€10–15 OUIGO tickets can beat flying between French cities
OUIGO is the low-cost version of the TGV and sometimes serves Lyon Saint‑Exupéry’s rail station, but departures from LYS itself are limited compared with inOui trains on the same high‑speed line. Journey times on OUIGO are similar to regular TGV inOui services; the saving comes from stripping out flexibility and extras, not from running slower trains.
Promo fares often start around €10–15 one‑way if you book several weeks ahead, and that’s what earns OUIGO its “Ryanair of TGVs” nickname on r/France. That price usually buys you a specific train on a specific day with almost no change or refund options, so treat it as a use‑it‑or‑lose‑it ticket.
At Lyon, OUIGO may run from Part‑Dieu or other city stations instead of Lyon Saint‑Exupéry, so check the departure station name carefully before you buy. If your train leaves from Lyon Part‑Dieu rather than LYS, you’ll need to budget about 30 minutes for the Rhônexpress or a TER/bus transfer from the airport to the city.
All OUIGO tickets are sold online or in the app, and Reddit users point out there’s no staffed OUIGO ticket office at the platforms for last‑minute changes. If your flight to Terminal 1 or 2 lands late and you miss your OUIGO departure, you’re usually buying a fresh ticket at day‑of prices on another operator.
Regulars on r/france say they only book OUIGO when their schedule is fixed and they can travel with one small bag that fits the free allowance. Extra cabin luggage, checked bags, seat selection, and power sockets can each trigger fees in the €2–10 range, so that headline €10 fare can climb quickly if you add options.
Watch the baggage rules closely: the most common complaint in Reddit threads is surprise charges at boarding for extra or oversized bags. Staff can measure or weigh luggage at the platform before you board the TGV, and if you’re over the limit you either pay the on‑the‑spot fee or you don’t travel.
Basic step‑by‑step from LYS
- 1. Land at Terminal 1 or 2 and follow signs for "Gare TGV"; walking from arrivals to the station usually takes about 5–10 minutes.
- 2. Open the OUIGO app or website with airport Wi‑Fi and confirm that your booked train departs from "Lyon Saint‑Exupéry TGV" and not "Lyon Part‑Dieu" or another Lyon station.
- 3. Screenshot or download your QR‑code ticket to your phone; OUIGO uses e‑tickets only and you may not find printers near the platforms.
- 4. Check your luggage: one small cabin bag is typically included, while an extra cabin bag or larger suitcase must be added in advance in the app to avoid higher platform fees.
- 5. Arrive at the platform at least 20 minutes before departure; boarding can close earlier than you expect and there’s no flexibility if you miss the train.
- 6. On arrival at your destination OUIGO station, keep your ticket handy; occasional checks continue on the platform and inside the station.
One last tip: if your inbound flight timing is shaky, pay the extra for a regular inOui TGV from LYS or Lyon Part‑Dieu instead of locking yourself into a non‑flex OUIGO slot.