Oui Carte Advantage Senior Card

Firstly, each passenger using a discount card must have his own and he must it have in his possession while traveling.

Secondly, you may purchase the discounted tickets at any time and purchase the card at any time before your actual train departure.

Lastly, for so few trips, it is very unlikely that the discount card will save you any money at all. Simply purchase tickets in advance, typically 3 months before travel, when prices are cheapest. Use the SNCF website, https://en.oui.sncf/en/ and avoid any redirects to Raileurope where prices tend to be much higher.

Tocard, Thanks for the response. Are you able to get on the SNCF Oui site and purchase tickets? If so, what browser? Because people in the U.S. seem to be getting blocked for some reason. I do know I can purchase through trainline if it comes to that. I know I can save significant money if I could purchase in advance, however, I want to go from CDG to Bordeaux upon arrival to France. I don't want to prepurchase, especially these days, because my flight could change or it could be delayed the day of travel, and the ticket is nonrefundable. What I can see on the Oui site (before I get blocked) is that the senior card is 49euro. Tickets to Bordeaux day of seem to start at 110euro (per trainline). It is my understanding that the card entitles the holder to 30% off or to any "deals".

I did do some poking around on the Man in Seat 61 site and he confirms that many in the U.S. are unable to use the Oui site.

Try to Download the ap for Android or Apple phone and buy that way.
https://en.oui.sncf/en/tools/mobile-app

Tickets to Bordeaux day of seem to start at 110euro (per trainline).
It is my understanding that the card entitles the holder to 30% off or
to any "deals".

I looked at Charles de Gaulle to Bordeaux tickets in August, and the direct trains start at €35. If you are willing to use "low cost TGVs" you can get a ticket for €10.

Using the link in Tocard's post ( mac laptop, firefox) I am able to go through the Sr card purchase process at least as far as entering a name without difficulty

I have used the senior card twice; I paid a bit less in 2019, but that's not surprising. On both occasions I just walked into the train station (once in Nice, once in some small town near the Spanish border) and bought the card. It took just a few minutes. In a large station you may have to go to a specific window. As I recall, the card is good for a year, so if you can manage to return to France next spring or early summer, you will be able to use the same senior card.

You'll be able to use the SNCF ticket-vending machines to buy discounted rail tickets. There's a selection for Carte Advantage Senior (or something like that). Be sure you see the "Carte" part; there are senior discounts available on some trains (maybe not TGVs) for seniors without cards, but you want to make sure of getting the full discount after buying the card.

I looked at Charles de Gaulle to Bordeaux tickets in August, and the direct trains start at €35. If you are willing to use "low cost TGVs" you can get a ticket for €10.

Yeah I used the low cost TGV low cost Ouigo to go from Bordeaux to CDG before and it was around 20 euros.
Ouigo also serves Montpelier to Paris. https://www.ouigo.com/

@Joe, I think I was able to get that far, too. It's when I try to get to purchase price of routes that I get blocked. Although, I know I got blocked a couple times when I was trying to research the card.

@Badger, thanks for the info. I believe, looking at Trainline, I saw those fares, too, but they tend to be early morning. We wouldn't be able to get a train until about noon at the earliest (Our flight arrives at 11am) We are trying to avoid staying in Paris one night or some intermediate stop before Bordeaux.

Good idea to try an apple product--mac or iphone, thanks

What is Ouigo? Looking at that website, and for tickets in France it doesn't look like they have an English language option, the tickets are early morning, 7:17

Ouigo seems to be SNCF's discount brand. I believe there are some additional restrictions/rules if you buy a Ouigo ticket (which I've never done). I think you have to be at the station some non-trivial number of minutes ahead of time, and I think there's a luggage limitation. Those should both be tied to a Ouigo ticket, not to possession of a senior card with "Ouigo" in its name.

Ouigo is SNCF's low cost high speed rail.
https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/ouigo.htm

I've been using them since 2017. You just pay for extra baggage if you have any.
You bring your own water or snack food; there is no service person walking car to car selling food like on TGV.

Trainline sells those tickets also. But I've never had a problem buying online in advance from the USA.

