Bedroom downgraded to Coach a week before departure

[hoosierrailfan]

I have submitted a complaint email to Amtrak, for what it's worth... not that I expect anything out of it. After doing some thinking, I don't think I'll be able to reschedule any time soon, so I may try to book another trip so the vacation is not a total bust. The only train that seems to have sleeper availability for that time frame seems to be the Capitol Limited. I'm tempted to give that a shot, because like other members have stated, I am not willing to take a cross-country trip in coach.

 

[user 14106]

Before sending an angry email consider seeing if the Zephyr/Coast Starlight is available - I heard reports of some other people successfully rebooking to that for no additional charge though things are starting to fill up so may not be available on those dates.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I have submitted a complaint email to Amtrak, for what it's worth... not that I expect anything out of it. After doing some thinking, I don't think I'll be able to reschedule any time soon, so I may try to book another trip so the vacation is not a total bust. The only train that seems to have sleeper availability for that time frame seems to be the Capitol Limited. I'm tempted to give that a shot, because like other members have stated, I am not willing to take a cross-country trip in coach.

It's aggravating to hear how the rug was pulled out so close to departure. I cannot excuse what has already happened but I do hope you can find another trip that works for you. I've never gotten anywhere with emails but you might want to call Customer Relations to calmly explain how this last minute change has thrown your plans into disarray and give them a chance to offer a retention voucher toward future travel. It's not ideal but it might help defray the cost of your next trip.

 

[west point]

Write persons above Amtrak management. Got nice email from one. Speculation: It may be Amtrak is concentrating on Superliner returns. If running gear and COT&S will get SL cars back in service, the larger capacity SLX vs. single levels might be the thinking? Western trains appear to have a higher revenue yield. But this is all speculation. It does take 6 cars to fill out most SL trains vs 4 for east coast trains except LSL and Cardinal.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Though I believe the conclusion of posters in that thread was the downgrade had to do with the loss of a Roomette with the switch from V I to V II

Correct. But the question was “is this happenig on trains in the east” and the answer is yes.

This = having your sleeper reservation cancelled by amtrak.

 

[user 14106]

I have submitted a complaint email to Amtrak, for what it's worth... not that I expect anything out of it. After doing some thinking, I don't think I'll be able to reschedule any time soon, so I may try to book another trip so the vacation is not a total bust. The only train that seems to have sleeper availability for that time frame seems to be the Capitol Limited. I'm tempted to give that a shot, because like other members have stated, I am not willing to take a cross-country trip in coach.

Do you know if this is just a sudden cancellation or is it due to the consist shift that begin a couple weeks ago and you just never got notified.

 

[hoosierrailfan]

Do you know if this is just a sudden cancellation or is it due to the consist shift that begin a couple weeks ago and you just never got notified.

I'm not sure. The only information anybody could give me was that it was due to an equipment shortage, and that the car I was in (331 and 431) was unavailable.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Has this happened to anyone with less than a week’s notice?

I’m thinking of a backup plan—booking the same nights I would be in Chicago at a hotel (different chain so no conflict) in Fredericksburg, VA.

That way, if Amtrak says it’s cancelling my WAS-CHI trip, I would just go to FBG and enjoy those days there. If the trip to Chicago is on, I’d cancel the hotel reservation.

But if I won’t know til less than 24 hours ahead, I’d lose the hotel down payment.

I am possibly one of the least adventurous posters on here. I do not like surprises, and I like to have contingency plans for everything.

To have to start wondering if Amtrak is going to run a sleeper I’ve booked is ridiculous.

 

[zephyr17]

Before sending an angry email consider seeing if the Zephyr/Coast Starlight is available - I heard reports of some other people successfully rebooking to that for no additional charge though things are starting to fill up so may not be available on those dates.

Send the angry email even if you do rebook something. They pulled the rug out from under you at the last minute. The fact that they messed up equipment allocation, were running without enough protection equipment, or oversold was an Amtrak management failure and not yours. This kind of thing never happened prior to COVID, and they have over a year to adjust to the situation.

While you are at it write your Senators and Representatives. The clown show that is Amtrak's current executive management team have got to go.

 

[user 14106]

I'm not sure. The only information anybody could give me was that it was due to an equipment shortage, and that the car I was in (331 and 431) was unavailable.

When was your hoped for travel.

 

[tricia]

Has this happened to anyone with less than a week’s notice?

I’m thinking of a backup plan—booking the same nights I would be in Chicago at a hotel (different chain so no conflict) in Fredericksburg, VA.

That way, if Amtrak says it’s cancelling my WAS-CHI trip, I would just go to FBG and enjoy those days there. If the trip to Chicago is on, I’d cancel the hotel reservation.

But if I won’t know til less than 24 hours ahead, I’d lose the hotel down payment.

I am possibly one of the least adventurous posters on here. I do not like surprises, and I like to have contingency plans for everything.

To have to start wondering if Amtrak is going to run a sleeper I’ve booked is ridiculous.

Me too, on those last two sentences. This might be a last straw for me.

 

[toddinde]

Hello all,

I just received a phone call and email from Amtrak stating that my round-trip reservation on the Southwest Chief next week has been downgraded from bedroom to coach accommodations both ways due to what was described as an equipment shortage. I was issued a refund in the amount of the difference between coach seats and bedrooms. Has anybody heard anything else like this? I was told that they removed a sleeping car from the Southwest Chief in both directions every day at least that week, and as far as I know, the Southwest Chief has been down to one sleeping car other than the Transdorm lately anyway.

