At the end of the summer hopefully, or around Christmas time, I will be traveling from GRR to FLG to go down to school. Now I figured that I don't have a lot of stuff, so I can simply check my bags (since both CHI and FLG have checked baggage service) and highly doubt I'll have more than 3 to check (besides my two carry ons). My question is would I be able to get on at GRR with all this luggage, even though the Pere Marquette route doesn't have checked baggage anywhere along it's route? Or would I have to drive all the way down to Chicago in order to be able to check my bags. I know that my trip is actually in two legs, GRR to CHI, and then CHI to FLG, and so all I have to do is get to CHI. Would I just have to notify Amtrak/the conductor/car attendant ahead of time that I have extra bags, or would they not allow the extra bags to join me in my trip (which if I recall correctly, from GRR to CHI is only about 4 hours)
checked baggage questions
- Thread starter jdcnosse
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the_traveler
Engineer
The "official" rule is 2 carry-on bags, but I have never seen this rule strictly enforced!
There is plenty of storage space in the luggage racks above your seat and also at the end of the car.
So theoretically, (especially if the train wasn't very full) I could simply bring all my luggage (5 bags at most) to the GRR station with me and if they ask I can simply explain my situation? I don't think I'll really need help with my luggage aside from multiple trips (especially if I have 5 bags) so I could always wait for all the other passengers to board first. What about once I reach CHI? I know there are Red Caps available for the elderly/disabled, but do they help out everyone, or am I kinda on my own then?
I live roughly 30 mins from the GRR station and since there's only one GRR to CHI train a day (#371), I don't want to get to the station and find out that they won't let me and my bags on lol
I live roughly 30 mins from the GRR station and since there's only one GRR to CHI train a day (#371), I don't want to get to the station and find out that they won't let me and my bags on lol
Redcaps will help anyone, since of course they're always looking for more tips. No issue there.
But 5 bags could be pushing things. Odds are that you probably won't get hassled while trying to board the train in GRR. But I sure wouldn't want to promise that.
Any chance that a friend or a family member could join you and make a day trip to Chicago and back? That would guarantee no problems while boarding in GRR, as they'd have 2 of the bags in tow. Alternatively you could also consider doing a RT to Chicago yourself the day before the big trip with two of the bags. Get to Chicago and check those bags before coming back to GRR. They'll go out on that days train and wait for you in Flagstaff, unless you wait until after the SWC has departed that day to check the bags.
Again, the odds are probably in your favor that you could get away with 5 on your own, but having someone else do a RT to CHI or you doing it the day before would ensure no problems.
But 5 bags could be pushing things. Odds are that you probably won't get hassled while trying to board the train in GRR. But I sure wouldn't want to promise that.
Any chance that a friend or a family member could join you and make a day trip to Chicago and back? That would guarantee no problems while boarding in GRR, as they'd have 2 of the bags in tow. Alternatively you could also consider doing a RT to Chicago yourself the day before the big trip with two of the bags. Get to Chicago and check those bags before coming back to GRR. They'll go out on that days train and wait for you in Flagstaff, unless you wait until after the SWC has departed that day to check the bags.
Again, the odds are probably in your favor that you could get away with 5 on your own, but having someone else do a RT to CHI or you doing it the day before would ensure no problems.
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Well I'm thinking that I'll have 4-5 bags, but maybe someone can come with me. Unfortunately I know both my parents would come with me, however then that defeats the purpose of taking the train (one roundtrip ticket is $60, and it's roughly $60 to drive down to Chicago and back). With my student advantage card I could get the ticket down to $50ish dollars. So I guess it's really up to my parents if they want to come down to CHI with me or spend the gas on the trip.
Thanks for the help though
Thanks for the help though
Well in that case then, I guess what I'd suggest is to keep one of your parents on standby, as in don't let them leave the station until they see that you're on the train and it's leaving the station with you. That way, if you get rejected for boarding, they can drive you to Chicago to keep your connection with the Chief.
Then you can turn in the ticket for the Pere towards credit for another future train ride within the next year. Don't let that ticket go beyond 1 year however, or it loses all value. If you have no trips planned and you're getting near the 1 year mark, then you can either visit a station or mail it into Amtrak and get a voucher good for 1 year, essentially extending things for another year for you.
Then you can turn in the ticket for the Pere towards credit for another future train ride within the next year. Don't let that ticket go beyond 1 year however, or it loses all value. If you have no trips planned and you're getting near the 1 year mark, then you can either visit a station or mail it into Amtrak and get a voucher good for 1 year, essentially extending things for another year for you.
amamba
Engineer
This is a GREAT idea.
I always wondered why my ticket said it was valid from the date of travel to one year in the future. I figured that it meant that I could still utilize the ticket later if I didn't on the original date of travel, but that doesn't make sense for larger routes, how would they know if the train is booked? lol I figured that I would somehow get the voucher on the ticket however.
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