Paris Roissy TGV travel questions

I would recommend that you review https://www.seat61.com/. He has great information on train travels. On returning to CDG. I would get there at least 3 hours before flight and maybe even 4. If they change gates, it could be a looonnnggg walk.

I'd plan on 3 hours between ETA of your arriving flight and departure time of the train.

Assuming that you are flying in economy, depending on the airline, I would be at the airport 4 hours ahead of departure time. But actually, I would take the train to CDG the day before my flight to the United States unless it is no biggie to buy a last minute one way ticket home in case you miss your flight because of train issues. Major train delays do not happen often in France but when they do and you have an international flight on the line, the issues become very real. I just looked at the schedule for a random day in September and there are only two trains (one to CDG and one to Paris) that I would even consider taking on my travel date. The 7:43 (the train that I would consider) from Avignon gets you to Gare de Lyon at 10:23 and the next one gets you there are 12:07. The 7:15 train to CDG gets there at 11:03 and the next one gets there at 1:03.

I did for years recommend 3 hours between scheduled flight arrival and catching a train at CDG, on the theory that it included a bit of time for a flight delay. But you must also note that long lines have been reported recently for immigration/passport control.
Anyway, there aren't many TGVs that depart directly from CDG TGV station in Terminal 2. On my test date, they're available at 11:57 (with change in Lyon), 13:58, and 16:56. The earlier one is 9:58 but I can't recommend booking that ahead.

Any ticket that you buy ahead will have no value if you miss the train. (Even a full-fare ticket has a limited window to exchange and there's little reason to pay full price in advance.) Second class is fine but if you see a good deal left in first class, you might judge it worth a little more. Either web site should be selling the same prices but SNCF doesn't work with some US credit cards.

Hi Bill. My thoughts:

"In September 2017 we fly into CDG scheduled to arrive at 0750 and the two of us will take a TGV to Avignon"

Suggest you consider trains leaving from Paris in addition to trains leaving from CDG. Obviously more convenient to leave directly from CDG if there is a train that works well, but sometimes those trains are more expensive, involve a change in Lyon, and schedule can be limited, whereas direct trains leave often from Paris Gare de Lyon.

"Suggestions please on 1) where to buy (currently looking at Voyages-SNCF or Trainline):

Unless there is some reason not to, I buy direct from the source (in this case SNCF) instead of going thru a third party. I've bought several times from SNCF web site and had good experience.

"2) how much time to allow from arrival at CDG to train departure"

No right answer - a lot of people would say 3 hours or so. This is a personal tradeoff between how much risk you are willing to take vs. wasting time waiting for your train. Your plane may be early or on time - or it could be 2 or more hours late, in which case you could miss your train and your train tix may be worthless.

"3) the reverse process--how early to arrive at CDG to ensure we make our 15:40 flight back to the US?"

Would you consider going back to Paris the day before? That would be safest and less stressful.

"Also, thoughts on what class of travel and the flexibility in terms of tickets."

Again, class is a personal choice. We always go second class; find it plenty comfortable; also enjoy the atmosphere; find first class too sterile and no reason for us to pay extra for it. Flexibility of ticket options is shown clearly on SNCF web site; however note that even the 'exchangeable' tix are worthless if you miss your train.

Enjoy your trip!

Be in Paris the night before a high stakes flight. Stuff happens (we were once on a Thalys that came in 5 hours late to Paris). Taking a train the day of a high stakes flight is not prudent; you probably make it if you give yourself 5 hours between ETA and flight which gives you time to get from the TGV station to the terminal and be there 3+ hours ahead and allows for a little bit of disruption. But being a cab ride from the airport the day of the flight is our rule. Your travel insurance will not probably pay for a missed connection like this.

If the TGV is more than two hours, I pay extra for 1st class.

The SNCF machine works only with chip and pin credit cards, no cash is accepted at the machine either. The pictorial shows that, ie, a ten Euro bill with a line through it. If you have the typical US chip and signature credit card, you're out of luck with the SNCF machine.

The truth is there are train mishaps in France every day, from stolen cables, problems on the tracks, break downs, etc. We just don't hear or know about them. Best to go the night before.

What about if the train is an Air France train? This concept is a new one to me.

That's an Air France-train combo ticket sold through AF. After passport and luggage, they transfer your luggage to the train, exactly as if you were taking a connecting flight. You collect your luggage at the destination. You are on the same train as non-AF passengers, but it's cheaper, more efficient, and if you miss a train, they put you on the next one.

Thanks, Bets. I didn't realize that they took care of the luggage like that. So if I were to fly from the USA and my final destination is Lille, I would next see my luggage in Lille or would I need to pick them up at Roissy?

From what others on the train who had the combo ticket told me, I know only that it's transfered. If you pick up and then drop it to be transferred, as we do in the US, I don't know. They also have their own AF waiting room down in the CDG train station. This would be booked on AF, US-Lille, and you should see a plane/train itinerary.