Southwest Chief

[velvetmask]

Just wanted to let you know, our first train trip was a huge success! We took the Southwest Chief from ABQ to LAX last week. We had coach seats going out - not too good for sleeping, but while out there we got a call from Amtrak inviting us to upgrade to a sleeper on the way back for a mere 100 extra! We bit and are so glad we did. I can't wait to take another train trip! We're hoping to visit relatives in Buffalo this fall. Hope to take the SW Chief to Chicago and the Lakeshore Limited to Buffalo. Any advise, suggestions, information you all might have would be most welcome.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Glad you had a great trip and especially glad you got to experince sleeping car travel. There is nothing quite like it.

Note that on your Lakeshore train the equipment will be single level, not double deck. That is due to stricter tunnel clearances in the east (built so much longer ago than in the west).

 

[AlanB]

Any advise, suggestions, information you all might have would be most welcome.

If you want to travel in a sleeper, then book as soon as possible. Prices rise as the sleeper sell out. And on the Lake Shore Limited there are less bedrooms than on the Southwest Chief.

Glad you had a great trip.

 

[City of Miami]

Also check the price/availability for several dates around the time you plan to go. The price of the sleeper can vary dramatically for either or both segments from one day to the next. Again, do it ASAP. If you do it on line and don't pick up your tickets you can cancel at any time without penalty, i.e. 100% refund to your CC. Also, if you register on the website you can "save" your trip for quite a while without paying for it and without the price going up.

 

[AlanB]

Also, if you register on the website you can "save" your trip for quite a while without paying for it and without the price going up.

I don't think that saving the trip locks in the price. AFAIK, it only saves the itinerary.

 

[gswager]

Glad that you had fun! I'm going from Las Vegas, NM to LAX next Monday.

Fall time in the east is brilliant- leaves turning into gold, brown, red, etc. Some trains may be packed.

 

[jccollins]

Also check the price/availability for several dates around the time you plan to go. The price of the sleeper can vary dramatically for either or both segments from one day to the next. Again, do it ASAP. If you do it on line and don't pick up your tickets you can cancel at any time without penalty, i.e. 100% refund to your CC.

Sleeping car accommodation charge: Refundable if sleeping car reservations are cancelled at least seven days prior to departure. If cancelled fewer than seven days prior to departure, but before actual departure, the accommodation charge is not refundable but may be applied to future travel purchases by issuance of a non-refundable exchange voucher. If not cancelled before actual departure ("no show"), the accommodation charge is neither refundable nor may it be applied to future travel.  The sleeping car non-refundability penalty will not be imposed if the customer chooses to cancel on account of the train being late two hours or more at the boarding station.

Information pulled directly from Amtrak.com's Refund Policy page.