drop from high bucket to low bucket

[jdcnosse]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

 

[Bob Dylan]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

 

[jdcnosse]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

I did not no that! Possibly because my home station, GRR is unstaffed haha

But if that is the case, then I will book it tomorrow (a week from the date I'd leave) and then go purchase it on the 28th...

Thanks Jim!

 

[Anthony]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

The time limit is "up to a week" -- the closer you are to departure when you book, the smaller the hold window.

 

[jdcnosse]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

The time limit is "up to a week" -- the closer you are to departure when you book, the smaller the hold window.

Well...I really don't want to have to go down to KAL just to pick up tickets...it's a good hour at least to drive down there...

The only reason I'm leaving out of KAL instead of GRR is because well, they have more options going into/coming from CHI, and I haven't been on the Wolverine/Blue Water yet...lol

 

[Anthony]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

The time limit is "up to a week" -- the closer you are to departure when you book, the smaller the hold window.

Well...I really don't want to have to go down to KAL just to pick up tickets...it's a good hour at least to drive down there...

The only reason I'm leaving out of KAL instead of GRR is because well, they have more options going into/coming from CHI, and I haven't been on the Wolverine/Blue Water yet...lol

You can call, book it (hold it), and then pay over the phone before the reservation expires. You can call now at 1-800-USA-RAIL to lock in the current price until then. Once paid on the phone, you can pick up the tickets at your leisure up to the day of departure.

 

[jdcnosse]

I've been watching the price for the 365 Blue Water for December 28th 2011 from KAL to CHI, and I just noticed today it dropped in price from $53 to $31. I assume this is from high-ish bucket to low-ish bucket, and probably because Amtrak is trying to just sell all of the seats on the train. Is there specific criteria that occurs to make Amtrak do this, or is it just a "uhhh...let's drop the price and see what happens" kinda thing?

I only ask because I (and yes this is pushing it lol) don't get paid until Friday (the 23rd) so I can't buy the tickets until then, and I really don't want them to be sold out (although the 351 Wolverine also works...and is the same price right now) as I have to arrive in CHI that day before 2pm (Surprising my girlfriend who's coming in on the TE that day)

You can call Amtrak @ 1-800-USA-RAIL, tell Julie you want "Agent".tell the agent you want to pick up and pay for your ticket @ the Station,Book it, theyll give you a week to go pay for/pick it up and will send you and e-mail confirming your rez # etc. Be sure and give them your AGR number also and then go pick up the ticket when you get your money! ^_^ Ez-greezy!

The time limit is "up to a week" -- the closer you are to departure when you book, the smaller the hold window.

Well...I really don't want to have to go down to KAL just to pick up tickets...it's a good hour at least to drive down there...

The only reason I'm leaving out of KAL instead of GRR is because well, they have more options going into/coming from CHI, and I haven't been on the Wolverine/Blue Water yet...lol

You can call, book it (hold it), and then pay over the phone before the reservation expires. You can call now at 1-800-USA-RAIL to lock in the current price until then. Once paid on the phone, you can pick up the tickets at your leisure up to the day of departure.

That could work however. As long as they let me keep the reservation until Friday evening. lol

Either way, thank you both for a little less stressful week trying to get these tickets I was supposed to buy them last week, but (long story shortened) no bank account, so cashing my checks at walmart (requires photo ID). Lost my license so I had to sign them over and have my parents cash them, but they'd always take part of it and just say "take it off the rent." which wasn't being paid until this week. lol and of course this really screwed with my budgeting of my check.

 

[Acela150]

I think one case of the High to Low bucket that I noticed was Thanksgiving Sunday. Buckets are extremely high that day. I checked at midnight Sunday and buckets had sunk to low bucket between NYP and PHL. The next bucket was in there but still they were low!!

 

[user 1215]

I believe you can also pay for the ticket over the phone and not receive tickets. Armed with your reservation number, you should have no problem boarding. This is what I used to do for some points runs in the past. Unfortunately, it took almost the full 15 minute ride for the conductor to process my $6 ticket. All for 100 points.

 

[jdcnosse]

I believe you can also pay for the ticket over the phone and not receive tickets. Armed with your reservation number, you should have no problem boarding. This is what I used to do for some points runs in the past. Unfortunately, it took almost the full 15 minute ride for the conductor to process my $6 ticket. All for 100 points.

KAL is a staffed station, and I believe also has quik-traks. So I don't really need to not receive tickets. However that info will come in handy if the one and only quik-trak at GRR breaks down, since it is unstaffed. lol

But I made the reservation earlier today, got it for $26 with my student advantage discount! Now to pay in a couple of days when the check comes

 

[SarahZ]

KAL is a staffed station, and I believe also has quik-traks.

It does. There are two of them kitty-korner from the ticket window.

 

[B&Ofan]

I am heading to NYC in a couple of days. I changed my reservation from the 26th to the 25th (to a regional train. The Acela express during the day was something like $135. Today I moved up to an earlier departure and noticed the the same Acela express was now $101.

 

[NY Penn]

I am heading to NYC in a couple of days. I changed my reservation from the 26th to the 25th (to a regional train. The Acela express during the day was something like $135. Today I moved up to an earlier departure and noticed the the same Acela express was now $101.

Sorry for the OT post...

you may find the link in my signature useful (if you are visiting NY, as opposed to living here or coming on business).