Fare increases.

[Tony P]

Hi, new to the forum. I live in London UK, 2 years ago travelled on EB Chicago to Whitefish and loved every minute.

Next year I am planning to travel late September NYP to TPA in a Viewliner bedroom (same as I did on EB), 2 questions.

1/. I have been checking prices almost daily so that I can book as soon as available, for several months as each new day was released the price was aroung $930 for 2 adults in Viewliner bedroom, this recently jumped by about $200, this a big increase, does anybody know why the bi jump?

2/. The pricing above is on Amtrak.com, if I use Amsnag and click on a date I get the old format booking screen with the lower price, am I doing something wrong and is it ok to book via Amsnag.

As an example I have just checked 2 adults in a bedroom for Aug 26, 2014, Amtrak gives $1121, Amsnag gives $973 (although can't find how to change from 1 adult to 2 adults without screen changing to new format).

Sorry if this is a bit long-winded, any help greatly appreciated

 

[Ryan]

Amsnag is a non-Amtrak site developed by a member here that simply scrapes data off of Amtrak's website and only provides price data for 1 passenger.

My guess is that it is likely that the cost "increase" that you are seeing is the cost of the second passenger.

Edit: No, there's something else going on here. Let me pull together some screen shots. It looks like Amsnag MAY be returning wrong data.Nope, Amsnag is cool, Amtrak's website is goofy.

 

[SarahZ]

When you check Amsnag, it's calculating the rail fare + bedroom for one person. When you go to Amtrak, it's calculating two rail fares plus the bedroom. Even though the bedroom price is the same for one or two people, the rail fare is calculated per person.

Does that make sense?

Whoops. Ryan beat me to it while I was tabbed out mid-response.

 

[roadman3313]

Just as a heads up Amtrak.com is sometimes giving higher prices for accommodations than available via the Amtrak App or on the phone with an agent. It appears they are generating the prices two different ways (still) just from my personal experience and observations.

 

[Ryan]

OK, here's what's happening. This isn't an Amsnag issue.

The room charge is increasing when there is more than one person. Witness:

I think that I recall reading somewhere that it was a bug with the new website and that you could call and get the "right" price.

 

[SarahZ]

Ohhhh... that IS weird. Thanks for the screenshot.

 

[Tony P]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies!!

I think I will keep on checking prices and when the day I want is available I will telephone Amtrak and speak to somebody.

Does anybody know what time the day changes for the "next day" to be available?

 

[the_traveler]

Also, some fares start out (at 11 months out) at a higher fare now, and then lower as the time nears. And on some of the popular routes (like the Empire Builder in summer), a large block of rooms are initially purchased by travel agents, resulting in higher fares for the remaining rooms. When those rooms are not sold as they expected, they release those rooms, and the fares lower.

Thus, sometimes "being early" is not always the lowest fare.

 

[pennyk]

There are only 4 bedrooms on the Silver Star (train 91), which may explain the increase in cost. I think only one bedroom may be sold at "low-ish" bucket.

 

[Anderson]

I'm wondering if Amtrak isn't bumping the room charge for the addition of a second person now (or planning to in the future).

 

[J-1 3235]

Considering the extra rail fare paid by the second passenger, I think the cost of meals, linens, TP, etc., is covered.

IMHO, they should not add it now or in the future.

 

[roadman3313]

I just finalized a booking and the phone agent gave me the low-bucket price for a room with 2 people whereas the website price was higher for even just 1 person.

The website appears to charge buckets depending on the number of people, not the number of rooms. For example, say there are 3 rooms available at price X. The website is seeing that as 3 passenger spaces available at price X, regardless if 1, 2, or 3 rooms are purchased. Even if you have 3 people in 1 room (day use), the next person who came along and tried to book would now see rooms at price Y since all 3 "spaces" were filled, even though only 1 room was taken from those available in price X.

I'm not sure if anyone at Amtrak is aware of this potential problem or is working to fix it, but according to the agent it appeared that people were sometimes getting higher prices online than available via phone or mobile app.

 

[SarahZ]

Thanks for the update. I'll call tomorrow if that SWC roomette that just opened up is still available.

/crosses fingers

/stalks website

 

[Tony P]

Thanks to everybody that replied.

I have installed the Amtrak app on my iphone.

Tried Sept 2nd 2014 for 2 adults NYP to TPA in a bedroom, on PC was $1121, on iphone app was $973, clearly Amtrak website not working properly, giving different fares depending on the device used to book tickets. I am looking at mid to late Sept 2014 and so will check nearer the time, hopefully Amtrak will have it sorted, if not I will use iphone, just a bit more fiddly.

 

[PaulM]

When you check Amsnag, it's calculating the rail fare + bedroom for one person.

To clarify, it displays the current coach fare (not the low bucket used when you add a room) and accommodation charges - roomette, business class, etc. It doesn't do any addition or other calculation.