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Flexible tgv tickets

Hi, we're flying into cdg, arriving at 8:10 am, then need to catch a tgv down to Arles by that afternoon to board a barge. There is a train at 10 and another at noon. I've read all through previous posts that it can take up to 3 hours to catch a train after landing, so I did go ahead and book the one at noon.

If we do make it through faster though, won't I be able to exchange my ticket for the earlier train if there's room? I shelled out some extra $ for the Tgv Pro Second ticket, which states that it is returnable and exchangeable up to 2 hours after departure.

That sounds pretty clear to me but I'm unsure because all the posts I read keep saying not to book ahead because if you miss your train you're completely out of luck. Are people just referring to the cheapest, non exchangeable tickets, or am I missing something here? Thanks in advance for your insight.

Posted by
16895 posts

The cheaper tickets wouldn't allow that 2 hours leeway, of course. Or a flight could possibly be delayed enough that you miss even that two-hours + the cushion that you built in. If you're within the time, then an exchange should be no big deal, assuming seats are available in the same class of service (or pay more to upgrade).

Posted by
4684 posts

It's only the very cheap Prems tickets that are so strictly limited to a single train. If your ticket says it's returnable and exchangeable, believe it.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you both for your replies. I just wanted to make sure because I've spent hours going through previous posts about catching/missing trains when arriving at the airport, and I don't recall a single poster mentioning that you could bypass all the worrying by just purchasing flexible tickets. They were only about 10 Euros more! (And for my trip back to Paris from Sete there weren't any Pro Second fares available, but even so it said that you could change your ticket, subject to a fee of 15 Euros if changed on the day of travel. That's not a large price to pay for flexibility and peace of mind.)

Posted by
16895 posts

Buying ahead for a full-priced ticket is occasionally mentioned, but if people are booking way ahead, the price difference looks less attractive and the choice can be harder. Another option for some people is that the full fare can be purchased at the train station, assuming there's space available.

Posted by
4088 posts

The ticket may be flexible -- at a stiff extra price plus an exchange fee -- but the seat reservation still must be assigned. You will need to visit an agent to exchange the ticket. SNCF says this:
"Ticket can be exchanged and refunded subject to a fee of €5 up to 30 days before departure, which rises to €15 on the day before and the actual day of departure. Any difference in price between the old and the new ticket will be added to this fee. Tickets will not be exchangeable or refundable after departure."