What is the rules on the over 60's when booking a trip via train, as as a adult you have two options 18-59 and 60+ I recently booked a day return trip from Deippe to Rouen on Sunday 30th being 63yo I had to pay 86euros extra on my return trip and told that my tickets where not valid as I did not have a "special card" but I am not able to click on the 18-59 as I'm over 60?? do I just need to show foto id to prove that I'm over 60? ie passport or my senior card from the uk. unfortunately I don't speak very good French and the conductor took full advantage and pleasure in this, any help would be greateful.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
485 posts
From this page on RS website https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/france-rail-passes :
"Youths (27 and younger), seniors (60 and older), and families can purchase a discount card for €49 to get additional 30 percent discounts on many train tickets. Note that the offer is new and not well described online."
https://www.sncf-connect.com/app/en-en/catalogue/description/carte-avantage-senior
Posted by
Upstate NY, USA
889 posts
it's my understanding that you don't just get a discount, you have to buy the card that gives you a discount https://www.sncf-connect.com/app/en-en/catalogue/description/carte-avantage-senior
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3942 posts
Are you sure that you did not accidentally select one the options that require you to have a card like the Carte Avantage Senior or the CMI? I ask that because the last time I bought a train ticket on the SNCF site, the CMI option was checked (I noticed and removed it). There is no automatic discount for those over 60 unless you have a card. It seems to me that you somehow bought a discounted ticket without the backup card needed to support the discount.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23585 posts
Discounts for over 60, 65 is not automatic for American tourists. The conductor did not take advantage of you. He was simply enforcing the rules. For some countries the senior discount is only available to their residents and often they have ID card for that discount. In our experience, Spain is the only country gives a discount to anyone over 62.
Posted by
20 posts
Rick's Paris guidebook mentioned that foreigners need to buy the card, so I checked the two tickets that I purchased. My tickets said 60+ so I needed the SNCF Carte Avantage Senior. Fortunately, you can buy the card, activate it right away and it's on your phone to make your previously purchased ticket legitimate.
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
I'm currently booking trains for our (61 and 74) France trip in October. I have bought us each a SNCF Carte Advantage Senior card for €49. After booking only three of our seven trains, we are already saving more than €49 each.
Our cards will be valid for 12 months.
Posted by
Chicago
8498 posts
If your ticket indicates 60 plus you do not have to buy the card. You won't get the discount unless you check the box that says you have the carte senior. I have done this many times without encountering the fine because I don't check that box.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10577 posts
"Discounts for over 60, 65 is not automatic for American tourists.”
discounts are not automatic for ANYONE, French, American, even the Prince of Monaco. You have to buy the associated card.
Posted by
Boston
159 posts
And if you sign up for alerts, you'll get notice of sales on the card. At least once a year, they're half price. It pays for itself in one journey at half price.