Hello Jules

I understand your frustration! I have the OUI app and updated all my information before ordering the Euro 49 senior card (each person needs their own). I purchased the card, ordered one ticket and was promptly locked out. The system made me purchase a ticket for later in the afternoon when I wanted late morning. Before I ordered the senior card it showed several trips, but after the purchase only the one in the afternoon.
If you aren’t traveling until September, as someone said earlier, AND if you can get online to do so, I don’t think you will need the senior card. From what I’m seeing there is only one TGV from CDG to Bordeaux on a random day in September. Most leave from Montparnasse - and the tickets are not expensive.
I sent a message to OUI customer service to find out why I am now blocked from the site.
If they answer, I’ll let you know.
Good luck!

I sent a message to OUI customer service to find out why I am now blocked from the site.

Clearing your browser cache and removing any SNCF cookies can solve similar problems.

There is no advantage in prepurchasing a discount card. You only need it when you travel, you must have it with you for travel, and you can purchase one, if you really want one, at any ticket kiosk at any train station.

You can use a VPN to an access point in France and purchase directly from the French SNCF website. Not only are prices typically lower, but entire schedules can be seen where they may otherwise be only partially displayed. For example, I see two CDG to Bordeaux non stop trains for September, a OUIGO at 07h17 and a normal TGV at 8h10. There are a good number from CDG, throughout the day, connecting at Massy which would likely be easier than traveling from CDG to Gare Montparnasse which adds expense and time.

There used to be numerous concerns of purchasing online with a US credit card. I am not sure if this is still a problem or not, but using some cards tends to be more problematic than others.

Actually, as of about 2 years, you only need ONE "avantage" discount card between two people travelling together.
When you make the reservation, you need to pick "Carte Avantage Senior" for the cardholder and "Accompagnant Carte Avantage" (in the "Companion" menu on the Oui app) for the other traveller.
A well-hidden perk.

Also, a recent changes forces you to provide the discount card number upon payment. So what you can do is book the ticket placing only an option (usually valid for about a week), purchase the discount card (apparently you receive a PDF with the card number these days), and provide its number.

Lastly, as mentioned by others, you might well find that discounted advance tickets (Ouigo or not Ouigo) are cheaper than Carte Senior fares, but you are a little bit early for September bookings I think.

Cumbersome, I know... SNCF seems to be working hard towards making travel and bookings more difficult!

Thanks balso for the update. I have not done much train travel during the last two years or so.

OK. These comments explain a lot. I wasn't understanding how some were finding more routes and cheaper fares than what I could see on Trainline. I was only seeing an inexpensive 8am"ish" ticket (I think it was 8:17) leaving CDG and our plane doesn't arrive until 11am. So I think the take away is and please correct me if I'm wrong:

1. I don't need to purchase the Sr. card to get reasonable fares.
2. So when I arrive CDG, I should be able to buy a ticket for the entire journey to Bordeaux changing trains at Massey. (If I go thru Monparnasse, the logistics are more complicated). I'm thinking that I probably need to use a "OUIGO" machine.
3. I should be able to find at least somewhat reasonable fares to Bordeaux on the day we arrive to CDG.
4. When I have more time, I should be able to at least view the train schedule before leaving home by exploring various browsers/clearing cache/cookies, etc.

I am thinking of the convenience of just getting to Bordeaux the day we arrive France, rather than stay one night in Paris just so we can use a train ticket that we could purchase in advance. Further, I can get a cheaper inn in Bordeaux than Paris.

I'm thinking that I probably need to use a "OUIGO" machine.

Not quite. Ouigo tickets are online only. You can't buy Ouigo tickets out of machine at a train station.
This part how they keep the fares low through less admin.

Just got the OUIGO app on my phone. It gives me one fare on my search, appears to be the lowest fare which tends to always be at 8am. I will be needing afternoon. Do you they only off the lowest fare, or is there some setting that would give me more options? Part of my problem is that the app is in French. I've barely graduated past Hello, Goodbye, where is, please and thankyou!

Just got the OUIGO app on my phone. It gives me one fare on my search, appears to be the lowest fare which tends to always be at 8am.

