Magnolia Room New Orleans

I am starting a trip on the CONO out of New Orleans, but due to routing considerations, I have a coach ticket from NOL to Hammond and the sleeper ticket starts in Hammond. I know that by talking to the conductor, I may be able to occupy my bedroom out of NOL, but I am curious if I will be able to use the Magnolia Room at the station. Is it even worth trying?

Thanks,

Steve

SteveSTX said:

I am starting a trip on the CONO out of New Orleans, but due to routing considerations, I have a coach ticket from NOL to Hammond and the sleeper ticket starts in Hammond. I know that by talking to the conductor, I may be able to occupy my bedroom out of NOL, but I am curious if I will be able to use the Magnolia Room at the station. Is it even worth trying?

Thanks,

Steve

Click to expand...

Yep, you have a "same day" sleeping car ticket so get the door code from the ticket agent and enjoy the Magnolia Room! ( there's no Magnolias there!)

When the Conductor scans your e-ticket ( they board sleeping car pax first) show them both tickets, and let them know you are going to occupy your room in Hammond and then let your SCA know @_trainside. Chances are no-one will be occupying your room for the brief trip so you can put your luggage in the downstairs rack and occupy your room out of Union Station!

From what I've heard about the Magnolia Room, it doesn't seem worth the effort to try to get inside.

Jim is correct that you can get entry with a same-day ticket, but it's nothing to write home about. I call it the Mongolia Room, as it's pretty bleak and spartan.

CHamilton said:

Jim is correct that you can get entry with a same-day ticket, but it's nothing to write home about. I call it the Mongolia Room, as it's pretty bleak and spartan.

Click to expand...

But they escort the Magnolia Room occupants to the front of the line.

Besides, who wants to sit with lowly peasants? :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:

I used the Magnolia room late May and they have renovated the room with new more comfortable furniture and TV's. So it is worth trying to get into. But not for the coffee or non-existent snacks. And the conductor did come to the room and lead you to the front of the line but you did not have to be in the lounge to get to the front of the line--just be a sleeping car passenger. One word of advise: when boarding in NOLA the coaches are the closest cars to the waiting room so you would have to pass the coaches, SSL, and dining car to get to the sleeper. I would suggest assuming the role of a sleeping car passenger when boarding and go directly to the sleeping car where the SCA will have a "manifest" of passengers and should allow you to board and occupy your sleeping car room in New Orleans.

I am just curious, but what routing consideration would start your sleeping car arrangement in Hammond instead of New Orleans? Since Hammond is first stop there should be no difference in pricing and, if AGR rewards the entire route of the CONO is within the same zone.

Tennessee Traveler said:

I am just curious, but what routing consideration would start your sleeping car arrangement in Hammond instead of New Orleans? Since Hammond is first stop there should be no difference in pricing and, if AGR rewards the entire route of the CONO is within the same zone.

Click to expand...

If it's similar to my route last year (Chicago to NOL to WAS back to Chicago), paying coach to the first stop or two gets you around the "circle rule".

I had a coach ticket to Slidell and then a roomette to WAS. Since nobody was in the room, the conductor allowed me to board with the sleepers and told me to let the SCA know it was okay to let me into my room right away.

There is indeed a price difference for a roomette if you book the roomette from Hammond instead of NOL - about $6.

Thanks for all of the info!

I'm doing HMD-CHI-WAS-MIA on a 2-zone AGR redemption. If you just do NOL-MIA, your options are the Crescent and the no-diner Silver Star or the CONO/Cardinal/Bus/Meteor. By starting in HMD, the CONO/Cap Ltd/Meteor is available.

I would have started in my hometown of Houston, but I don't like the bus to Longview, and the Texas Eagle is so undependable that I didn't want to risk missing the connection in Chicago. So I've got a $49 flight from HOU-NOL in the morning and will have time to ride some streetcars before the afternoon departure.

me_little_me said:

But they escort the Magnolia Room occupants to the front of the line.

Click to expand...

Don't you mean "they force the Magnolia Room occupants into a kindergarten walk"? I thought that was the standard phrasing on this board.

MikefromCrete said:

From what I've heard about the Magnolia Room, it doesn't seem worth the effort to try to get inside.

Click to expand...

Yes, it's the "kindergarten walk," to be sure.

BUT....

The seats are more comfortable. It is MUCH less crowded, and quieter. It's not as nice as the Met Lounge at CUS or PDX, but I'll take it over the general seating at NOL.

On our last trip to New Orleans, the Magnolia Lounge was very crowded and had no soft drinks or snacks available and the TV was tuned to Fox News. So we opted to sit outside and enjoy the people and the ambiance of the station. When the conductor came to announce sleeping car boarding we just went to the doorway and waited for the Mag Lounge passengers who were coming out the door.

I vote for "not worth it." I am not a fan of Amtrak's lounges in general, which imo get shabby quick and serve up nothing I would want even for free.

The one in NOL is no exception in my opinion. But there's another factor here--the train station itself is architecturally significant. Not the building so much as the 130 foot mural by Conrad Albrizio depicting local history that adorns the main waiting room for "peasants." To lock yourself in a room with Fox News when you could be gazing at this impressive public art doesn't make sense to me. So on my last trip out of NOL, I tried the lounge, for 30 seconds, then spent the rest of the wait in the main hall. The pre-boarding here, with a smallish crowd, is really not necessary (imo).

