Train from CDG to Bruges - tickets in advance?

That will be tight. With checked bags, I wouldn't buy tickets in advance. A few years ago, I flew into CDG (from O'Hare) arriving 9:10am and picked up a train leaving CDG station at 10:26. I knew I was taking a chance when I bought the tickets in advance, but I made it in plenty of time. First, I lucked out and was literally the ONLY person in line at immigration - somehow I got off the plane quickly and got down there before almost everyone else, and our flight must have been the only one arriving at that time. I made it from the gate down through immigration and out of baggage claim in under 10 minutes. Of course, I would never bet on that. And second, my train leaving CDG was late. It probably helped that I had no checked bags.

Still, you aren't going to save much by buying tickets this late. I did it only to save money on cheaper tickets. Your only risk is that the train will be full if you wait. I don't think there is a big saving for buying two weeks in advance, but you can check. I probably wouldn't. Consider installing the SNCF app on your smart phone, if you have one, so you can buy tickets from your phone instead of waiting in a ticket line, in case the timing is really tight.

I agree with Andrew it will be very tight to make your way to the train. There are plenty of trains running to Brugge. Last thing you need is to start your trip off with stress. If you make the 11:07 great, if not, looks like the next train is at 11:36 and then 12:47 and so on. Enjoy Brugge, it is a very nice place to visit, especially the chocolate shops.

If you are landing at 9:40 am, that means you are flying on United and you will land at Terminal 1, so you will have to take the CDGval shuttle train to the TGV station. That will add some more time. Unless you can get a super deal on nonrefundable tickets (unlikely at this late date), get refundable tickets, so you can rebook the next train. Tickets from Brussels to Bruges are good on any train that day.

Hmm - the SNCF (Oui) site shows the next train after the 11:07 at 13:07, plus the later train is 30 minutes longer. So I'd definitely hope to make the 11:07 - with short days in November, I'd love to get to Bruges two hours earlier vs. sitting at the airport train station for another two hours!. In fact, I see there's a 10:13 as well - and there's always a chance you'll arrive early (it does happen!), immigration will go fast, and you might have a small chance to make that one. Another reason not to buy tickets in advance.

Thank you posters! Am I using the SNCF app correctly? I see a semi-flex fare that is partially refundable but no fully refundable fare for the 11:07 am trains CDG to Bruges.

Do these trains sell out? If so what’s a good Plan B?

Hate to tell you this...but yes, apparently they do sell out. Checking tomorrow's trains, the 11:07 is already sold out. So is the 13:07.
(This would be the train to Brussels; the Belgian train from there to Bruges can't sell out, not reserved, though if it's full you'll have to stand.) The next train for tomorrow not sold out is at 16:07 - and who knows if that one will.

So maybe you really ought to just book the 13:07 now and eat the two hours, instead of having to pay a few bucks more for maybe the 16:07, if it's not sold out.

As much as I dislike buses, FYI there's a direct FlixBus bus from CDG to Bruges at 13:45 (duration:3:45 hours) for only $17.99 USD (vs 86.30 euros to book NOW the 13:07 train with connection in Brussels). I'd probably book that bus either way as insurance. Then see what is available for trains when you eventually arrive and if one is available and you want to take it instead of the bus, take it - maybe an extra $100 USD or more for the comfort of a train. Worth it? Hmm - probably not to me.

I've taken a FlixBus once, from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Trieste, Italy. It was OK for a bus. Free WiFi. I'm frugal, so this honestly is what I'd probably do (or book a later train much earlier, like 3 months out, obviously way too late by 1-2 weeks from arrival).

FlixBus has an app too FYI.

Another option: train from CDG to Lille; bus from there to Bruges.

This actually might be faster than the direct Flixbus or the trains via Brussels:

11:07-11:56 train to Lille (63 euros)
14:35-15:50 bus to Bruges (8.9 euros)

Those are last-minute prices for tomorrow, assume you'd get them last minute too, not sure.

www.ouibus.com for the bus.

Of course, you've got that layover in Lille. Assume it's not a far walk from bus to train station, not sure, but at least you wouldn't have to rush.

Thanks to all. Another thought, we plan to travel pretty light. If we don’t check bags do we have a better shot at making that 11:07?

If you plan (I can't tell) to depart from Brussels Airport, that airport's processing time of out-bound passengers has increased significantly as a result of the terrorist attack there. I flew out of there a month ago.

If you are flying from the US you will be very likely to miss that train. The rule of thumb is 3 hours from ETA to train. It is common for immigration to take an hour; a plane a half hour late is not unusual; then you have to make your way to the train station. An hour and a half is possible only if everything goes perfectly. You might land early; you might have 15 minutes in immigration; you might be all carry on so you don't have to wait 40 minutes for luggage. But I would not buy a ticket assuming everything will be optimal. We have spent an hour in immigration; we have waited a long time for luggage and once had a piece not arrive which involved paperwork; we have had planes land late more often than not although in recent years, the airlines have been padding their ETA so that many planes now do arrive 'early' or at least on time. In one 10 year stretch though we had 8 out of 10 planes from the US to Europe come in late -- one by 5 hours, most by half an hour to an hour. As noted this is less an issue than it once was -- but a late plane is still not a big surprise.

Unless you are comfortable tossing way a train ticket, I would book with a 3 hour cushion which most of the time will be enough.

Thanks to all who responded! Posting from Bruges. Flight late, landed at CDG at 10:15 and we just (just!) made the 11:07 TGV to Brussels! Would not recommend planning on such a short transfer, we got lucky, I think.

Glad you made it. We have experienced most of the rare travel disasters like very late planes and trains and stalled trams etc etc over the course of decades of travel, but sometimes everything goes tickety boo and I'm glad it did for you.