Amtrak BidUp (Bidding for Upgrades - Business Class, First Class, and Sleepers)

[me_little_me]

I have always traveled in bedroom, even when alone except once with a friend to ATL in roomette, she had so much luggage and we came out of Slidell so no luggage check. I was miserable, she had large big luggage and I felt cramped. I just don’t think price they asking over 600 for NO to Atlanta is reasonable. Very high

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS? Eight years ago, you could travel between ATL and NOL for $50 roomette charge or about $125 bedroom. That did not include the railfare.

 

[Tlcooper44]

I have always traveled in bedroom, even when alone except once with a friend to ATL in roomette, she had so much luggage and we came out of Slidell so no luggage check. I was miserable, she had large big luggage and I felt cramped. I just don’t think price they asking over 600 for NO to Atlanta is reasonable. Very high

I just looked up the fare, 3 weeks out:

I find bedrooms to be consistently overpriced. Roomettes are just better value for that reason, especially if you are traveling alone.

 

[cassie225]

That is true

 

[cassie225]

But, I’m retired, bad knees, bad back,bad eyes, bad feet and I’m trying to spend my kids inheritance,so we splurge on ourselves whenever possible,so if I bid up and get a bedroom,yay,if I don’t win and stay in roomette,yay.Either way I hope I get Mr Rob as my SCA

 

[cassie225]

So my up bid was unsuccessful for the bedroom fir the Crescent to ATL, still got my roomette and I thought my bid was high it was called a strong bid, at least if something goes wrong I have a refundable ticket

 

[flitcraft]

Sorry your bid didn't work out, but at least you have the consolation of a roomette. Unsuccessful bidding to roomette from coach would sting rather more! And you have the money you would have been out if your bid had worked to spend when you get to your destination. I recommend a splurge there as a consolation prize!

 

[cassie225]

Thanks, that bedroom is still showing that it can be purchased

 

[pennyk]

I just finished a trip on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor. The sleeper car attendants to whom I spoke were not real happy with the number of coach passengers bidding up short distances when they have another passenger in that same room before or after that passenger boards or detrains. Yesterday, the SCA had to make up 10 rooms on 91 in WAS while the power was out because passengers on the NEC booked rooms between NYP (or further south) and WAS and all those rooms were occupied by boarding passengers in WAS, who wanted to have their rooms ready. Amtrak is making some more money by selling those rooms, but it is spending some money on food and beverage, and it is burning out its SCAs.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I just finished a trip on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor. The sleeper car attendants to whom I spoke were not real happy with the number of coach passengers bidding up short distances when they have another passenger in that same room before or after that passenger boards or detrains. Yesterday, the SCA had to make up 10 rooms on 91 in WAS while the power was out because passengers on the NEC booked rooms between NYP (or further south) and WAS and all those rooms were occupied by boarding passengers in WAS, who wanted to have their rooms ready. Amtrak is making some more money by selling those rooms, but it is spending some money on food and beverage, and it is burning out its SCAs.

Most people don't know how hard the OBS are working with Traffic increasing and Amtrak still short staffed on lots of LD Trains!

 

[cassie225]

I think I like being in roomette short distance as opposed to bedroom by myself, I do love the bedrooms, but maybe I had a bad taste for roomette because last time my friend has so much luggage, came from Slidell, no baggage check and it was crowded, roomette is rather roomy, even with my bags in here, by myself. I’m rolling

 

[TC_NYC]

I just finished a trip on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor. The sleeper car attendants to whom I spoke were not real happy with the number of coach passengers bidding up short distances when they have another passenger in that same room before or after that passenger boards or detrains. Yesterday, the SCA had to make up 10 rooms on 91 in WAS while the power was out because passengers on the NEC booked rooms between NYP (or further south) and WAS and all those rooms were occupied by boarding passengers in WAS, who wanted to have their rooms ready. Amtrak is making some more money by selling those rooms, but it is spending some money on food and beverage, and it is burning out its SCAs.

Also bidding up to avoid wearing a mask for the 4 hour trip and getting a nice table to get work done. This is going to end up being a fight between the customers and the OBS staff. Amtrak should side with the customers, it's free money they can take to make these LD trains more profitable.

