Cardinal Sleeping Car cheat

[Seaboard92]

Something I've just learned. One can generally save 20 dollars or more depending on the day booking the train on a multi city reservation. Book WAS-CIN-CHI. On the same train one can save roughly 20 dollars. While not a lot I find that odd. Are there any other routes like that?

The other trick is to book a room from WAS to DYE one stop before Chicago. Which also saves a lot. Then use multi city to have the coach fare on to Chicago. And more then likely they will let you stay in the room as its highly unlikely for a sleeper passenger to board in dyer for Chicago.

 

[Chessie]

Very interesting indeed. Airlines sometime have hidden fares too and I have taken advantage a few times.

I was just about to start a thread asking this question that if I am allowed to book coach for one segment and sleeper for another on the same route. Eg, book coach for the SS Philly to Raleigh and change it to a sleeper afterwards. If so, would I have to reboard the train?

 

[Triley]

Very interesting indeed. Airlines sometime have hidden fares too and I have taken advantage a few times.

I was just about to start a thread asking this question that if I am allowed to book coach for one segment and sleeper for another on the same route. Eg, book coach for the SS Philly to Raleigh and change it to a sleeper afterwards. If so, would I have to reboard the train?

Not a problem at all. Long story short, as an employee I am entitled to discounts in sleepers in a bit of a convuluted manner. As such, I was planning on changing from a roomette to business class and back to a roomette, over the course of the trip from New Orleans to New York, in order to maximize my travel benefits. I felt like I was going to get on the crew's nerves by having them have to remake a room for me twice, and at 3am the second time, but other than that there's no problem.

 

[rtabern]

Southwest Chief had this going for awhile... Not sure if it still does. Chicago to Galesburg and then Galesburg to La Plata was about $8-10 cheaper than a straight Chicago to La Plata ticket sometimes. I always thought it had to do with IL subsidizing a ticket all in IL.

 

[Seaboard92]

Very interesting indeed. Airlines sometime have hidden fares too and I have taken advantage a few times.

I was just about to start a thread asking this question that if I am allowed to book coach for one segment and sleeper for another on the same route. Eg, book coach for the SS Philly to Raleigh and change it to a sleeper afterwards. If so, would I have to reboard the train?

I've done something similar but on the Cardinal coach from WAS-CIN and a 78 dollar roomette from CIN to CHI. They made me get off and walk along the platform. But that was alright. I got some fresh air which was lovely.

 

[Chessie]

Not a problem at all. Long story short, as an employee I am entitled to discounts in sleepers in a bit of a convuluted manner. As such, I was planning on changing from a roomette to business class and back to a roomette, over the course of the trip from New Orleans to New York, in order to maximize my travel benefits. I felt like I was going to get on the crew's nerves by having them have to remake a room for me twice, and at 3am the second time, but other than that there's no problem.

I've done something similar but on the Cardinal coach from WAS-CIN and a 78 dollar roomette from CIN to CHI. They made me get off and walk along the platform. But that was alright. I got some fresh air which was lovely.

Thank you both for the information. I can see myself having fun looking for hidden fares already. :lol:

 

[Ryan]

Short-booking to Dyer's been around for a while...

Finally, the Cardinal running the other way, NYP-CHI:

Much more normal. The big takeaway from this one is that you can save yourself $200 by getting your Bedroom ticket as far as Dyer and then getting a coach ticket for the run into Chicago (or if you're in a Roomette, the same trick will save you about $75).

Next up will be the Capitol Limited and the Silver Star (probably).

 

[Seaboard92]

I would love to find a cheat on the LSL. That's the last eastern LD that I haven't ridden at all. I've ridden 65 percent of the Crescent Route. And about 85 percent of the silvers

 

[chakk]

If you vacate your LSL sleeper at an early morning stop and purchase a coach ticket for the remainder of your journey, will that save you some $$$?

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

But that would mean paying for meals in the dining car, unless you're not going to eat there.

 

[zephyr17]

I would love to find a cheat on the LSL. That's the last eastern LD that I haven't ridden at all. I've ridden 65 percent of the Crescent Route. And about 85 percent of the silvers

Off topic, but the Crescent is the last Eastern LD I have yet to bag. And the Boston section of the LSL if that counts as an LD.