Take ‘Advantage’ as SNCF cuts card costs

From May 9, most of SNCF’s travel cards will be lumped under the new Advantage brand.

The Child + card will become the Family Advantage card, while the Weekend card becomes the Weekend Advantage.

The Family Advantage card will cost €49 for a year, and will allow an adult to benefit from a 30% reduction on return rail fares on trips that include weekend travel. An accompanying child, aged between four and 11, will receive a 60% discount.

It is valid on TGV InOui, Intercités, TER and Prem’s tickets.

The cost of Weekend Advantage cards will also be €49, down from the €75 cost of current Weekend cards. It offers a 30% discount for two people travelling together.

Senior and youth travel cards will be brought under the Advantage brand. The price of both will drop from €50 to €49. But the former will now allow for 30% discount across the board, rather than the current 40% discount for first-class and 25% for second class.

The latter’s 30% discount will include Prem’s tickets – before the change, youth cards allowed only a 10% discount on these tickets.

Holders of current travel cards should receive a letter from the SNCF notifying them of the planned changes and offering the chance to return their existing cards for a refund/exchange on a new card. Existing cards will carry the same benefits as they do currently until they expire.

The new Advantage cards are not valid on OuiGo services, and there are penalties ranging from €5 to €15 for cancelling or changing tickets.