TICKET ERROR DISCOVERED

[ThayerATM]

We're taking a five leg Amtrak trip out west and back in September. The reservations were made and confirmed in November, 2008. I paid for the trip in November 2008, and Amtrak confirmed the reservations via email.

In December 2008 I went to the local Amtrak station, and picked up the tickets for the trip.

I called Amtrak a couple of times after that, and got on a waiting list for one leg (CHI-SEA) to upgrade our bedroom from the lower level family bedroom to an upper level bedroom. Finally, in July, Amtrak called to tell me that the upper level bedroom had become available for that leg, the reservations had been updated, and I needed to take the tickets to the local Amtrak station, and get updated tickets, which I did do.

Now the "thank-you" part---

Someone on this board once said that reservations should be checked and confirmed a month before departure. Yesterday I called "Julie" to check and confirm our reservations, and ask about changes, detours, and the like. The agent went through each leg, confirming train, bedroom, time, date, etc. When he got to the last leg, the train, time, and date all were OK, but MY TICKETS DID NOT MATCH THE CAR NUMBER on train 48 (CHI-ROC). I went right down to the local Amtrak station, and was issued new tickets that DID match with the reservations.

I can't say for sure if the original tickets were mis-printed, or if Amtrak made a change in the car number we would be riding on, but a potential mess was avoided by making one simple phone call to "Julie."

Next trip I'll pay even closer attention to every detail printed on the tickets.

 

[AlanB]

That change was caused by the return of the through sleeper to Boston. Amtrak had to juggle all the car numbers and reservations when they did that.

Even without the right car # on your tickets you probably would have been fine, as the attendants would have had your name on their manifests, so they could have figured out where you were supposed to be. The fact that you now have the correct tickes however will make it easier for all involved.

 

[ThayerATM]

That change was caused by the return of the through sleeper to Boston. Amtrak had to juggle all the car numbers and reservations when they did that.
Even without the right car # on your tickets you probably would have been fine, as the attendants would have had your name on their manifests, so they could have figured out where you were supposed to be. The fact that you now have the correct tickes however will make it easier for all involved.

I'm not complaining, nor am I criticizing. Amtrak has called with every other change in our reservations, including a very minor change about train 6 departing from EMY being moved from 8:55 AM to 9:10 AM.

I'm sure you're right that we proabaly would have been OK even with the discrepancy between the tickets and the mainifest, but

"probably" is the significant word. I like to have all the ducks in a row.

Cars 4910 and 4911 are right in line, and on the New York end of the run. I'm not sure how the addition of a through to Boston sleeper had much to do with my reservations, but it no longer matters. I'm happy as a clam.

 

[AlanB]

Cars 4910 and 4911 are right in line, and on the New York end of the run. I'm not sure how the addition of a through to Boston sleeper had much to do with my reservations, but it no longer matters. I'm happy as a clam.

The train was running with three NY sleepers, 4910, 4911, & 4912. For reasons that remain unclear to me, and based upon reports from other's, Amtrak took the 4910 sleeper away from NY and made it the 4920 sleeper to Boston. That left everyone booked into 4910 needing to be reassigned into either 4911 or 4912.

Mind you I'm not confused by Amtrak's taking away a NY sleeper, just the fact that they took away the 10 car instead of the 12 car.

 

[GG-1]

Mind you I'm not confused by Amtrak's taking away a NY sleeper, just the fact that they took away the 10 car instead of the 12 car.

Aloha

Could that be due to switching needs?

 

[sky12065]

That change was caused by the return of the through sleeper to Boston. Amtrak had to juggle all the car numbers and reservations when they did that.
Even without the right car # on your tickets you probably would have been fine, as the attendants would have had your name on their manifests, so they could have figured out where you were supposed to be. The fact that you now have the correct tickes however will make it easier for all involved.

I'm not complaining, nor am I criticizing. Amtrak has called with every other change in our reservations, including a very minor change about train 6 departing from EMY being moved from 8:55 AM to 9:10 AM.

I'm sure you're right that we proabaly would have been OK even with the discrepancy between the tickets and the mainifest, but

"probably" is the significant word. I like to have all the ducks in a row.

Cars 4910 and 4911 are right in line, and on the New York end of the run. I'm not sure how the addition of a through to Boston sleeper had much to do with my reservations, but it no longer matters. I'm happy as a clam.

Thayer,

While reading through this thread I had an observation I would like to pass by you.

Had you waited to pick up your tickets until shortly before your first travel date, or even on the day of travel, you would have avoided the three trips that you have so far taken to the station as well as reduce the chances that you could misplace or lose the tickets while waiting for the big day to arrive.

The only reason I can think of to go to the station this far in advance for the tickets would be because you have a travel certificate to apply to your payment of the tickets; you can't apply that voucher and pay over the phone through Julie's crew.

 

[AlanB]

Mind you I'm not confused by Amtrak's taking away a NY sleeper, just the fact that they took away the 10 car instead of the 12 car.

Aloha

Could that be due to switching needs?

I'm not even sure just what you're thinking of, but I can't imagine how switching has to do with anything. The number is simply a number assigned to a car. I can't see how some electronicly displayed number has anything to do with switching.

 

[GG-1]

Mind you I'm not confused by Amtrak's taking away a NY sleeper, just the fact that they took away the 10 car instead of the 12 car.

Aloha

Could that be due to switching needs?

I'm not even sure just what you're thinking of, but I can't imagine how switching has to do with anything. The number is simply a number assigned to a car. I can't see how some electronicly displayed number has anything to do with switching.

Aloha,

Thought what might be happening was when the 11 & 12 were removed leaving the 10 to go on, but what the heck, you know much more about Amtrak tha I ever expect to understand :unsure:

Mahalo

Eric