Fip coupon reservation

[adam0]

Good afternoon all

I have been trying to get to Spain in May using fip car/coupons. It seems for Eurostar to Paris it is 34.50 each way per person using fip card.

However, when I have enquired about getting from Paris to Carcassonne (southern France) hotel stop over, I have been quoted 50 per person, despite that fact that I will be using fip coupons. I have been informed that this cost is a reservation fee. This seems very steep to be just a reservation fee, any advise, tips or help is much appreciated

Many thanks

 

[185]

Who's selling them for a €50 Euro fee? Is it a private travel agency? or SNCF? Name an shame them.

I recall our lovely French colleagues, at the Gare Montparnasse guichet the night before charged me a maximum of about €5, and I think that included an upgrade.

 

[Bungle965]

I always thought that the reservations on SNCF varied considerably by demand (essentially like airlines)

 

[rvdborgt]

I always thought that the reservations on SNCF varied considerably by demand (essentially like airlines)

They do, but it's not €50. RDG writes:

Seat reservations on off-peak services are €1.70 in either 1st or 2nd class (correct as of January 2024). Seat reservations on peak services are €10.00 in 2nd class and €15.00 in 1st class (correct as of January 2024).

It would be useful to know for which exact trains the €50 price was given.

 

[adam0]

Journey was.


Dep Lille 1400
Arr Lyon Par dieu 1701
Dep Lyon PD 1810
Arr Carcassone 2133.

Was going to do an overnight in Carcassonne and from there to Barcelona the next day using regional ter trains via portbou. Obviously wife will need a fip fare from portbou to Barcelona. (I have fip voucher for Renfe)

Since spoken to sncf. An extremely helpful and informative operative told me that this is incorrect, the price should be total 40 euro. (20 each person) This is because the journey involves two legs on a tgv which are 10 eure per reservation.

That seems a lot more like what I expected. She also gave me much more info on general travel and intercites options. Amazing customer service, could fault at all

Thanks all for the feedback,

Just one last thing to ask? My Mrs obviously has coupons for France but she does not get them for Spain. Going from Carcassonne to Barcelona on local or regional, at what point does she need to purchase a fip at 50%?

Thanks again

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Apr 2025 ==

Who's selling them for a €50 Euro fee? Is it a private travel agency? or SNCF? Name an shame them.

I recall our lovely French colleagues, at the Gare Montparnasse guichet the night before charged me a maximum of about €5, and I think that included an upgrade.

Quote was from

Trainseurope.co.uk

Just wondering if there maybe a hefty booking fee

 

[rvdborgt]

Dep Lille 1400
Arr Lyon Par dieu 1701
Dep Lyon PD 1810
Arr Carcassone 2133.

Was going to do an overnight in Carcassonne and from there to Barcelona the next day using regional ter trains via portbou. Obviously wife will need a fip fare from portbou to Barcelona. (I have fip voucher for Renfe)

Since spoken to sncf. An extremely helpful and informative operative told me that this is incorrect, the price should be total 40 euro. (20 each person) This is because the journey involves two legs on a tgv which are 10 eure per reservation.

I was going to advise to call SNCF. Their info looks correct indeed.

 

[adam0]

I was going to advise to call SNCF. Their info looks correct indeed.

Just read on sncf website that fip coupons are not valid on tgv inoui Paris to Barcelona services. It says not valid onboard. Do you know, does that mean the whole journey? So if I went from Paris to Perpignan on the same train then fip vouchers are valid?

 

[Iet2389]

Just read on sncf website that fip coupons are not valid on tgv inoui Paris to Barcelona services. It says not valid onboard. Do you know, does that mean the whole journey? So if I went from Paris to Perpignan on the same train then fip vouchers are valid?

I think you need to use regional or stopping trains and change if/when possible to use the coupons, i.e. change from SNCF to Renfe coupons. I once phoned the SNCF number to book Paris to Zurich, and they explicitly asked if I was using fip or coupons, and I chose TGV to avoid having to use slower regional services.

 

[adam0]

I think you need to use regional or stopping trains and change if/when possible to use the coupons, i.e. change from SNCF to Renfe coupons. I once phoned the SNCF number to book Paris to Zurich, and they explicitly asked if I was using fip or coupons, and I chose TGV to avoid having to use slower regional services.

Thanks for the reply but not really what I was asking. Use regional or stoppers from Paris to Perpignan? Good luck with that, lol. Why would I need to use Renfe coupons?

 

[Iet2389]

Thanks for the reply but not really what I was asking. Use regional or stoppers from Paris to Perpignan? Good luck with that, lol. Why would I need to use Renfe coupons?

I misunderstood, apologies, from the part about Barcelona. But no, regional to Perpignan would not be fun, or possibly even doable. But I've always understood it is the only way using coupons from when I've spoken to SNCF, albeit on a route where it was possible just obviously much slower. They (or someone else here) may know if SNCF do permit TGB if you stay within France, but I haven't ever understood it as such

 

[adam0]

I misunderstood, apologies, from the part about Barcelona. But no, regional to Perpignan would not be fun, or possibly even doable. But I've always understood it is the only way using coupons from when I've spoken to SNCF, albeit on a route where it was possible just obviously much slower. They (or someone else here) may know if SNCF do permit TGB if you stay within France, but I haven't ever understood it as such

No problem , thanks for helping, the reason I mentioned about not needing Renfe was just that, in case I was mistaken and not understanding something. I did speak to a rep from sncf earlier who's told me it was possible to use coupons on tgv, you just pay reservation fees. I was asking about Lille to Lyon. But when I looked on sncf website it mentioned that Paris to Barcelona tgv coupons not valid, that's what I got confused

 

[rvdborgt]

Just read on sncf website that fip coupons are not valid on tgv inoui Paris to Barcelona services. It says not valid onboard. Do you know, does that mean the whole journey? So if I went from Paris to Perpignan on the same train then fip vouchers are valid?

AFAIK you can still use them on those services for domestic journeys. SNCF do however limit the number of domestic passengers on these trains, not for FIP in particular, but in general, like for all of their international TGVs. For international journeys, there's only a fare with a FIP discount card.

 

[adam0]

AFAIK you can still use them on those services for domestic journeys. SNCF do however limit the number of domestic passengers on these trains, not for FIP in particular, but in general, like for all of their international TGVs. For international journeys, there's only a fare with a FIP discount card.

Many thanks, was thinking and hoping that be the case