 7:00. No crowds, no hassles, just a relatively empty airport at this hour. I followed the well-marked signs for the shuttle bus to Terminal 2 and Gare TGV -- walking around the Terminal 1 perimeter hallway to Lift 20 (not a "Porte" or door, but still numbered consecutively with the preceding door numbers). Here there are half a dozen elevators, but unfortunately I didn't read the directions before entering the elevator -- and there is no indication once on the elevator for which floor you need to select. Anyway, selecting any floors above the Arrival level leads to parking, and the only level below the Arrival level is Departures (the CDG website and posts in this forum identify this level as the "Shopping" level, but I saw no signs identifying it as such). Selecting the Departure level took me down one floor, and once outside the elevator, signs direct you to Porte 22, where all the shuttle busses stop. I took the Red #1 shuttle to Terminal 2, and the third or fourth stop is the Gare TGV (all stops are announced on a text message board on the bus).

Hi all,

I suggest planning on a minimum of 2 hr after your scheduled arrival time to get to the train.

Your plane could be late, you could land somewhere in the boodocks, your luggage could be delayed, there might be lines at passport control.

If you get out quickly, the worst thing that could happen is that you would have to have a glass of wine or a cuppa while waiting for your train.

((I))

I paid 108 Euro for two, one-way, first class PREM tickets from CDG to Libourne (just outside of Bordeaux). We are picking up a car, spending the first night in St. Emilion, then driving through the Dordogne and eventually up to the Loire area.

We have been looking for PREM tickets from St Pierre des Corps (outside Tours) back to Paris, but they have not been available.

Rumseydog - Thanks for the info on the Terminal 1 transfer.

A little tip in the future. Air France, American Airlines and other airlines code share with the SNCF! You can book a plane ticket from San Francisco to avignon with a change to the train at CDG all for one price. The airport code for the Avignon TGV station is XZN. If you do it built into your plane ticket then if you miss your train they will simply put you on the next one not unlike when you miss a connection while flying. I know you can book a ticket on AA plus train online. Not sure about airfrance, couldnt get it to work on the air france site. you might have to call.

Here's the list of many train station codes:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ref...rain_stations3