First LD train trip, California Zephyr

[JoyBee]

Hi everyone,
We have just returned from our first LD trip on the California Zephyr. A senior couple. Thank you for all your help in planning and advice.

We started out from our local station and stayed in Chicago overnight at the LaQuinta. We arrived around noon in Union Station and were able to walk over and check in early with no charges. Breakfast was amazing. We left Chicago Jan 24 on time and the whole trip was great. We spend time in the Metropolitan Lounge. Minimal if any delays at all. We were booked in Car 531 Roomette 12. Both sleeper cars were running. We loved the meals and the community seating. We met so many really nice people. When we book our next trip we may try and do two roomettes for the extra space and to avoid me in the bunk! The first night we didn't sleep that well but the second night was good. Our Car Attendant was Mike and he was so helpful and a lot of fun. Our waitress was Jana and another man who I cant remember his name. Both very nice. We tipped every meal but did notice that not everyone did.

We got off for 3 nights in Reno and back on on Sun Jan 29. We were booked in coach for 8 hours or so to Emeryville. I had been watching online and noticed Coach was sold out for that portion. We talked about upgrading to a Roomette for the day but it had gone way up in price. On Sat the day before I got an email asking if we wanted to bid up. The low bid was $70 and they suggested $170. I bid $80 and a few hours later we got the email that it was accepted! We got on Sun am and they said for all new sleeper passengers to head to the dining car they were giving us breakfast. That was a nice extra! So for the $80 we both got breakfast and lunch and a quiet space to ourselves for the day. Our Car Attendant was Francine and our server was Lisa. Again, they were both so nice. We tipped again but noticed others didnt in the dining car. We stayed at the Hyatt House. It was the middle of the afternoon so we had no trouble taking the elevator and walking over. I wouldn''t want to do it after dark.

We actually arrived about 1 hour early in Emeryville. The staff all joked that it was very unusual lol Anyway, we had a great trip and I'm not sure this report will help anyone. Thanks again for all the advice on the forums. We think we will try something next Fall on another route.

 

[Flyaway]

Great to read! Very excited for our first LD trip on CZ next month. I’ve already booked us on southwest chief in August because I’m just so excited.

 

[Asher]

Hi everyone,
We have just returned from our first LD trip on the California Zephyr. A senior couple. Thank you for all your help in planning and advice.

We started out from our local station and stayed in Chicago overnight at the LaQuinta. We arrived around noon in Union Station and were able to walk over and check in early with no charges. Breakfast was amazing. We left Chicago Jan 24 on time and the whole trip was great. We spend time in the Metropolitan Lounge. Minimal if any delays at all. We were booked in Car 531 Roomette 12. Both sleeper cars were running. We loved the meals and the community seating. We met so many really nice people. When we book our next trip we may try and do two roomettes for the extra space and to avoid me in the bunk! The first night we didn't sleep that well but the second night was good. Our Car Attendant was Mike and he was so helpful and a lot of fun. Our waitress was Jana and another man who I cant remember his name. Both very nice. We tipped every meal but did notice that not everyone did.

We got off for 3 nights in Reno and back on on Sun Jan 29. We were booked in coach for 8 hours or so to Emeryville. I had been watching online and noticed Coach was sold out for that portion. We talked about upgrading to a Roomette for the day but it had gone way up in price. On Sat the day before I got an email asking if we wanted to bid up. The low bid was $70 and they suggested $170. I bid $80 and a few hours later we got the email that it was accepted! We got on Sun am and they said for all new sleeper passengers to head to the dining car they were giving us breakfast. That was a nice extra! So for the $80 we both got breakfast and lunch and a quiet space to ourselves for the day. Our Car Attendant was Francine and our server was Lisa. Again, they were both so nice. We tipped again but noticed others didnt in the dining car. We stayed at the Hyatt House. It was the middle of the afternoon so we had no trouble taking the elevator and walking over. I wouldn''t want to do it after dark.

We actually arrived about 1 hour early in Emeryville. The staff all joked that it was very unusual lol Anyway, we had a great trip and I'm not sure this report will help anyone. Thanks again for all the advice on the forums. We think we will try something next Fall on another route.

Nice report. Happy to hear you enjoyed all aspects. I’m curious about the bid up routine, if you had bid $170, would you still have won the bid at $80. Like you mentioned, tipping is not for everyone, that’s why I don’t throw mine in the middle of the table family style.

 

[JoyBee]

Nice report. Happy to hear you enjoyed all aspects. I’m curious about the bid up routine, if you had bid $170, would you still have won the bid at $80. Like you mentioned, tipping is not for everyone, that’s why I don’t throw mine in the middle of the table family style.

I dont think I would have won it at $80? I think if I had bid it at $170 thats what I would have paid. But I really dont know, maybe someone else will hop in and tell us. We left our tip on our side near the cups and plates etc. Hopefully they knew it was from us as we really appreciated the good service.

 

[zetharion]

I waited until the end of the trip and tipped each one personally before de-boarding. Mostly because I just don't carry cash and had to wait to stop somewhere that had a quick access ATM.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I did a poll in the past asking why people tip on Amtrak and the most popular answer was that tipping was expected...by staff that receive living wages and benefits that vastly exceed those of an average American. If we're honest Amtrak is the poster child for the irrational and arbitrary nature of tipping culture.

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/why-do-you-tip-on-amtrak-poll.80890/

 

[Bonser]

I did a poll in the past asking why people tip on Amtrak and the most popular answer was that tipping was expected...by staff that receive living wages and benefits that vastly exceed those of an average American. If we're honest Amtrak is the poster child for the irrational and arbitrary nature of tipping culture.

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/why-do-you-tip-on-amtrak-poll.80890/

I'm not sure the staff makes vastly more than the average American. I'm not even sure they make more.

 

[Maglev]

When I was looking at the Amtrak jobs site, I didn't see pay rates shown for Seattle positions. That is against the law in Washington as of January 1.

https://careers.amtrak.com/job/Seat...ST-90273587-Seattle,-WA-Wash-98134/914486100/

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

When I was looking at the Amtrak jobs site, I didn't see pay rates shown for Seattle positions. That is against the law in Washington as of January 1.

https://careers.amtrak.com/job/Seat...ST-90273587-Seattle,-WA-Wash-98134/914486100/

Typically State laws don't apply to Federal agencies - I would think this applied to Amtrak as well.

 

[flitcraft]

When I was looking at the Amtrak jobs site, I didn't see pay rates shown for Seattle positions. That is against the law in Washington as of January 1.

Actually it is just the opposite: salary ranges must now be listed in job ads for salary transparency. This is to keep employers from underpaying applicants who don't realize what the pay ought to be. Unfortunately, that kind of underpay tended to be not demographically neutral. See the link here: Washington State’s Pay Transparency Law Takes Effect January 1, 2023.

Of course, the law doesn't apply to federal jobs...

 

[joelkfla]

Actually it is just the opposite: salary ranges must now be listed in job ads for salary transparency. This is to keep employers from underpaying applicants who don't realize what the pay ought to be. Unfortunately, that kind of underpay tended to be not demographically neutral. See the link here: Washington State’s Pay Transparency Law Takes Effect January 1, 2023.

Of course, the law doesn't apply to federal jobs...

That's what @Maglev said: that it "is against the law" that he "didn't see pay rates shown," i.e. not showing pay rates is against the law. I can understand the confusion given the wording.

 

[flitcraft]

Ah, my bad. Reading too quickly...