Air France Frequence Plus - CDG-LYS, AF or TGV?

Arriving CDG 12:30pm on a Sunday from JFK (the 11:20pm departure). Next available connection to LYS departs CDG 3:50, arrives LYS 5:00.

Meanwhile, there are TGVs departing CDG for Lyon at 12:54 (arriving 3:01) and 1:54 (arriving 4:01), so train seems like a better plan.

Questions:
- Probably can't make the 12:54, right?
- If my flight is delayed, can I use my TGV ticket on a subsequent train?
- Can I collect miles for the TGV (I'm a Skymiles member, not FB)?
- Anything else to know about the AF/TGV transfer?

Arriving CDG 12:30pm on a Sunday from JFK (the 11:20pm departure). Next available connection to LYS departs CDG 3:50, arrives LYS 5:00.

Meanwhile, there are TGVs departing CDG for Lyon at 12:54 (arriving 3:01) and 1:54 (arriving 4:01), so train seems like a better plan.

Questions:
- Probably can't make the 12:54, right? Right !
- If my flight is delayed, can I use my TGV ticket on a subsequent train?depends on your fare
Can I collect miles for the TGV (I'm a Skymiles member, not FB)? only if booked as part of your airline ticket
Anything else to know about the AF/TGV transfer?
In your case, fly from CDG to LYS.

Arriving CDG 12:30pm on a Sunday from JFK (the 11:20pm departure). Next available connection to LYS departs CDG 3:50, arrives LYS 5:00.

Meanwhile, there are TGVs departing CDG for Lyon at 12:54 (arriving 3:01) and 1:54 (arriving 4:01), so train seems like a better plan.

Questions:
- Probably can't make the 12:54, right?
- If my flight is delayed, can I use my TGV ticket on a subsequent train?
- Can I collect miles for the TGV (I'm a Skymiles member, not FB)?
- Anything else to know about the AF/TGV transfer?

Do you actually have a connection ticket (either by train or by plane) or do you intend to buy one?

If you intend to buy one, where are you going in Lyon? You may not know that the airport is quite far from city centre and taxis are expensive (60 EUR is a common price).

Do you actually have a connection ticket (either by train or by plane) or do you intend to buy one?

Don't have any ticket just yet. What's a "connection" ticket?

If you intend to buy one, where are you going in Lyon? You may not know that the airport is quite far from city centre and taxis are expensive (60 EUR is a common price).

Staying overnight in Lyon (Hilton), then renting a car and driving to Valence.

By connection ticket I meant JFK-CDG-LYS. Obviously it is not your case.

My advice would be to take the TGV. So :
- just pick up your bags upon arrival
- go through immigration
- walk to CDG TGV station (between terminal E/F and C/D)
- buy a TGV ticket to Lyon Part Dieu for the 1:52 PM train (arrives in Lyon Part Dieu at 4:01)

If you prefer, you could book your train ticket in advance at www.tgv-europe.com and retrieve it at the SNCF counter in CDG.

PS : next direct train between CDG and Lyon Part Dieu is at 3:53 PM (arrives at 6.01)

As someone who does this sort of thing often, I would remark that the lines to buy tickets at the TGV station at CDG are often quite long, especially on Sunday. Especially if it is around a French holiday time. Sometimes the lines are long even if you use the automated ticket machine. And sometimes the trains can be sold out on Sundays.

The drawback to flying is that it is a very expensive taxi back to Lyon. And if you are going to the Hilton, there is no direct bus.

I usually take the relaxed route. I take the AF bus to Gare de Lyon (or the metro if traffic is bad). I have a very nice lunch at le Train Bleu, then I take the TGV to Lyon or Dijon or wherever I need to go. In fact I did this just yesterday and thanks to the lunch, I slept very well on the train. ;)

Decided to take the TGV. Next question: 1st class or 2nd? Is there a substantial difference?

First class is a 2-1 config and has more legroom that Second class which is 2-2.

The main difference IMO is the noise : as there are more people in Second class, it is more noisy, particularly if it is vacation time with all the families.

Unless you are very tall, I would go for Second class since it is a 2-hour ride.

Decided to take the TGV. Next question: 1st class or 2nd? Is there a substantial difference?

Definitely take 1st class. If you buy well in advance the price difference is really not that big. (20 to 40 euros)

Am I the only one that thinks that without a delay you can definitely make the 12:54 train?? I've got off a plane from the US and made it to a train within 1:30 min... although I'll admit I'm familiar with the territory....

First class often (but not always) has power ports at the seat if you want to charge up your laptop or phone or watch a movie. It is usually quieter in 1st class as people respect their neighbors and take their phone calls out in the hallway.

Anyone know offhand whether this TGV route has free WiFi in First class? (or any WiFi at all, for that matter)

Sorry, no WiFi on this train. But 3G works pretty good for part of the route. I use my iPhone on it just fine.