Help! We are in St. Rémy de Provence and have received an email saying our train to Paris from Avignon on May 18 is subject to “disruption”. We are told to check the link they sent along with the email only 24 hours before we are scheduled to leave on Friday to see if our train will be running. We think that is a little late to be trying to rearrange plans to get to Paris on Friday. Should we trust the site only 24 hours in advance? Should we try to get another ticket to Paris from Avigno on May 17 since that is not a strike day? Would they take our ticket we have for Friday and allow us to use it on the same route on Thursday? Never have faced this and need advice!
Thank you!
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
Here is what the oui.sncf website says.
For your travels until May, 31st:
WITH TGV AROUND FRANCE & EUROPE OR INTERCITÉS:
You may exchange your ticket or request a refund at no charge or additional cost, including non-exchangeable / non-refundable rates, prior to your departure date.
More info on our OUI.sncf website or app:
See more on « my bookings » on the website or « my journeys » on the app.
Enter your booking reference and the name used for the order.
Proceed to the exchange or cancellation of your ticket
If the online cancellation is not possible, make your request via the SNCF claims form.
In case of a delay: You can ask for a compensation online with the G30 service.
So that is up to you, but you need to do it beforehand as your ticket has a seat reservation. You can't just show up the day before and get on the train. Follow procedure and change the ticket.
Posted by
28 posts
...and maybe looking into flights or a bus trip as backup!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
That page also says, "Until May, 31st, all the TGV, OUIGO, INTERCITIES, Thalys and Eurostar trains showed and available for booking on OUI.sncf will be running." So the first step is to check whether or not your departure time is still shown for sale. If it's not, then you have these options:
- You can exchange your ticket in advance for another one that includes a seat reservation, which may be on the same day or a different day.
- Even if your reserved departure is not one of those already confirmed to operate, it still may be on the additional list that will be confirmed 24 hours ahead. In that case, your ticket and seat assignment will still be valid.
- If your reserved train is cancelled, you also have the option to use your existing ticket for any other train that does operate that route on that date, earlier or later, but with no guarantee of a seat. Just show up early to the station in case of confusion there and for the best shot at taking any seat that nobody has reserved. But this does not work on other dates.