TGV Connection at CDG?

Read the terms and conditions for any ticket you buy - the cheaper tickets allow fewer or no changes. So yes, if you buy a cheap ticket way in advance and you miss the train, you need to buy another one at last-minute prices.

It is always a gamble doing this sort of thing (still a gamble even if you plan a longer layover between the train - just a lower risk). I flew into CDG in 2014 and took the TGV to Strasbourg as you plan to do. My schedule arrival was 9:10 and the train left at 10:26. People told me that was way too risky, but I was lucky - our flight arrived at a perfect time and there was literally no one in line at immigration - took me seven minutes to get from the plane to exit baggage claim! I made the train with plenty of time (it was also a tad late departing). I doubt I'd bet on that seven minutes again now - would assume about an hour average.

But the signs were clear and I had no trouble finding the TGV station. I arrived in terminal 2 so didn't need the CDGVAL train, but it was a decent walk.

Personally, I'd feel just fine booking the 6:55 if you can book early and get a good price. I didn't have that kind of schedule luxury when I did it - I would have had to wait more than two hours longer as I recall for the next one, and I just didn't want to waste the time. An hour later isn't much.

Thank you very much for the timey reply, Andrew. Will definitely pay attention to the small print when we book tickets. It seems worth enduring some risk in order to be efficient and get to Strasbourg ASAP. Just need to be mentally and logistically prepared for the possibility of missing the train.

The rule of thumb for relative security here is 3 hours which you have. I wouldn't worry beyond the usual concern that something serious could delay you and then the tickets are lost. Any attempts to book separate trips on the same day can result in this kind of outcome.

Sometimes trip delay insurance will cover the cost of delays like this (like the cost of buying a new ticket if you miss the train). I too found it worth the risk in exchange for the savings - and for not wasting extra time at the airport train station (in my case, I was sleeping that night in Colmar and stopping in Strasbourg for only a few hours, so any extra time wasted at the airport was less time in Strasbourg).

Even the most flexible (full-fare) type of tickets are still for reserved times and seat assignments and require exchanging if you wanted to take a different train, either earlier or later, and there is still a deadline to do so.

For instance, these are the rules for the TGV PRO 2nde fare (€95):
Ticket can be exchanged and refunded free of charge before and up to two hours after departure at the departure station. For mobility, can be exchanged free of charge up to one hour after departure via the TGV Pro application or by telephone on 3635.

I in my old age buy expensive trip insurance; all my policies specifically exclude missed plains and trains due to poor scheduling. I'd be surprised if this is covered unless there is some catastrophe that prevents a connection. Poor planning and a late plane are not things insurance companies will pay for.

Actually, Jane, I think trip delay insurance may indeed pay for something like this. I have called before and asked - and was told they would cover it. (But of course, never needed to use it.)

Thanks to everyone who posted replies. While 3 hours to make the connection should be reasonable, I wondered about Norwegian’s on-time record. From googling, I learned that it’s best to check the on-time record of the specific flight in question, not just the airline. The specific airports matter. With that in mind, I found our flight on www.flightstats.com. Soooo glad I did this. The On-time performance for our fight is “very poor”. 17% of the flights were “very late”, and 28% were “excessive”. This data is based on 36 flights. Based on this, we decided the risk of missing the connection is too high. Not to mention the weeks of stress before the flight, wondering whether we’d make the connection. So instead we’ll spend the night at a CDG hotel and depart in the morning. Stress-free!