My flight gets in to CDG at 8:30 am, I plan to take the TGV to Lyon right from the airport. There is a train at 9:58 and then next one at 11:58. I will have only carry-on, do you think it is a safe bet to book the 9:58? Or alternately, if I get a ticket on the 11:58, and get to the track on time to get on the 9:58, can I use my ticket for the later train on the earlier one? Will I need to trade tickets at the booth before boarding? Thank you in advance for your help
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
The problem with buying tickets in advance, for day of arrival, is that one never knows if one's flight will be delayed.
Even if your flight arrives on time, who's to know how long it will take you to go through customs & immigration.
If you want to buy your ticket in advance at a considerable saving... I'd probably choose the later train... but that's what I'd do.
If you choose the earlier train, & miss it, then you will just have to buy a new ticket at full price.
To answer your last question. If you purchase a ticket for the 11:58 train, I don't think you can board the earlier train.
I do not purchase train tickets for day of arrival, due to the aforementioned possible delays.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3989 posts
The odds are unless you have access to the priority line at passport control/immigration you will not make the earlier train. The TGV leaves from Terminal 2. Is that the terminal where you will arrive? Isn't there a 10:16 to Lyon (with a change of trains in Massy)? That may be an option. I would buy a ticket for the 11:58 but I am averse to hurrying or worrying about missing the train. Tickets from CDG to Lyon can be as low as 25 euros if you buy them far enough in advance.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
A ticket for the 11:58 is only good on the 11:58. So yes, you would need to "trade" it for the 9:58. However, if it's nonrefundable, there is no "trading" - as Priscilla says, you have to buy a new, full priced ticket. Furthermore, you have to wait in a ticket-buying line and may miss the train due to that.
I agree that if you land in Terminal 1, don't even think of trying to get the 9:58. If you land in Terminal 2, it's a question of "do you feel lucky?" Personally, I'd go for the 11:58 and plan to get breakfast before boarding the train.
Posted by
OP
Chelan, Wa, USA
42 posts
Thank you all for the advice!
Posted by
USA
402 posts
When I fly to Europe I stay in the airport arrival city that nite and leave the next morning on my cheap train ticket. That way there is no worry about which train to take, no boredom with a few hours to kill before the train I thought it was safe to book, no stress if the flight is delayed. With a morning arrival you could drop your bags at your hotel in Paris and be out walking around in the sun (hopefully!), drinking coffee, getting over the jetlag by keeping active.
Will I need to trade tickets at the booth before boarding?
You'll need to buy tickets that can be exchanged. Check very carefully; many discount fares can't be exchanged, and for some other classes they must be exchanged prior to the train departing (which kinda kills the advantage, since if you were there to exchange them you'd have taken the train). That line for the ticket window, BTW, often takes 30 minutes to an hour at CDG.