printman2000
Engineer
How will e-ticketing be handled with a thru bus? Surely they will not be issuing iPhones to bus drivers. Or are they?
Bus drivers operating Amtrak California routes *will* get the iPhones, and the routes which currently have e-ticketing *already have them*. This is confirmed! (Look for Amtrak Pacific Divison Newsletter.)Not sure how that's going to be handled. I suppose that it may well depend on who the provider of the bus service actually is. For example it would not surprise me to find that some of the Amtrak California bus runs do get iPhones.
But I wouldn't expect that the Greyhound run between Detroit & Toledo gets them. I'm figuring that if your trip includes a bus without eTicket capabilities, then you'll get traditional tickets for your entire trip.
I don't know exactly how the system is architected, but it seems to me that it should be possible to issue a "boarding card" for a specific segment without disturbing anything else in the system. If that is the case then they should not have to issue a paper ticket for anything, since the collected boarding cards would be usable to record that the segment was actually used.Not sure how that's going to be handled. I suppose that it may well depend on who the provider of the bus service actually is. For example it would not surprise me to find that some of the Amtrak California bus runs do get iPhones. But I wouldn't expect that the Greyhound run between Detroit & Toledo gets them. I'm figuring that if your trip includes a bus without eTicket capabilities, then you'll get traditional tickets for your entire trip.
Option, perhaps for the passenger, but all (train) routes will be capable.Seems I remember someone saying July 30 is the date e-tickets will become an OPTION for all routes. Maybe it will not be required yet.
Etickets won't show up as an option until July 30. It's essentially like flipping a switch. Right now the routes aren't eticket capable, so you don't get that ability. On July 30, they will be, and then you'll see it.I'll put it this way.. I just booked a trip for July 30th and 31st. I was still given the same choices. Pick up or Express Service. I went with the Pick up naturally. Why pay an extra $15 for nothing.. Plus I'm hoping July 30th when I show up at PAO to hop the train it'll be eTickets.
Shoot. Wish I had known that. I guess then I will be one of the very last people to use a paper ticket when we travel June 29, 2013.Based on this, e-ticketing starts at 9 AM.Bought tickets for June 2013 this morning (July 30) and there was no e-ticket option. This was for the Texas Eagle.
If you want an eticket, and you haven't already printed out your paper ticket, you could call Amtrak later on and see if they can convert your reservation to eticket status. Not sure 100% if it would work. Or you could cancel and rebook.Shoot. Wish I had known that. I guess then I will be one of the very last people to use a paper ticket when we travel June 29, 2013.Based on this, e-ticketing starts at 9 AM.Bought tickets for June 2013 this morning (July 30) and there was no e-ticket option. This was for the Texas Eagle.
Hand raised!I guess Amtrak is now officially an "E-Ticket Ride"! (Raise your hand if you get the Disney reference, ya ol' timers!)
ACtually, having looked it up, your ticket is supposed to automatically convert to an eticket when it's printed (at a ticket office). No further action required.If you want an eticket, and you haven't already printed out your paper ticket, you could call Amtrak later on and see if they can convert your reservation to eticket status. Not sure 100% if it would work. Or you could cancel and rebook.Shoot. Wish I had known that. I guess then I will be one of the very last people to use a paper ticket when we travel June 29, 2013.Based on this, e-ticketing starts at 9 AM.Bought tickets for June 2013 this morning (July 30) and there was no e-ticket option. This was for the Texas Eagle.
The terms and conditions suggest that all cancelled e-tickets are subject to the 10% refund fee (maximum $100), however a former Amtrak travel agent who posts at another site says he has confirmed that e-tickets will be 100% refundable. I guess we will not know for sure until someone tries it out.What about cancellation policy? Is it still free cancellation now with eTickets?
Enter your email address to join: