AGM_Cape_Cod

Our flight arrives at 6:05am on Sunday in late June. It is reasonable to expect to make an 8:19 am train? The next train is at 10:16am. Also the Loisir réduit says that before the train leaves we can pay 10 Euros to change before the train departs. Would it be possible to buy tickets for the 10:16am and then pay the 10 euros to get on the 8:19am if we get there in time? TIA.

StCirq

First thing we need to know is what terminal your plane arrives at and whether you will have checked luggage or not. If you're arriving at aérogare 1 and have checked luggage, no, I wouldn't expect you to make the 8:19 train.

AGM_Cape_Cod

Sorry, not to be complete with my information. We are arriving in Terminal 2E with checked luggage. If we buy the tickets for the later train and all the stars are aligned on our side could we pay the extra 10 euros to take the earlier one?

StCirq

Well, the TGV station is in aérogare 2, so you're only a fairly short walk away from the station, but with checked luggage it could still take you an hour+ to be ready to walk there. If you buy PREM tickets, no, you can't change them even by paying extra; if not PREM tickets, I don't know - whatever it says on the tickets (I always buy PREM tickets, so am not familiar with other ones). What is the exact language you're looking at regarding the "Loisir réduit"?

AGM_Cape_Cod

I don't see that it says PREM. This is what it says by the rate: LOISIR RÉDUIT : Service d'échange et de remboursement gratuit jusqu'à la veille du départ, avec retenue de 10 euros le jour du départ, non échangeable et non remboursable après départ.

StCirq

Well, they're not PREM tickets. That means you can exchange or get reimbursed for the ticket for no charge if you let them know by the evening before your departure, and can do so with a charge of 10 euros on the day of departure, but cannot change the ticket or get reimbursed once the train has departed.

So it seems yes, if you miss the train, you can go to the window, pay 10 euros, and get on the next train (assuming there are seats, which there are likely to be).

StCirq

Sorry, I meant earlier train, not next train.

Sarastro

Give yourself at least 3 hours between scheduled CDG arrival and train departure. There is absolutely no guarantee that your flight will arrive on time. Immigration, baggage claim, and customs can easily consume 1 hour or more and if you miss the train, your tickets will have no value in most cases. In some cases, they can be returned for a percentage of the purchase price.

StCirq

Sarastro, she's bought tickets that ARE exchangeable. Read above.

Sarastro

StCirq, I read above. I am commenting upon that portion of the question which asks if an 8h19 train departure is a reasonable choice for a scheduled CDG arrival of 06h05. My answer should indicate that less than 2 hours between the scheduled arrival and departure is not sufficient time to give reasonable assurance of making this connection on any consistent basis.

AGM_Cape_Cod

I think I will buy tickets to the later train and hope that I can make the earlier one.

StCirq- is it best to get off in Bordeaux or should we go for a station before that if we are going to the Sarlat area?

Thanks everyone!

StCirq

Totally agree, Sarastro.

AGM, if you're picking up a rental car, get off in Libourne - it's considerably easier to navigate your way out of there toward Sarlat than from Bordeaux. You can get off even if you've paid for a ticket all the way to Bordeaux (maybe 15 minutes more train ride after Libourne), of course.

AGM_Cape_Cod

StCirq, do I have to change trains for Libourne? That is what it looks like on the SNCF site.