Air France: How to Book a Combined Train and Plane Trip?

Thanks to Train + Air, a collaboration between Air France and SNCF, travelers from all over France can get a single ticket for a trip by TGV Inoui and by plane. This offers passengers a smooth, hassle-free travel experience with reduced environmental impact, as well as the guarantee of a seat on the next available flight or train in the event of delays.

Initially offered on 33 routes to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, Train + Air continues to expand. Since November, eight new routes have been added, bringing the total number of TGV Inoui services offered by Air France to 41. A look at a service that’s keeps gaining in popularity.

Air France offers Train + Air to/from 22 French stations. However, its borders are not limited to France. In addition to a service within France, Air France and KLM, thanks to Air&Rail and a partnership with Eurostar, offer travelers from Brussels the possibility of reaching Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, and travelers from Antwerp the possibility of reaching Amsterdam-Schiphol.

There are around twenty French and Belgian stations that are linked to Paris-Charles de Gaulle by Air France’s Train + Air network. Here are the associated stations :

As part of the range of TGV services offered by Air France, some twenty French stations are also connected to Paris-Orly. It should be pointed out, however, that these connections are not accessible from or to Belgium, limiting access to Paris-Orly to passengers traveling from French stations.

Here are the French stations linked to Paris-Orly:

Passengers can also travel between Amsterdam-Schiphol and Brussels-Midi or Antwerp-Central thanks to a collaboration between Air France and Eurostar. However, the connection to Amsterdam-Schiphol must not exceed 24 hours and must include an international flight with KLM, departing from the Dutch capital.

Travelers can also select a combined trip between Brussels and Paris thanks to a partnership between Air France and Air&Rail agencies. And whatever cabin they choose on Air France planes, they travel first class on the TGV between the two capitals.

Air&Rail even offers to take charge of passengers’ luggage, subject to available space on the TGV. Passengers simply drop off their baggage at the check-in desks in the Air&Rail terminal at Brussels-Midi station.

To book your combined TGV and air travel, simply go to the Air France website, on the new bookings page, and enter the name of your departure or arrival station, as if it were an airport.

Since 2022, passengers opting for the Train + Air system have received a single digital ticket covering the entire journey. On it is a QR code valid for both rail and air travel. This means you no longer need to collect your paper train ticket from the station.

A ticket combining flight and TGV is no more expensive than the same ticket combining two flights. For a one-way flight between Marseille and Montreal, via Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France charges just over 1,000 euros. This fare is just as valid for a ticket combining a flight and a TGV train as for a ticket combining two flights.

The only downside, however, is when you compare the price of a Marseille-Montreal ticket with a Paris-Montreal ticket. On the same date, the airline charges just under 200 euros for a flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Montreal. And if you take a look at the SNCF website, you’ll see that it’s possible to travel by TGV between Marseille and Paris (still on the same date) for less than 20 euros.

Opting for separate tickets is therefore much cheaper than taking a Train + Air ticket. It should be noted, however, that travelers who choose to book a train ticket and a plane ticket independently have no protection in the event of a delay. Normal pricing conditions apply.

If you decide to pay for a Train + Air ticket with your Flying Blue Miles, the offer suddenly becomes much more attractive. In fact, there is no difference in price between a combined TGV and flight between Lille and Montreal and a direct trip between Paris and Montreal; both routes are offered at 20,000 Flying Blue Miles and 103 euros.

In addition, paying with Flying Blue Miles, a trip between Marseille and Montreal is less expensive when you choose the Train + Air option than when you opt for two connecting flights.

Of course, these are just examples; rates are subject to change according to destination and time of year. However, we can see that the Train + Air option is not always the most profitable. Opting for a separate plane and TGV ticket could be cheaper; however, it does involve the risk of missing your connection.

Booking a combined trip by TGV and plane with Air France offers a significant advantage: protection in the event of train or plane delays. If the connection is missed, passengers are re-routed free of charge on the next train or flight, with the possibility, where applicable, of a night’s hotel accommodation, paid for by Air France.

It is important to note, however, that not taking the first train, whether due to delay or any other reason, can result in a “no show” and potentially invalidate the flight ticket, or even the entire booking. Similarly, for the return journey, the plane journey is imperative for the train ticket to be valid.

Luggage transfer is not provided between train and plane, in either direction. On arrival at the airport, travelers must go to the airline counter to check in their checked baggage. And when you land, don’t forget to collect your luggage before continuing your journey by train.

For nearly 30 years now, Air France and SNCF have been offering their passengers a way to combine train/TGV and air travel in the same reservation, for a seamless end-to-end journey. A particularly interesting service, especially for reducing your environmental footprint. It’s important to note, however, that Train + Air tickets are not always the cheapest, so it’s worth taking the time to compare prices.