 

[Danib62]

I mean how much work is it really for them to turn a room that was only used in a day config? Also shouldn't they be happy about the increase in potential for tips?

 

[pennyk]

I mean how much work is it really for them to turn a room that was only used in a day config? Also shouldn't they be happy about the increase in potential for tips?

They are not necessarily receiving tips and turning 10 rooms in 15 minutes is a lot of work. Many of the short distance riders want the beds turned down. It is a lot of work. Again, I am concerned about burning out the attendants, many of whom are my friends.

 

[TC_NYC]

Many of the short distance riders want the beds turned down.

Now this is something Amtrak could change. They really should include in the offer to upgrade that you won't be able to use the bed unless traveling overnight.

 

[Danib62]

They are not necessarily receiving tips and turning 10 rooms in 15 minutes is a lot of work. Many of the short distance riders want the beds turned down. It is a lot of work. Again, I am concerned about burning out the attendants, many of whom are my friends.

10 rooms were short runs and many want the beds? Sorry I find this awfully hard to believe.

 

[pennyk]

10 rooms were short runs and many want the beds? Sorry I find this awfully hard to believe.

It is OK if you do not believe it, but I saw it with my own eyes. Passengers who boarded between NYP and WAS and detrained in WAS on Sunday. I saw the attendant making beds. I did not count how many beds were made though. Many were formerly coach passengers who had never previously traveled in a roomette and wanted to experience "everything."

 

[cassie225]

I might be wrong but if I pay full price for roomette and I’m going on a long day trip, like NO to Atlanta or further, I might want the bed, just depends

 

[chrsjrcj]

Covid probably plays a role into people wanting a room as well.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Maybe if Amtrak priced rooms at a more reasonable level they could be sold at booking instead of this clumsy last minute auction thing they have going now. Fewer changes required, more money made, easier on staff.

 

[Mailliw]

They are not necessarily receiving tips and turning 10 rooms in 15 minutes is a lot of work. Many of the short distance riders want the beds turned down. It is a lot of work. Again, I am concerned about burning out the attendants, many of whom are my friends.

Don't forget about the in-room toilets in VIs; presumably they need to be cleaned as part of the turnover. Also each turnover is going to require fresh linens if the bed is used, not just folding the seats down.

 

[railiner]

It is OK if you do not believe it, but I saw it with my own eyes. Passengers who boarded between NYP and WAS and detrained in WAS on Sunday. I saw the attendant making beds. I did not count how many beds were made though. Many were formerly coach passengers who had never previously traveled in a roomette and wanted to experience "everything."

Have to agree with this. Many people will want to see the beds just out of curiosity. Not to mention some might engage in 'other' activities....

 

[pennyk]

Don't forget about the in-room toilets in VIs; presumably they need to be cleaned as part of the turnover. Also each turnover is going to require fresh linens if the bed is used, not just folding the seats down.

This was a V-1 car. Yes, so toilets had to be cleaned also. And.... because we were in WAS during the engine change, there was no power and it was hot inside the car.

 

[Ryan]

Now this is something Amtrak could change. They really should include in the offer to upgrade that you won't be able to use the bed unless traveling overnight.

This is a terrible plan. If you get a room, you should have full use of that room. Trying to put this policy in place would end poorly.

 

[pennyk]

Now this is something Amtrak could change. They really should include in the offer to upgrade that you won't be able to use the bed unless traveling overnight.

I think a better idea would be not to offer the upgrades if the room is already booked at either end of the proposed upgraded trip.

 

[jebr]

I think a better idea would be not to offer the upgrades if the room is already booked at either end of the proposed upgraded trip.

I think there'd be time to do a couple turns at longer station stops, though 10 is quite excessive. Ideally what you'd do is make sure there's adequate time to turn each room and have the booking system consider it on a car-wide level, blocking rooms as necessary to allow proper prep time after the room is vacated. I don't know what the exact time needed is, but I'd think allowing 5-10 minutes per room for a turn would at least be helpful, particularly for the bid-up process which is supposed to be a way for Amtrak to get additional revenue without much additional cost (and higher turnover would add a lot to cost.)

Of course, this all requires Amtrak's ticketing system to be able to support it, which I'd be surprised if it could do reasonably without a major overhaul.