Auto Train Deals
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Tony
Guest
Well, count me out.
OlympianHiawatha
Engineer
I wonder if an on board upgrade would be doable?Well, count me out.
G
Guest
Guest
As long as it is available it should be doable. I have onboard upgraded tickets with a companion voucher before and it has the coach only stipulation as well.I wonder if an on board upgrade would be doable?Well, count me out.
MrEd
Conductor
I didn't think any special fare tickets could be upgraded. They make you go back to the base fare, then you upgrade.
Dovecote
OBS Chief
Another restriction is that the offer is valid for round-trip travel originating in Sanford only. Also, the $119 fare does not include the vehicle charge. The best roundtrip fare I could find including the vehicle charge was $423.
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On board upgrades are not possible on the Auto Train. The conductor does not carry the normal paperwork needed to process an onboard upgrade. If you want to change your accomodation or class level, it must be done before leaving the station. The AT is the only train that does not permit onboard upgrades, assuming that there is actually a level to upgrade to.
And I have no doubt that the station personel will enforce the rule.
And I have no doubt that the station personel will enforce the rule.
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Ryan
Court Jester
That is correct.
Wait until January when all the snowbirds have arrived in Florida and then look for the best rates. Its hard to get deals on the AutoTrain. The best that we have been able to get is $1100 round trip for my wife and myself in the bedroom/bath. The AutoTrain will increase and decrease in size depending on the number of travelers booked so its never empty. I know that roomettes are sometimes available in the terminal before boarding but don't know if you save any money booking that way.
We've taken the trip three times in the past two years and its usually a comfortable way to go. However, traveling at 70 -75 mph during the night the ride can be a bit rough in spots and it makes it hard to sleep. The good news is that the sleeping cars are in the rear of the train and the dielsel horn is just barely audible. In the coaches up front where the cheap seats are located, the sound of the horn can rattle your brain. They seem to blow it every five minutes.
We've taken the trip three times in the past two years and its usually a comfortable way to go. However, traveling at 70 -75 mph during the night the ride can be a bit rough in spots and it makes it hard to sleep. The good news is that the sleeping cars are in the rear of the train and the dielsel horn is just barely audible. In the coaches up front where the cheap seats are located, the sound of the horn can rattle your brain. They seem to blow it every five minutes.
Green Maned Lion
Engineer
Actually, the Auto Train is never turned, the engines are. So the sleepers are in the front going, I think, North, and in the back going south.
Ryan
Court Jester
Yep, the sleepers are on the North end of the train going both ways. On our NB trip is was the engines, the transdorm and then us.
Also, while they may add some cars when heavily loaded, there's a certain consist that they don't get smaller than. My mother-in-law-to-be's boyfriend (jeez, that's a mouthful) took a NB trip on Christmas Eve (or Christmas day maybe) where he said they pretty much had the entire sleeping car to themselves, said it was a very creepy experience.
Also, while they may add some cars when heavily loaded, there's a certain consist that they don't get smaller than. My mother-in-law-to-be's boyfriend (jeez, that's a mouthful) took a NB trip on Christmas Eve (or Christmas day maybe) where he said they pretty much had the entire sleeping car to themselves, said it was a very creepy experience.
Nope, no money is saved by upgrading in the terminal. You'll pay the going rate for whatever type of room you upgrade for. The only thing that will happen is that the coach fare that you had originally paid will drop to the low bucket fare.
TransitRider
Service Attendant
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 107
Alan,
I am sorry, this is incorrect. Passengers can request upgrades onboard with Conductor and it has been done and I did it few times.
Thanks
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G
Guest
Guest
On the Autotrain?
You can do an onboard upgrade on any other Amtrak train in the system. But you cannot do it on the Auto Train. I know people who have tried and failed. The AT doesn't follow the normal rules of the other LD's.
TransitRider
Service Attendant
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 107
Yes, this is true but you CAN upgrade on AutoTrain and I did it myself few times and other passengers. You would need to contact 1-800-USA-RAIL about this. I am not kidding you at all. It is possible.
I would never call 1-800-USA-RAIL to ask them such a question. First off, that's not something that they would need to know. Even if they did actually know, I'd probably get three different answers if I called three different times. If I were to call anyone, I'd call the specialists that the AT's special phone number. But even then I'm not sure if I'd get a straight answer, after all it represents lost revenue to Amtrak.
As for upgrading onboard, I suppose that it is possible that they've changed the policy, but again the last I knew the conductors were not able to do an onboard upgrade.
Therefore I urge caution for anyone who wishes to try. If you really want the sleeper, book it up front. If you don't mind gambling, then maybe things have changed.
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Green Maned Lion
Engineer
I contemplated doing it and was offered the chance. So they do offer it. Its damned near impossible to find a conductor on the Auto Train, though. They sorta operate from the trans-dorm almost exclusively.
You were offered an on board upgrade? By whom?
As for finding a conductor on the AT, that's easy. Just find a crew member and have them page for one.
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G
Guest
Guest
Did you upgrade by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL ?
Green Maned Lion
Engineer
When I rode it last time, about a year and a half ago, I asked the conductor for the price of one, and he told me $117. So obviously, he was willing to sell one if I was interested. Otherwise, he would not have quoted a price. At least, one would assume.
You really need to get out with us less rich people and ride coach sometimes, Alan.
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It's not about that at all GML. There have been several postings from people over the years who have tried to do on onboard upgrade on the Auto Train and have been told that it's not possible. Had I just seen one or two, perhaps I might have gone with the idea that they just hit the wrong conductor, as that has happened with other trains. But I've seen at least a half dozen reports, including a few from reliable sources who actually know the game, that have reported being told that they cannot perform one.
I will say that it's been at least two or three years since I've seen such a report, so again it is possible that things have been changed there. I have to allow for that.
But people also need to remember that the AT does not operate under the same rules and contracts that the rest of Amtrak does. So it would also not be unusual for the AT to have a different policy from all other Amtrak trains.
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