SNCF Connect: No via point?

[yorkie]

I am trying to book a journey on SNCF Connect from Lille to St Jean Pied De Port, avoiding changing trains in Paris.

However the website only comes up with options changing at Paris:



A couple of weeks ago I was able to specify a via point and was able to see an itinerary involving the direct Lille to Bordeaux train, but I can't see how to get that itinerary now.

Any ideas what's going on? Am I missing something or have they removed their via option?

Is the only way around this to book on a different website? If so, is there any disadvantage? Presumably the main advantage to booking through SNCF Connect is to obtain seat selection (and maybe avoid booking fees)?

 

[AndrewE]

I would ask the Man in Seat 61. I can't see any reference to it on his website, but that is usually talking about UK-to-somewhere fares.

 

[eastwestdivide]

After a lot of messing around with changing to French, I somehow ended up here

Tickets

www.voyages-train-groupes.sncf.fr

which has a “via”
Any good?

Edit: sorry, I didn’t see that’s the groups booking site
Seem to recall Mr Seat61 complaining recently that SNCF had been simplified to the point of uselessness.

 

[Bread & cheese]

I couldn't get the requested journey on SNCF Connect either.
The nearest I could get was a journey from Roissy Charles de Gaulle starting at 8:10.

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone have a way of contacting SNCF to make a booking by phone?

I have tried calling +33184943635 (using Skype) and it just has a menu in French; is there any way to speak to someone in English? If so, can anyone tell me what buttons to press in the menu please? I did ask someone who understands some French to listen to the options but they couldn't figure it out.

I also have another issue with SNCF Connect relating to a discount card not working.

Thanks.

 

[rvdborgt]

Does anyone have a way of contacting SNCF to make a booking by phone?

I have tried calling +33184943635 (using Skype) and it just has a menu in French; is there any way to speak to someone in English? If so, can anyone tell me what buttons to press in the menu please? I did ask someone who understands some French to listen to the options but they couldn't figure it out.

I had the same issue last summer: they explain in French that you have to press #85 to get to the English menu, very helpful indeed. I didn't get that at first (since I didn't know what the # was called in French), went through the French menu, and then I was told I couldn't pay with a non-French credit card... SNCF for you, I guess. After calling again, and choosing #85, I got someone who spoke English perfectly but then had to tell me they were not allowed anymore to sell Interrail supplements by phone... (that seems to have been reverted, judging by reports on community.eurail.com).

 

[D6700]

There's no problem doing this using Raileurope, but they do charge a booking fee. If you are booking a few tickets, according to the website, the booking fee doesn't increase.

For that day, I can see fares from €73 in standard class or €81 in first class for a bit later in the day via Massy, with a choice of a short or long break there. They are splitting tickets, so you may be able to beat that by doing manual seaches if you are happy to stop off somewhere en route.

 

[biko]

Is there actually a direct service on that date? I can only find one at 17:16, but that's too late to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port. The German DB site gives an option via Massy, and can be booked with it. Currently, it costs €64.50 in standard class and €70.50 in first class.

(image of the International booking engine of DB with prices and itinerary)

 

[yorkie]

Is there actually a direct service on that date?

Yes at 07:03



The person travelling (it's not for me) is very keen to get the direct train from Lille to Bordeaux.

Thanks all for the advice so far

 

[D6700]

The easiest way might be to book a ticket to Bordeaux and another one forward, but that may be more costly. The option changing at Massy uses the same route, avoiding the centre of Paris and is via Bordeaux, as there are trains from Lille to Nantes and Rennes going that way which call at Massy, as well as the one to Bordeaux.

I'd also looked at the DB site, but gave up after it wouldn't give me a price for the 07:03 option! I should have persevered, as it's cheaper than Raileurope for an identical itinerary.

 

[biko]

Yes at 07:03

View attachment 112290

The person travelling (it's not for me) is very keen to get the direct train from Lille to Bordeaux.

Thanks all for the advice so far

I see what the problem is: it is overtaken by a journey via Paris which leaves 40 minutes later and eventually connects into the same train to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Furthermore, travelling around Paris will mean one needs to change onto the Paris - Bayonne train in Bordeaux, so that's why journey planners don't show it. I can find this itinerary on the DB site adding a via point in Marne-la-Vallee, but the DB website cannot sell it unfortunately.

 

[yorkie]

I spoke to someone on the English language chat and he was very helpful and friendly but basically admitted the website isn't very good and that all the calls they get are about problems with the website.

He said the only option is to book it as a combination of tickets (which, unlike many fares in Great Britain, costs more than the through fare)

 

[rvdborgt]

I spoke to someone on the English language chat and he was very helpful and friendly but basically admitted the website isn't very good and that all the calls they get are about problems with the website.

He said the only option is to book it as a combination of tickets (which, unlike many fares in Great Britain, costs more than the through fare)

I'm sure they can do much more at the SNCF ticket office or the phone service. There, they don't have the limitation to 2 changes either.
You could also try booking via Belgian railways. There you can enter a via point (in the advanced search) and they should also have the same offers as SNCF (since they connect to the SNCF backend).