Changing tickets (sold out train)
- Thread starter dan
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Ryan
Court Jester
1) Call back and hope for better luck.
2) Get on the train in Lamy. You're going a shorter distance.
2) Get on the train in Lamy. You're going a shorter distance.
How close is Lamy to Albuquerque? Would he risk being a no-show before he boards and has his ticket scanned?
As Ryan said, call back. If the agent says s/he can't do it, ask for a supervisor. The supervisor should know how to MODIFY your ticket (don't let them cancel/rebook it). By modifying it you'll keep your bedroom.
It's an hour and 10 minutes on the schedule, of course that's subject to a long list of things that can stretch that. AB is 100% as to getting it "modified" not canceled and rebooked. If you were starting from scratch and inventory was plentiful Lamy might be a couple of bucks cheaper, but at this stage with a sold out train, just get them to modify the boarding station. If you don't board where ticketed, you have a good chance of being cancelled as a no show, which is a real issue, especially if you have connections, or a return trip on the same reservation. MODIFY Post how you made out.....
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You don't even need to actually get a supervisor - just ask for one. Almost always, another agent (one that knows what s/he is doing) will get on the line and fix it in a few seconds.
Yes, you don't want to give up the room, or change the fare, you just want them to modify the boarding station.
Amtrak usually won't let you do this because it's considered an exchange ticket, and the room has to be released back into inventory in order for them to price the ticket from Lamy, but then you'll be charged the highest bucket. I would suggest you ask for a Supervisor, but Amtrak has no obligation to accommodate your request. Do not board in Lamy, you would be considered a no-show in ABQ and your rez would be cancelled. I've tried doing this on the Eagle (Board in Austin instead of San Antonio) and they just can't do it. It makes no logical sense, but unfortunately I think that's just how the system works. But I have had experiences where they can release the room back into inventory and re-price for my original price, but in that situation I booked the original ticket right in front of them. Do not under any means allow them to release the room back. The reason why they can't do the change is because the train is sold out and they can't re-price the trip without essentially "cancelling" your reservation. My recommendation is to either stick with Albuquerque or ride from Lamy to Albuquerque the night before on Train 4. Otherwise, just keep calling...
SubwayNut
Conductor
You can also take the Rail Runner commuter train from downtown Santa Fe to ABQ which is the main destination people are going to when they get on/off in Lamy
ABQ is my home station. A ticket from someone boarding in ABQ will be scanned before the train gets to Lamy for sure. It is 79 miles to Lamy and driving a car on the Interstate (speed limit 75 mph) takes a little over an hour.
If the train wasn't sold out the agent would probably try cancelling and repricing it at the current bucket, charging hundreds more, so availability isn't the biggest constraint here.
As much as it stinks, I would trek out to ABQ and board the train there. The ABQ station has better facilities, you'll be able to check your bags and have more time to get on board the train. In Lamy, you'll need to fit all your bags in the sleeper and there likely will be less room on the luggage racks than if you boarded in ABQ.
As much as it stinks, I would trek out to ABQ and board the train there. The ABQ station has better facilities, you'll be able to check your bags and have more time to get on board the train. In Lamy, you'll need to fit all your bags in the sleeper and there likely will be less room on the luggage racks than if you boarded in ABQ.
Exvalley
Conductor
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As others have mentioned, that is a great way to risk being flagged as a no-show.
Let us know how you make out with calling back. It is frustrating that making changes like this is so difficult.
