Thalys seating

I don't have advice on seating but just wanted to mention something. I booked a Thalys ticket on Dec 19 for April on the Thalys app. Everything went thru, charged to my AMEX, good to go. I tried thru the app to add to my Apple Wallet and could not get it to add so thought it was an "operatory error", lol. Yesterday (25th) I got another email confirmation of my purchase with the eticket link and this time I was successful in adding it to my Apple Wallet. So...just wanted to tell you that it might be up to a week if you are going to add to an electronic wallet for the confirmed ticket to be added.

I was unable to figure out how to select my seat on the Thalys app but it assigned me to an adequate one as I like the solo seats down the side of the Comfort seating.

We took the train in second class and it was a great ride, but I was a little uncomfortable because our seats turned out to be facing backward. Over 3+ hours I found this a little unsettling. So I'd suggest looking for seats that face forward, in your case toward Paris. I don't know whether the seating chart on the website tells you this.

As for which car, I suggest one toward the front end of the train, because it pulls into a "dead end" platform at Gare du Nord and you'll have less distance to walk when you leave. That means a longer walk at Amsterdam Centraal. Go left along the platform for the front of the train, but pay attention to the signs and markings that tell you where the cars will stop, so you don't get too far ahead of it.

This is outstanding feedback, thank you. I see the map of the cars posted and that cars 1-3 are first class and see seats facing forward or backward but don’t know which direction the train is going (ie which is the front vs back of the train). Is it a fair assumption that car 1 is the front of the train or might it go in reverse? I appreciate this input!

And that is excellent to know about the apple wallet - thank you!!! I haven’t purchased my tickets yet.

It is very rare for people in Europe to care much about whether their train seat faces forward or not. Most trains have half the seats facing one way, and the other half the other way. Because most people do not care, the railways themselves do not care much either. So there is normally no way to guarantee a forward facing seat.

But the good news is that you are not glued to your seat, and the trains are rarely completely sold out. So if you do not like your seat you can look around for an unoccupied one, and move.

Thank you! I think I am going to book the table seating so that way between my family members and I there will the option for me to face forward! I appreciate everybody’s insights!