I just checked, and a cabin for 1 with the 50% off fare on the Canadian is still coming in over $1K. For a random date in March I see $1162 for the cabin for 1, $906 for a lower berth, and $770 for the upper berth. Economy supersaver (is this coach?) is $445.
Disappointed in Viarail Canadian pricing
Started by
RRrich
, Dec 26 2011 11:16 AM
29 replies to this topic
#22
caravanman
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 09:26 AM
Hi,
The "Economy" option is indeed coach seats.
My GUESS is that if they are introducing a 50% off sale now, we might find even better "express deals" following this sale... However, a 50% off air fare to North America would be very welcome to me, anytime!
Ed
The "Economy" option is indeed coach seats.
My GUESS is that if they are introducing a 50% off sale now, we might find even better "express deals" following this sale... However, a 50% off air fare to North America would be very welcome to me, anytime!
Ed
#23
pennyk
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 10:06 AM
I checked for the first Saturday in May for a room for 2 and the fare appears to be the same as they were for the express deals. The senior fare is the same as for adult, which is about double what I paid for my 12/3/11 trip.
Amtrak miles: 101,379; Routes: Silver Meteor, Champion (1973), Silver Star, Auto Train, Capitol Limited, Empire Builder, Lakeshore Limited, Adirondack, Vermonter, Cardinal, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Texas Eagle (CHI-STL), Missouri River Runner, Acela Express (FC), Southwest Chief, Cascades, Crescent, City of New Orleans, Hiawatha Service, Maple Leaf, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Downeaster.
VIA miles: 4,584; Routes: The Canadian (westbound), Ocean (eastbound/westbound).
#24
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 10:59 AM
I believe that the 50% sale is based on high-season full fare -- so it's not really 50% off for winter travel.
Also, although the headline says it's for all service classes, the fine print restricts it to coach and business.
Also, although the headline says it's for all service classes, the fine print restricts it to coach and business.
Edited by manderson, 20 January 2012 - 11:11 AM.
#25
Devil's Advocate
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 11:12 AM
If that's the case then shouldn't VIA Rail make that clear in their advertising? IIRC, in my specific case the rate I paid was a full 50% lower than the rate that was in effect the day before the sale went into effect. However, I had noticed prior to my purchase that there where times that the "50% Off" sale did not appear to be anywhere near a full 50% less. I cannot explain why that was the case. We all know what a plain speaking consumer is going to think "50% Off" should mean, as does VIA Rail, but if it's not stipulated by Canadian law then it can legally mean just about whatever VIA Rail thinks it should mean.I believe that the 50% sale is based on high-season full fare -- so it's not really 50% off for winter travel.
Any views expressed are my own and do not represent the views of my employer, parent companies, partners, or subsidiaries.
Over 50,000 people just like you recently signed a petition to expand high speed passenger rail in the United States of America.
Long live The Coast Starlight, The California Zephyr, The Empire Builder, The Southwest Chief, and The Canadian.
#26
manderson
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 01:26 PM
Confirmed with VIA -- the sale does include sleepers, but on their long haul routes it's 50% off peak season fares. Since most of us here on AU seem to be interested in sleepers on the Canadian, it's still a giant sucks-to-be-you for us.
#27
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 01:48 PM
Don't be disappointed to find that the fares for the Canadian are no cheaper than those on the Express Deals site.I have not checked the VIA website, but this morning I received an email from VIA announcing a 50% off sale.
#28
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 03:25 PM
Thanks Penny!!! 
Just got off the phone with VIA and was successful in upgrading to a Cabin for 2 on our trip this February, from our original reservation of a shared lower berth. And it only cost an additional $20 from what we'd already paid!
Would not have known about the 50% off sale without your post.
Just got off the phone with VIA and was successful in upgrading to a Cabin for 2 on our trip this February, from our original reservation of a shared lower berth. And it only cost an additional $20 from what we'd already paid!
Would not have known about the 50% off sale without your post.
Edited by Blackwolf, 20 January 2012 - 03:25 PM.
Amtrak
Capitol Corridor (too many times to count!); Coast Starlight (x20); California Zephyr (x5); Empire Builder (x2); Lake Shore Limited (x3); Maple Leaf (x1); Adirondack (x2); Cascades (x1); Pacific Surfliner (x5); San Joaquin (x7); Capitol Limited (x1); Cardinal (x1)
VIA Rail
Ocean (x3); Windsor Corridor (x2); The Canadian (x1)
#29
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 06:26 PM
Hi,
It seems that the "express deals" are flexible, being "up to" 75% off... I took the Canadian in a single berth room last summer from Toronto to Vancouver, and had a great trip, the fare I paid was $575 Canadian, which I thought was a great price, including good food and even champaign!
I hope to see a similar fare again, or it will be coast to coast on the Empire Builder instead!
Ed
It seems that the "express deals" are flexible, being "up to" 75% off... I took the Canadian in a single berth room last summer from Toronto to Vancouver, and had a great trip, the fare I paid was $575 Canadian, which I thought was a great price, including good food and even champaign!
I hope to see a similar fare again, or it will be coast to coast on the Empire Builder instead!
Ed
#30
OBS
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Posted 21 January 2012 - 07:34 AM
Thanks Penny!!!
Just got off the phone with VIA and was successful in upgrading to a Cabin for 2 on our trip this February, from our original reservation of a shared lower berth. And it only cost an additional $20 from what we'd already paid!
Would not have known about the 50% off sale without your post.
Now THERE is a good deal!
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