Hi all, how much time should we book out for a train ticket to Avignon from a CDG flight coming in to Paris on a Saturday morning arriving (if all goes well with connecting flights, etc.) at 7:25am. I am thinking we will have to go through Customs once we get there and getting luggage and anything else? I believe the TGV to Avignon is right in the same/connecting station? as the CDG airport?

Would someone be so kind as to confirm that I am thinking the right way and a time frame to book our train ticket down to Avignon. I am assuming it wouldn't be a good idea to just buy a ticket once we are ready to go to the train? I should pre buy it?

Thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

emh

Your best option is to buy your train ticket along with your air ticket. SNCF code shares with many airlines. This avoids the missed connection issues. If you already have your air tickets thats out.

To get the best price book ahead. You can get tickets as low as about 20 euros per person which is much cheaper than a full fare.

If you dont care about price, wait until 3 days before travel and make reservations on the earlier and latter train. You then show up at the train ticket counter with your reservation and buy the tickets. Doesnt cost anything to reserve and ensures you have a seat. Your reservation expires 30 minutes before your trip.

The TGV station is connected to terminals 2C,D,E and F. From 2 A and B you can walk via C/D to the station. From terminal 1 or 3 a shuttle transfer is required.

Assuming you are arriving in terminal 2 and have your tickets in hand by printing them at home... I personally feel that 2 hours is enough. However, if you dont want to have to sweat it if your plane is late I would allow 3 hours. Add another 30 minutes for a terminal 1 arrival.

Do a search for morganb and sncf if you need help and tips for booking your train tickets.

Hi E,

Tickets and schedules from Roissy to Avignon are at www.voyages-sncf.com.

Note that the TGV stops outside Avignon.

PREMS tickets are 48E.

You might make the 09:45. You will definitely make the 11:40.

PS

You can print your PREMS tickets online if you _don't_ buy the insurance.

The best PREM'S fare for this route is E25. To have a chance of getting one, book at voyages-sncf.com as soon as the 90-day "window" opens. They sell out quickly.

In October we arrived at CDG about that time; we choose the 11:40 and it was a nice wait...and a nice trip.
Don't be shy about "first class" on the TVG either...
We flew USAir and I think I remember we arrived at Terminal 1. Bit of a hike, but not too bad.

Thank you all, very much appreciated. We already bought our plane tickets so I will just wait for that 90 day window and then I think we will do the 11:40 just to be on the "relaxed" side. We pick up our rental car at the TGV in Avignon so I think that would work out fine.

Again, thank you.

emh

On a trip several years ago, we had reservations for a later train (I think we were going to Bordeaux). We arrived in plenty of time for the earlier train, and were easily able to switch the reservations, for a total cost of 5 euros. You can always do that if you arrive earlier.

Good info - thanks, all.

Oooooh, that's even better. Thanks!

I think you can only do that change for that price (which is just the seat reservation fee) if you have a regular fare ticket, not a PREM.

Christina is correct. PREM'S are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. You print PREM'S yourself. Leave France as the default country and do NOT choose cancellation insurance or you won't be allowed to print the ticket.

If you book a regular fare ticket, choose the option of picking it up at the station. Then exchange it for the earlier train if you arrive at CDG in time to do so.

Thank you everyone. It's been a big help. One more thing to cross off our list.

emh

Dear EHolden123:

This past September, I landed at CDG via an Air France flight from Newark, NJ (NY area airport). My flight arrived 35 minutes ahead of scheldule. My destination the same day via the TGV was Avignon. Weeks before, I checked the SNCF website to determine which train I would take to Avignon and from what venue i.e from CDG or Gare de Lyon. I opted for the train from Gare de Lyon rather than from the airport. The reason being, upon purchasing a PREM ticket, you lose any options in the event you don't make that particular train. If you miss the train you purchase a ticket for via SNCF.com and miss THAT train for WHATEVER reason, you'll have to buy a new ticket, at a much higher price. I wanted to give myself some flexibility and also wanted to have a decent lunch in Paris.

Which is exactly what I did. I took the RER-B line into Paris, had lunch at Le Train Bleu and with plenty of time to spare, caught my 2:20 PM train to Avignon.

Hope this helps somewhat..

Regards..
Luis

Luis, yes this does help. I think we are just going to book the 11ish one and take it easy and relax and enjoy the moment so I am not worrying that we are not "on schedule" the whole time.

Thanks!

emh

My wife and I have flown into CDG from IAD (Washington Dulles) via United the last two years (late September), scheduled to arrive in CDG at 7:25 am. For both trips we purchased TGV PREMS 90 days out for CDG (Roissy) to Avignon, departing at 10:10 am. On both trips, the plane arrived about 30 minutes early, customs was a breeze (virtually no wait at that hour), and even with the shuttle transfer to Terminal 2 (where the TGV station is) we were at the station by 8:30 am. Note we did not check luggage so didn't have to wait at the luggage carousel.

I think the above post is calling immigration customs. YOu don't even really go through customs at CDG airport when arriving from the US, unless you choose to and have something of issue. There is a customs desk over to the side, but it's easy to miss and you aren't required to go through them. You do have to go through immigration, of course, and that is where the line is.

I've never taken that long to get through immigration at CDG, either, whether arriving at 6-7 am or even 10-11 am. I think I've spent 15 minutes at the most on that.

>I've never taken that long to get through immigration at CDG, ...I think I've spent 15 minutes at the most on that.<

Our last trip, with 90 min to connect at CDG, we spent 35 min at Passport Control.

(another 40 min was spent in transit from left field to CDG2, and another 30 going through security.)

Everyone was lined up and THEN we were told we would have to fill out a yellow document.

We were supposed to fill them out as we got to the agent.

Being an extremely crass and rude American, I went to the agent's counter, took all of his yellow forms and passed them around.

That;s why it took only 35 min.

(Poor fellow was so nonplussed [gobsmacked] that he forgot to get angry.)

Ira, you always make my day...

emh

Interesting and useful info here, but what is big difference between regular seats and PREM ? We paid 1st class once and it was a waste of $. Thanks