what are prems tickets on sncf?
 

So I am looking into buying tickets beforehand for our day trip to Caen from Paris in April. And I see that there are "prems" tickets that are much cheaper but look non-refundalble. Is that the only difference? And is there somewhere on that website where I can chose my seat? I haven't found it yet and when I investigate two seats together, I can't seem to figure out how to request that.
Thanks.

yes, the only difference is they are nonrefundable (well, also that you can print them from your computer, which is also really convenient). They are basically cheaper "advanced purchase" fares, just like airlines have. I think they do often reserve certain seats for PREMs which may not be the absolute best seats in a car, but that isn't of great important to me -- first class is still first class.

I don't think you can choose your seat, I think they assign you one within a class I don't know about getting two seats together as I've never tried to do that, but I think you can if you buy two tickets on the same order. Maybe somebody else knows.

Every time I've bought more than one PREM ticket for the same train, the seats were all together or at least within one row of each other. I don't think you get to choose your seats; I've never seen a feature like that. WHen you print the ticket out it shows your seat assignment as well as the number of the train car.

PREM tickets are limited so buy them as soon as you can commit to a specific day and time. When they're gone, they're gone.

is there a big difference between 1st and 2nd class?

if I book them now, I can just print out the tickets at the train station once i get to Paris, right?

thanks everyone.

We purchased for first time PREM tickets in September at a very good discount. The seats and car number were automatically assigned and you must print out your ticket before you leave home. The site says the paper used must be A4 size which is European and rare in the USA. We used std paper and the only thing the ticket taker on board looked at was if your ticket name matched your passport name. He never bothered to check my wife's ticket. Very convenient to book European train travel knowing you have a confirmed seat. Enjoy the ride.

But don't sign up for their e-mail! Now I get e-mail from them in French and I have no idea how I got on the list or how to get off!

kellie, at the bottom of the newsletter there are 2 things "gerer votre abonnement" and "vous désabonner" click on the second one and you shouldn't receive it anymore :-)

no, lhs, there's no way to print a PREM ticket out at a train station in France - you print it off your own printer and take it with you. That's if it's a PREM ticket.

If it's a regular ticket, opt to pick the ticket up at an SNCF train station or boutique, print out the confirmation and take it with you, be sure you have the same credit card you used to buy the ticket, and allow yourself time to stand in line to get it from the window.

Oh thank you Coco. Hopefully that will do it!

great! ;;)