Based on prior experience I would conclude they currently only offer that one 8 am train a day from CDG to Bordeaux.
They don't make as many runs as TGV (own by the same company). And again you can also buy Ouigo through trainline to circumvent language barrier. And if you are looking for trains as far ahead as 90 days during the uncertain times of the pandemic you probably won't see a complete schedule.

It is my understanding from others comments, that not all the trains appear on trainline. I have been looking at trainline and the tickets are considerable more expensive than the routes others seem to be finding on Oui. Also, it is quite risky for me to purchase my tickets in advance.

The Man in Seat 61 has written the manual for train travel in Europe, with a keen eye for discounts and purchasing strategy.

https://www.seat61.com/european-train-tickets-online.htm

Scroll down about a third of the way on this link to see his comments on French deals. In general he is dismissive of tourist seniors searching for specific discounts aside what is available through a general booking.

Fares shown below have been corrected. I originally inadvertently priced two tickets (one adult fare, one senior fare).

It's frustrating not to be able to hit the SNCF website and give you real-world examples, but as a general rule same-day TGV fares are quite high. As is often said on the forum, most of the people paying those fares are business folks with expense accounts. One-third off (or whatever precise discount the senior card confers) is likely to be a good deal of savings.

Yes, in situations allowing purchase of tickets way in advance, the cost of a non-refundable ticket will be a lot lower than a regular ticket with the senior discount. But that's not your situation on the day you land in France. It is extraordinarily unlikely that any deeply-discounted promotional-fare tickets will remain available for an afternoon train that same day. Your choice is going to come down to whether you pay full fare or full fare less the discount you'd get from the senior card.

Trainline, like RailEurope and some others, is a third-party reseller. It used to be considered a reasonably good source of train tickets. That may or may not still be the case, because a third-party seller can change its sales procedures at any time. There are at least four ways a reseller can cost you extra money:

1. It can choose not to display the cheapest fares (RailEurope used to be famous for that, I believe), effectively forcing you to buy a more expensive ticket.
2. It can mark up the price of the tickets; that upcharge might not be clearly disclosed.
3. It can add a service charge.
4. It can display prices in the purchaser's home currency rather than the currency of the country where the ticket will be used, using a conversion rate that is quite different from the interbank rate (which is close to what your credit card will use).

You cannot do anything about #1 - #3 (other than by trying to buy from a different source). You may be able to avoid #4. Trainline.com allows you to specify your language and your currency. Choose the currency of the country where you'll be traveling (euros for France).

This is what I'm seeing on trainline right now; I specified a passenger above age 60 (no card), but I don't think that normally gets you a discount on a TGV. I ignored the trains before 10 AM, which will not work for you. If you wait until you arrive in France and buy a ticket then, I'd budget for the highest fare shown for any date below.

5/25 (tomorrow): one-way fares from 70 to 116 euros per person.

5/29 (Saturday): 84 to 127 euros.

6/3 (Thursday): 79 to 102 euros.

6/6 (Sunday): 85 to 111 euros.

6/9 (Wednesday): 41 to 93 euros.

6/13 (Sunday): 61 to 111 euros.

6/24 (Thursday): 106 to 169 euros.

7/22 (Thursday): 41 to 85 euros.

8/5 (Thursday): 46 to 79 euros.

8/19 (Thursday): 41 to 73 euros.

8/26 (Thursday): 35 to 79 euros.

8/29 (Sunday): 41 to 79 euros.

August 29 is the last date for which I see multiple departures. For September most trains aren't listed yet. Early September departures of the 7:17 AM train are going for 20 to 26 euros at the moment.

You can see the pricing pattern. Fares creep up as the travel date approaches, because other travelers buy the cheaper tickets. The difference between buying as far in advance as possible and buying on the day of travel seems to be about 134 euros per person.

I don't know when the September schedule will be loaded, or whether the entire month will show up all at the same time (perhaps on May 31 or June 1??). I don't follow TGV fares because my rail trips are usually shorter and thus on cheaper, regional trains. Perhaps a knowledgeable poster has a good idea how low the initial price of a Paris-Bordeaux TGV could be if you bought the ticket the day it went on sale. It looks as if you might snag a 35-euro fare by buying when the tickets are initially released.

