What travel discounts are available for over-60s in France?

Reader Question: As a resident of France who has recently retired, can I benefit from any fare reductions on public transport?

French public transport providers have various different discounts on offer for passengers who are over 60 or 65 years of age.

Paris transports

In Ile-de-France, for example, people aged 62 or over are automatically entitled to a Navigo Annual Season Ticket pass for €37.60, equating to a 50% discount on the normal Navigo Monthly price.

If you live in Paris – and have done so for more than three years – are over 65 and have an income of €2,028 or less per month, you may also be eligible for a Pass Paris Senior Access, which allows you to travel around the Ile-de-France network for free.

People aged 60-65 can obtain this card if they can prove that they are unable to work.

You can find out more about this pass through the government information page Service-public.fr

Trains

SNCF has also recently launched an over-60s subscription offer, through which people in this age group can catch any TGV Inoui, Intercités or night train service to a French destination, Fribourg-en-Brisgau in Germany or Luxembourg for €79 per month.

Read more: Ferry delays, strikes, new flights, train deals: France travel updates

People who sign up to this ‘Max Senior’ offer can only travel on a weekday, outside of school and bank holidays, and must make a reservation for the train on which they wish to travel.

Subscriptions are for a minimum of three months, after which time customers can cancel for €15. After 12 months this cancellation fee is waived.

The Avantage Senior card, which costs €49 per year and opens access to a 30% fare reduction (or 60% for four to 11-year-olds travelling with you) for people aged over 60.

This card also caps second class ticket fares to all destinations in France on top of the 30% discount.

For example, a journey lasting less than one hour and thirty minutes will never cost more than €39 for card-holders.

Commuter trains, buses and trams

Regional public transport providers such as Lignes d’Azur in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Ilévia around Lille also offer discounts for over-60s or over-65s.

You can find out more about these deals by visiting the website of your local operator, but they normally apply to TER trains, trams, metros and buses, and can either take the form of a monthly or yearly pass.

Planes

Air France’s Carte Senior enabled over-65s to access flexible tickets (with exchange fees), free hold luggage allowances and discounted fares.

The card costs €49 per year, and can bring ticket prices down by up to 30% for flights to French and European destinations, as well as some countries in north Africa and western Asia.

Air Caraïbes also offers over-60s flexible bookings and discounted prices for a subscription of €59 per year.

Car rental

Car rental firm Avis has a Club Senior discount of 10-30% for vehicle hire. The offer costs €65 and lasts for two years.

Hotel chains and tour operators also run discount deals for seniors at various points throughout the year, so it is worth checking to see what you can save each time you book.

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