Changing Boarding Location

Perhaps a silly question, but here goes: We are scheduled to do the Cardinal in May, connecting with the CZ in Chicago. Our current reservation is for boarding in Maysville, Kentucky, which is closest station to us. The next stop on the route is Cincinnati. (Both stops are in the middle of the night, and about 2 hours from our home.) However, reservations were made back a while ago. We have since made our flight reservations from California back home, and have chosen to fly into Cincinnati. As such, to avoid asking a family member to drive us 2 hours in the middle of the night, it would probably be best to drive to Cincinnati to board the train, park our car, and fly back into Cincinnati.

My question is, do we officially have to change our reservation, or can we simply just go to the next station? If we don't show up in Maysville, does it cancel? And, assuming it would be okay to go to the next stop, is there a chance the train does not actually stop if there are no passengers expected to be boarding or de-boarding in Cincinnati?

Thanks.

Your reservation will cancel if you donT chAnge it. The train will stop at CIN even if passengers arent scheduled.

Modify, don't cancel and rebook. If the agent is not sure how to do this either call back for another agent or get a supervisor on the line. What Thirdrail says is true (it just about always is) A no show cancels the reservation, and that would be a real pain if someone grabbed your space on the CZ. If you are in a sleeper on either train, you have use of the lounge in Chicago, also, CIN offers checked baggage if you want to avoid carrying all of your bags. Remember, if using checked baggage only check what you will not need access to on the trip.

Thanks for the replies. We made the change, and even got a few bucks back in the form of an evoucher due to a slightly shorter route.

Speaking of checked bags, do they transfer automatically to the CZ, or do we have to retrieve in Chicago? Also, just curious, how often do you hear of bags getting lost/misplaced when checked? I work at an airport in guest relations, so I know that things can (and do) happen....even on non-stop flights. Would hate to end up in California for a week without any clothes, lol!

Really looking forward to this trip. Doing Cardinal in coach, connecting with CZ in a roomette, 4 days in San Francisco before boarding the Coast Starlight to Los Angeles. Spending two days there, then heading down to San Diego. Not sure yet if we'll be doing their metro, or taking Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner. (Now that I have a small evoucher, might as well use it???!!).

You guys are great!

Shouldnt be a problem if you check your bags to Cali, Chicago is a Major transfer point for LD Trains. ( as you said, things can happen, but Amtrak is very goood with luggage.Just take what you need aboard for the entire trip since you can't access checked bags in the Baggage Car.)

Also, as was said, you can use the Metro Lounges in CHI and LA on a same day Sleeper ticket. You may want to use a,Red Cap to/from the Trains in CHI and LA if not familiar with the busy,large Stations.

And ride the Surf Liner between LA and,San Diego, best scenery ( Ocean)on the right side going,left side returning.

You can check the bags to Chicago, retrieve them and then check them back in to San Francisco, or you can check them once all the way to San Francisco.

Someone else can comment about the feasibility of either, considering that the transfer will take place at Chicago.

jb

laurenpl said:

(snip)

As such, to avoid asking a family member to drive us 2 hours in the middle of the night, it would probably be best to drive to Cincinnati to board the train, park our car, and fly back into Cincinnati.

(snip)

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My only advice on this matter would be to park your car and THEN board the train.

Do through checking in case you are late into Chicago and don't have a chance to get then recheck your bags.

Also BE SURE TO VERIFY THE DESTINATION on the bag check. Our bags from Portland to Albuquerque were labeled "ALB" which is Albany. Luckily, the Portland agent tagged them with a Los Angeles transfer so when we got to Albuquerque and the agent realized what happened, she ran out to the train and pulled the bag just before it left. It would have possibly gone on to Chicago then had bag sent to Albany although likely, at the next stop Lamy, they would have, after being contacted, pulled off the bag but it would have been hours before we got it.

I was once seated in the Pacific Parlour Car next to someone while he watched his bags get unloaded at Vancouver, Washington (VAN).

Except that his destination was Vancouver, British Columbia (VAC). The agent at Sacramento, where he boarded, had tagged them with the wrong destination.

The rest of the way up to SEA he was on the phone with Amtrak. I wonder if he ever got his bags back.

1. You must "MODIFY" your boarding city to avoid a cancellation.

2. How much luggage are you taking?, remember that there are shelves on the lower level of the CZ sleepers to put luggage, but there are no such places on the Cardinal. In Chicago you can ask for Red Cap assistance to and from the trains.