The problem is that you probably don't want to be considering only OuiGo fares. You want to consider regular trains. There is a reason you find fewer options with OuiGo — they're only a fraction of all the trains/seats available on SNCF. You have said you don't want to be locked into advance purchase — I am sorry to bring “negative” news (really just advising of the reality of the situation): if your priority is buying a last-minute ticket on a route that is pre-determined (I.e. you have foregone the flexibility that would be afforded if you just said at that moment, where's the cheapest place I can go right now), you are going to pay more. It's just a fact.

The way people get better fares is by buying well in advance, choosing “off” times, and/or having a discount card (which is expensive if you're only making a couple of trips during the year). You aren't going to find a bargain if you need to purchase last-minute.

Ann and Kim, After spending WAY too much time on this, I'm sure that you are completely right. What frustrates me is not being able to view routes and fares on Oui. I recall my first trip to France years back and SNCF was difficult to use. I always like to use the country's train site. In a pinch I used to use Loco2 which I think merged with Rail Europe, a sad day for travel as far as I'm concerned.

On our arrival day we are overnighting near Paris Montparnasse station and will just jump on a train in the morning. I think the route should be available for purchase June 2 (3 months advance) but I'm fairly certain Oui won't have the bugs ironed out. In that case I'll use trainline.

I'll be returning to Paris about 4 weeks later out of Toulouse. It looks like those trains tend to go to Montparnasse as well.

Thanks all for the help and conversation.

Hi Jules - that sounds like a good plan. Honestly I love Trainline — I know it’s annoying that they have started tacking on fees to purchases made from devices with U.S. ISP addresses (try using a VPN to get around that).

Anyway the main point is that you will have a great trip, and you have a lot to look forward to.

There's no way to know since we can't hit the SNCF website, but I have no reason to think trainline isn't showing all the options we'd see on the SNCF site. It's just that we don't know how much of a price penalty trainline is extracting.

I did finally (today) send a message to the SNCF support folks. There's a link on the "You've been blocked" screen if others want to do the same.

As I'm in France I am able to access the OUI SNCF website, and I confirm that for now the only available train in September for CDG - Bordeaux is that early-morning Ouigo.

And I strongly discourage buying tickets on the day of departure, not only because it is expensive (even with a discount card), but also because trains do get full, especially at the weekend (I do not know on which day of the week you plan to travel). I would rather suffer a long wait at CDG station (or Montparnasse, if CDG times don't suit you).

Just booked my ticket Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux. I was still blocked on Oui so I used Trainline. $50 for the 2 tickets.

That was a steal.

@Jeff B

I'm heading there in two weeks. Did you book the TGV? Where is your destination in the Loire? I'm heading to Tours and it doesn't seem clear-cut.

Thanks.

Amigo, you can always use Trainline. Just a guess, but I think Trainline cost me $1.50 more than booking off of Oui. It was a service fee. Now, they could inflate the price of the ticket, but I have no reason to believe that. If you are buying TGV, my advice would be to book ASAP on anything you can get to work, rather than struggle with Oui. Those ticket prices go up as you get closer to the date.

Reply to Amigo:

"Did you book the TGV? Where is your destination in the Loire?"

On the app I searched CDG Terminal 2 to Amboise. Then, I booked and purchased TGV to St-Pierre-des Corps, and a TER for the short jaunt from St-Pierre-des Corps to Amboise. It was a single booking for both legs.

I think the app works better than the website from a PC. I have both an ancient iphone and an ancient HP laptop. Oui worked on neither and I didn't have the time to fuss with it. I booked Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux on Trainline. I will say I've booked train travel on DBahn, Trenitalia, Czech Rail, OBB, RENFRE, MAV (Hungary), Swiss Rail and I don't know maybe more, and have never had the difficulty that I have with Oui/SNCF. The only time I could purchase directly from SNCF, my credit card company made the actual transaction.

Right now, all Oui tickets are refundable thru the end of August. It'd be nice to be able to buy directly from them to eliminate any extra fuss if we have to cancel, but I just didn't have the time to make the website work for me.

Trainline is good and reliable, so don’t worry about it ! They will refund if necessary. Glad you got your tix!

This is true; Trainline has always handled refunds, changes, or cancellations no differently than if you were able to buy directly with SNCF.