I was not given any explanation, and I was wondering if anybody here has heard anything on the matter. I'm considering trying to book another train trip somewhere, but skeptical at this point, as I don't know if whatever train I book would have its sleepers removed too, not to mention lack of availability a week from now.

This has been happening on other trains around the system. I know it’s happened on the Capitol Limited. There really is no excuse for it.

 

[Rasputin]

When was your hoped for travel.

In a post yesterday afternoon, the OP said he had just received a call from Amtrak canceling his round trip sleeper reservation on the Southwest Chief next week.

 

[zephyr17]

Gardner is accomplishing the impossible.

He is making Anderson look good.

 

[user 14106]

In a post yesterday afternoon, the OP said he had just received a call from Amtrak canceling his round trip sleeper reservation on the Southwest Chief next week.

Meant specific dates.

 

[Rambling Robert]

I’ve had results with registered snail/mail signed return receipt. I always start with thank you / then what the problem is. Then the 2nd paragraph should be the resolution in about two sentences. Then another thank you.

In this case I’d write it to the VP of Amtrak marketing. cc Walsh and DOT Sec Pete.

I’d go for an airline bump., Reschedule the pair of tickets now as bedrooms PLUS Two future bedroom trips.

Going from purchasing two bedroom trips and getting Coach is like getting a phone call from the car dealer “Very sorry we are all out of Mercedes like you ordered but we’re going put you into a nice 26” Schwin bicycle.

 

[JP1822]

Amtrak removed the second sleeper from the Southwest Chief for the summer season, and replaced it with a Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper. At the time they made this inventory change, one would have hoped that they would have contacted folks booked in the second sleeper and got as many re-accommodated in the Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper (even though its just roomette space and reduced capacity overall). The Coast Starlight, notably, got an additional full Superliner sleeper for the summer season. Presumably the Southwest Chief's sleepers that it lost, The Capitol Limited also got a second full Superliner sleeper, likely from the Auto Train. Not sure if there's starting to be a net "gain" in the system, or just a "re-arranging of the deck chairs" from various trains.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Amtrak removed the second sleeper from the Southwest Chief for the summer season, and replaced it with a Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper. At the time they made this inventory change, one would have hoped that they would have contacted folks booked in the second sleeper and got as many re-accommodated in the Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper (even though its just roomette space and reduced capacity overall). The Coast Starlight, notably, got an additional full Superliner sleeper for the summer season. Presumably the Southwest Chief's sleepers that it lost, The Capitol Limited also got a second full Superliner sleeper, likely from the Auto Train. Not sure if there's starting to be a net "gain" in the system, or just a "re-arranging of the deck chairs" from various trains.

Last fall when they dropped the 1132/1432 car/ line numbers from the starlight they gave me a call in August (my travel date was in November) to let me know they would be switching my room into a valid car.

I would assume staffing issues might be part of the reason pax aren’t communicated to sooner. Either way, I’d be disappointed as well if I was in a bedroom and was given no choice but coach.

 

[Eric in East County]

Who should those with bedroom reservations call to confirm that that their reservations haven't been changed due to "equipment shortages?"

 

[Bonser]

Amtrak removed the second sleeper from the Southwest Chief for the summer season, and replaced it with a Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper. At the time they made this inventory change, one would have hoped that they would have contacted folks booked in the second sleeper and got as many re-accommodated in the Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper (even though its just roomette space and reduced capacity overall). The Coast Starlight, notably, got an additional full Superliner sleeper for the summer season. Presumably the Southwest Chief's sleepers that it lost, The Capitol Limited also got a second full Superliner sleeper, likely from the Auto Train. Not sure if there's starting to be a net "gain" in the system, or just a "re-arranging of the deck chairs" from various trains.

Sounds like Amtrak is trying to give the shaft to the SW again.

 

[zephyr17]

Amtrak but all they'll say is don't worry be happy. The call center won't know about removing cars from a consist any sooner than the passengers getting notified.

Best guidance is if you are in the 30 car on any Western LD (31 on CZ), you are probably safe. If you are in the 31 car (32 on the CZ), watch out!

 

[zephyr17]

Sounds like Amtrak is trying to give the shaft to the SW again.

Happened on the Builder, too.

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

I just searched on YouTube, and it looks like as of two days ago trains 3 and 4 are back to standard capacity with seven superliners and even a bag. Only ten days ago they were running with just six cars, no bag. They had a number of private cars come on and off during that time, at one point even having three in tow. Did they take off a sleeper just to accommodate for all the private varnish? I guess I wouldn't be surprised if there was a motive power or engineer shortage to answer for that. At least it looks like thing may be looking up again. The Chief appears to be back in pre-pandemic condition. Fingers crossed.

 

[F900ElCapitan]

This happened to me on the CS late last summer. We were in the transdorm 40 car and it was removed. After they blocked all of the rooms needed for the crew in the remaining two sleepers, there were no more rooms left. They never did call and I didn’t find out until I called to verify when my reservation couldn’t be seen about two weeks prior. They were happy to put me in coach or business, but wouldn’t budge on the room. I then asked if they’d simply reroute me, but they wouldn’t even do that for what I paid or at a similar bucket level and instead charged me the going rate, which of course was high bucket. I was not happy!

 

[trimetbusfan]

Amtrak but all they'll say is don't worry be happy. The call center won't know about removing cars from a consist any sooner than the passengers getting notified.

Best guidance is if you are in the 30 car on any Western LD (31 on CZ), you are probably safe. If you are in the 31 car (32 on the CZ), watch out!

Doesn’t the zephyr normally run with the 40 (crew dorm), 31 and 32 cars normally?