amtrakwolverine
Engineer
seams like they don't want to bother with the hassle of the paper work.
is amtrak commission. so if a conductor sells a empty room doesn't that mean he gets a bigger paycheck.Sadly that is true, there are some that don't want the extra work.
Thankfully though there are also a good many who will do the paperwork and sell an empty room.
No there is no commission paid to a conductor for selling a room. He/she gets paid the same amount whether they sell a room or not.is amtrak commission. so if a conductor sells a empty room doesn't that mean he gets a bigger paycheck.Sadly that is true, there are some that don't want the extra work.
Thankfully though there are also a good many who will do the paperwork and sell an empty room.
So, anyone able to confirm this?i heard from a conductor on the cs a couple weeks ago that onboard upgrades are no longer sold at low bucket but at whatever price the room was selling at through the ticket agent. he said this was effective sometime in early january. anyone else hear this?
The food has gotten better. It's not gourmet, but it is not bad at all.So I am going from NOL-LAX in June leaving on the 5th...YEAH!!! I am so excited my first overnight train trip. I have a roomette and not sure what to expect. A side of me is hoping for the old fashion classy rail road days of yore but know that it is going to be a tiny closet with a even smaller bathroom down the hall and terrible food (last long haul was HOU-NOL in early 1990's and food was terrible and served on plastic foam plates and plastic glasses.Any comments?
That would be the stupidest policy if Amtrak actually wants to sell the ruddy rooms. The rooms are empty because nobody wants to buy them, usually because of the high cost-- why would selling them at the most recent bucket make sense?So, anyone able to confirm this?i heard from a conductor on the cs a couple weeks ago that onboard upgrades are no longer sold at low bucket but at whatever price the room was selling at through the ticket agent. he said this was effective sometime in early january. anyone else hear this?
It will be what you make it!!!So I am going from NOL-LAX in June leaving on the 5th...YEAH!!! I am so excited my first overnight train trip. I have a roomette and not sure what to expect. A side of me is hoping for the old fashion classy rail road days of yore but know that it is going to be a tiny closet with a even smaller bathroom down the hall and terrible food (last long haul was HOU-NOL in early 1990's and food was terrible and served on plastic foam plates and plastic glasses.Any comments?
I don't think that's a very fair statement. Yes, there are conductors who do exactly what you've stated. But I don't believe for one minute that all conductors do that, and I rather doubt that the union would ever support such a position, since reducing paperwork might just be the excuse that Amtrak needs to reduce the number of conductors needed.i wouldn't be surprised if the conductors had something to do with it if it was true. they don't like to do the extra paper work to sell empty rooms on the trains and will often pass the buck to the next shift.
Also true, but that doesn't make them lazy either.To be fair Alan, or fairer really, Conductors have the biggest job on the whole damn train and selling a room could be the last thing on their minds.
I haven't weighed in, since I haven't heard anything one way or the other. Therefore I can neither confirm nor deny the rumor. However, I will say that the last time Amtrak did change the onboard upgrade process it was well publicized, so I suspect that the rumor is not true.You haven't yet weighed in. Can you confirm that an on board upgrade is no longer low bucket?
Wasn't saying they were lazy, just adding to what you said. The fact that they actually manage a train full of people proves they are not lazy-- that takes cajones. Don't think I ever ran into a conductor who didn't do their job...Also true, but that doesn't make them lazy either.To be fair Alan, or fairer really, Conductors have the biggest job on the whole damn train and selling a room could be the last thing on their minds.
I haven't weighed in, since I haven't heard anything one way or the other. Therefore I can neither confirm nor deny the rumor. However, I will say that the last time Amtrak did change the onboard upgrade process it was well publicized, so I suspect that the rumor is not true.You haven't yet weighed in. Can you confirm that an on board upgrade is no longer low bucket?
It's quite simple. When you book a roomette it could be in a high bucket, 600-700 on some trains. If you upgrade on board you get it for the lowest price which for a train like the EB would be around $200. Of course if the rooms are selling for $200 then go for it! You won't get a discount UNLESS the rooms are selling at the higher buckets at time of booking.I have travelled in coach a few times years ago. On each trip I attempted to upgrade to a roomette, and was never able to do it. Usually the conductor says he will check for me, and then he never returns with an answer.So now I just book a roomett to make sure I get it.
I don't think you would necessarily get big a discount by upgrading on board.
Why not just book a roomette to start with?
If you plan it right and are flexible with your travel dates, you can usually get a roomette at the lowest price.
Me-I wouldn't risk the chance of having to take a 27 hours or so in coach.
Bill
i don't believe the operating crew of the train is allowed to accept tips.Question: Wouldn't offering a tip to the conductor if he get's you a roomette (and announcing that when asking for it) be helpful?
No they are not. And some would consider it insulting-- The Conductor is NOT your SCA or SA, s/he is not there to do what you want s/he is there to ensure your safety and such.i don't believe the operating crew of the train is allowed to accept tips.Question: Wouldn't offering a tip to the conductor if he get's you a roomette (and announcing that when asking for it) be helpful?
After the last AU flare-up of this topic, I called Amtrack and asked about the upgrade policy. The answer was that it is still policy to sell upgrades; but she agreed with the conductor regarding the price.i heard from a conductor on the cs a couple weeks ago that onboard upgrades are no longer sold at low bucket but at whatever price the room was selling at through the ticket agent. he said this was effective sometime in early january. anyone else hear this?
"and such" includes selling upgrade when available..The Conductor is NOT your SCA or SA, s/he is not there to do what you want s/he is there to ensure your safety and such.
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