9 replies to this topic

[rile42]

I have a roomette reservation for later this month on the Capitol Limited from DC to Cleveland. After making the reservation, my wife decided she wanted to go as well. Will that affect my current reservation? It seems to me, all I'd have to do is pay the current bucket rate for her rail fare and add her to my roomette reservation. My worry is that the agent might want to cancel my current reservation and then charge me at the current roometter bucket which might be alot more that what I obtained several weeks ago.

[daveyb99]

Not an issue. Just call and it shall be done.
... but do not be surprised if you get a second PNR. Now worries, they are linked and all is well.

[rile42]

The addition of my wife onto my reservation went smoothly as was suggested. However, another issue arose that didn't go as I would have liked. After printing my reservation confirmation pages, I noticed that I was assigned, on the Cleveland to DC part of the trip, to room 14. Not that I mind being on the lower level that much, for me, it is nicer to be on the upper level. I checked online first and found there were at least 8 rooms available so I knew some had to be on the upper level and the agent confirmed that there were. However, the fare had increased by $80 from when I made the reservation. When I tried to change to an upper level room, as I suspected, the agent informed me that the roomette fare would be increased by $80 if I switched rooms. I thought maybe she could work something out but it didn't happen. Her only advise was to check when we boarded if there were any empty upper level rooms we could switch to, but if there was, there might be a small fee.
I know what some might say....call back and try a different agent. I plan to do that but am not that hopeful. I guess I learned a lesson....check room assignment immediately upon making a reservation. Even then, my reservation might have kicked the fare up to the next bucket and I would run into the same dilemma.

[Ryan]

You should be able to find an agent to do the work needed to get you an upper room at the same price.

Did your wife get a second PNR? Contrary to what was said above, it can be a problem if they're not linked properly (as happened to Tracktwentynine and I last fall). All worked out in the end, but only by the grace of a polite conductor and a dining car staff that didn't check tickets.

[gatelouse]

By adding her to your existing reservation, you won't pay the "current" bucket rail fare. You will pay the lowest rail fare as you did for yourself when making your original reservation

I presume you mean that the OP won't pay the current bucket sleeper charge. The rail fare portion of the sleeper ticket is always the same [as the low-bucket coach price].

Which brings up a similar question I've had for a while. Suppose I were to book a bedroom using AGR points before April 1, then add/change/delete names of passengers after April 1. Would this too be a "free" change, or would I need to reticket at the higher, post-April 1 redemption rates?

[rile42]

Ryan.....I don't know what you mean by a PNR?

Edited by rile42, 12 March 2012 - 11:19 AM.

[Ryan]

Passenger Name Record:
http://en.wikipedia....ger_name_record

Essentially, are you on one reservation or two? If she's on a different reservation, it's important that they are linked correctly.

[the_traveler]

Which brings up a similar question I've had for a while. Suppose I were to book a bedroom using AGR points before April 1, then add/change/delete names of passengers after April 1. Would this too be a "free" change, or would I need to reticket at the higher, post-April 1 redemption rates?

If you book before April 1, 2012, you will no charged the (current) lower rate. However if you make any changes after April 1, you will pay the (new) higher rate! You would not need to reticket, but they will deduct the extra points from your AGR account!

So if you need to change, do so by March 31!