During a French TGV strike, must I go to the station to get a full refund for my ticket?
I booked a TGV a while ago with a discount card, the conditions of the ticket are that I can get refunded entirely before the departure of the train, and a fee is withheld if I cancel my ticket the day of the trip.
I received a text saying that the train will not run and I can receive a full refund if I cancel my trip. But when I go online, if I click "Cancel" the only option is to pay the fee (my trip is today). On the mobile app, the "Cancel" button is not even available.
I would like to know how I can get a full refund. Apparently according to the text I received, I can get a refund if I go to the station. But is there a way to get a refund without going to the station (as I do not want to take the train any more)?
Best Answer
You can call the SNCF phone line on 36 38, they will cancel your tickets based on its reference . Assuming you old that big old kind of tickets, not an e-billet or a regional ticket. Black and white, without a QR-code but with the mention à composter avant l'accès au train, your reference are the six letters next to dossier on the lower right corner.
Then you will need to return your ticket to a station or by mail to actually get refunded.
According to the French FAQ (wich has not been translated in english) you should be able to cancel any ticket on a strike day with no fee. Even usually-not-refundable tickets (like Prem's) are refundable. This pages says that you can even get refunded after departure times on strike days.
Good to know ; on strike, and if your train is cancelled, you can take any other train that goes to your destination without additionnals fees -- even with non-exchangeable tickets.
Those details may varry from one strike to another, depending of it's duration and geographical area.
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What happens if you miss TGV?
If you do not have any of the above ticket types (e.g. you instead have a SNCF TGV ticket with a seat reservation), you will have to purchase a new ticket. If the fare conditions permit it, you are able to cancel/exchange your tickets before the train departs.What happens if SNCF train is Cancelled?
Head to your nearest train station to exchange the ticket. If you're not near a train station, then arrive at least 1 hour before your intended departure so you can exchange the ticket and get another seat.Are Ouigo tickets refundable?
How to exchange or modify my OUIGO ticket? The OUIGO tickets are non-refundable and can be exchanged for \u20ac10 with the OUIGO customer service until up to 1 hour before boarding.Are TGV tickets transferable?
Please note that you must stick to the exact same route and same train type (e.g. you can't use this type of ticket for a TGV train, even though it has the same destination).France: What is the rail strike all about?
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