There's some info on the station at http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/NOL

And for images of the mural check out https://www.google.com/search?q=new+orleans+train+station+mural&biw=1920&bih=955&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=K_-RVYv2NYvxsAWm54fACQ&ved=0CB0QsAQ

I always leave out of NO to travel on the Crescent to NJ, Magnolia Room is not worth it in my opinion. Now if it was like the one in Philly, I would say go for it,but not Magnolia Room. On a side note my 15 year old cat is dying and I am so sad,any cat lovers,help me out.

I'm taking the Crescent out of NOL in about a month; I haven't been there in many years, I'm going to at least see what the Magnolia Room is like.

I'm sorry, Cassie. We put down our 20-yr old cat Friday. It hurts, I know. I don't have anything I can say that will make it better, I'll just say a prayer for both of you.

Cassie: losing a loved one, whether human or a pet, is never easy, but as one who has experienced both several times, the old saying "it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.." is very true!

After the grieving period ( different for everyone) is over, please consider adopting a rescue kitten and enjoy sharing life with someone new who needs you!

As for the NOL kindergarten walk, it is all of about 50 feet if that much--just come out the door into the main waiting room and get in sleeping car passenger line. No customer service rep led me either in the station or out to the train. I am not sure I would call those two moves a kindergarten walk. Also, personally, I like the customer service rep leading us out from the Metropolitan Lounge to the appropriate gate bypassing the waiting room. If it was a kindergarten walk the customer service rep would have walked us all the way to the sleeping cars. I've never had such a rep walk us pass the beginning of the track gate.

So sorry Cassie.... our then 12 year old cat was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and we've been battling....spending $$$$$ to keep him going and lots of time and blood - he doesn't like his medicine or his inhaler... but my husband and I both agreed that if it ever gets to be too much, we both will be there to put him down... it's heartbreaking but you can only repay the love given to you but being the best cat pack you can be....

He is doing much better....but we know it's only a matter of time.....

Hugs.....

Thanks to all u cat lovers-jimhudson I don't think I can ever get another kitty, no one can replace my cat Othello, I can't go thru this again..Chey-I am so sorry for u, I know how it must hurt, just the thought of doing it makes me cry, I wish he would just crawl up in my lap and go to sleep peacefully, I watch him like a hawk now. Bobnjulie I will have u in my prayers, I never thought it would hurt this much. Every night when I feel the foot of my bed and he is not there, I get up and search for him. my vet told me I would love again, but how can u go thru this more than once?

Hey, there's lots of cats out there that need humans.

Please consider helping another one, it'll be a whole different relationship, but please consider taking another cat.

My Zeke died 40 years ago, and my wife's Tikki had to be put down (some horrible virus thing) 30 years back.

BUT -- find a crittur that needs you.

It won't be the same, but it will be good.

My sympathies indeed, shared by my two 3 year old kitties, Hedley and Boris. One if these days I will have to come to sad decisions, but I know now what joy they give me ! Please consider getting another pet down the road. My two make my house a happy home.

Railroad Bill said:

... the TV was tuned to Fox News. ..

Click to expand...

I don't understand this phenomenon at all... in 99.9% of the cases it's not the proprietor or manager who has done this, it's a customer. This happens in hotel breakfast rooms a lot. I learned a few years ago to simply get up and change it to something innocuous (local morning shows if it's breakfast time). Only once have I been challenged on this, and I looked them straight in the eyes and stated "I will not be shouted at, especially during a meal." End of discussion.

Re. "Kindergarten walk"... I don't mind this at CHI, frankly. Sure beats "Italian queuing" (i.e., a mob rush). This broke down, however, on our last CONO ride, where the conductor at CHI was running interference on the platform and had to scan every ticket before you went past him, and the coach passengers were let onto the platform just about timed with the sleepers. Did not appreciate having to stand 10 minutes in line in the dungeon just because the conductor didn't want to walk the whole train after departure. We got out on time... barely.

Note to Cassie on the loss of her cat. The addition of a cat to a family can bring real joy for many years while the passing of the cat can hurt terribly. We have had many cats over the years ; one that was so special and another that was almost as loving. When our current cat passes away (shes' 15 now) we will grieve and then head to the humane society to save another cats life. We adopt the cats that no one else wants and in our case adopted, "Little Chocolate" who was left an orphan when her elderly owner past away. She was at 10 years old and at the shelter for 18 months with no takers. She was really bummed out, so we took in this old black cat with the graying fur, the pot belly and gave her a good home for the rest of her years. At 15 she is still healthy, slowing down but still a wonderful friend. We realize that she is going down the final stretch. When she goes we will grieve but we accept that life is not forever. We will then go back to the shelter adopt and unwanted cat. This really eases the pain, knowing that we have done something good..

As for the main topic of the Magnolia room at NOL; its just a small waiting room, with chairs a sofa and a table, away from the crowd in the terminal. IMO, a better place to wait than outside. They should have some coffee there but having not been there for a few years, we don't know if it is still offered.

SteveSTX said:

I'm doing HMD-CHI-WAS-MIA on a 2-zone AGR redemption. If you just do NOL-MIA, your options are the Crescent and the no-diner Silver Star or the CONO/Cardinal/Bus/Meteor. By starting in HMD, the CONO/Cap Ltd/Meteor is available.

Click to expand...

Is there some sane explanation for why these are the options Amtrak presents to you? Could you make the sensible connection if you called an agent instead of looking online? Are there many other examples in the Amtrak system of the obviously best option not being offered?

Thanks,

Ainamkartma