Great service from AGR

[CHamilton]

Yay for Liesl at AGR! I'm returning from a wedding on the east coast to SEA in late June, and not surprisingly, sleepers on the Builder were sold out. But she got the reservation to work. I will have to change rooms in WIN…but that's a WIN for me

 

[George K]

Every encounter I've had with AGR has been excellent (so far). I was going to book a bedroom sleeper NOL to CHI in November on points, and the rep suggested that it was an extremely low bucket, and I should just pay for it and not spend the 25K points.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'll third the service from AGR, always have had really good professional and friendly service from the agents since AGR went "in house"!

And as a Bonus we have "AGR Insider" available on Flyertalk to assist us!

 

[oregon pioneer]

I'd agree. My last trip, and my next one, the AGR agents were expremely helpful in planning both the redemption and paid portions. I feel comfortable explainiung any dilemmas to them, knowing that creative solutions may happen on both ends of the phone line.

 

[willem]

I will have to change rooms in WIN…but that's a WIN for me

That sure beats changing in Fargo or Ephrata!

 

[caravanman]

Although roomettes looked available on the public Amtrak website, when I tried to book one by visiting SLO station, there were no "through rooms" available. The agent was unable to piece together a room change midway which worked... I am thinking that maybe the AGR where the route is a fixed number of points, rather than different "buckets", allows the staff to be more creative with room changes en route?

Ed

 

[Railroad Bill]

Our experiences with the AGR agents have all been very positive over the past few years. They seem to have some newer people who follow the book on informing us about luggage polices, refund policies, etc. which is o.k. but all have been friendly and seem to be interested in making the booking process a pleasurable one. Our last trip involving a possible Schriever Shuffle had the agent in stitches as we explained our "Traveler route" trip from Ohio to New Orleans via San Antonio. "Enjoy your trip to Schriever" was her response.. smile.

 

[DennisInGeorgia]

If Liesl was working with/for you, you were in the best hands possible. She did a miracle for us once on SWC3 and I've been in love ever since. Wish there was a way to request her. A real passenger-focused agent who becomes a great friend.

 

[CHamilton]

If Liesl was working with/for you, you were in the best hands possible. She did a miracle for us once on SWC3 and I've been in love ever since. Wish there was a way to request her. A real passenger-focused agent who becomes a great friend.

Amen!

 

[shelzp]

Nice to get an exceptional employee! One time I needed to change rooms in Toledo and the rep really wanted me to get a text telling me whether the train was running on time and didn't quite understand when I mentioned I would be arriving and leaving on the same train.

I was surprised once when I was talking to an AGR rep because she mentioned that she had only been on one overnight Amtrak train and I think she said it was the CS. Said that was early in her training so she would know what the trips are like. I don't know what I thought-guess I figured they'd love it as much as we do and spend countless hours crossing the country by train instead of going to work.

 

[CHamilton]

I figured they'd love it as much as we do and spend countless hours crossing the country by train instead of going to work.

Some do. I've run into them on occasion. They often get the rooms in the transdorm.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

My experience with AGR has been a bit less than perfection. In some cases I've been told that certain cities were simply unreachable on certain days. I've also had agents who were willing to sell me a revenue ticket for the exact same trip they were claiming was impossible to redeem with points. In other cases I was told that I would have to break a single trip into multiple separate redemptions simply because I connecting to another train or changing directions or because I was crossing a single AGR border. Never mind that Amtrak's own website showed multiple routings which met all of AGR's written requirements. In some cases the conversations became so irrational and illogical that I simply ran out of patience and was unable to book. This was despite having more than enough points to redeem the desired trip several times over.

Although roomettes looked available on the public Amtrak website, when I tried to book one by visiting SLO station, there were no "through rooms" available. The agent was unable to piece together a room change midway which worked... I am thinking that maybe the AGR where the route is a fixed number of points, rather than different "buckets", allows the staff to be more creative with room changes en route?

So far as I can tell the solution has nothing to do with points and everything to with the agent on the phone being willing to search through the route to find out where the disconnect is occurring. At that point they can book two separate rooms on the same ticket. When you board talk to the SCA and they might be able to reposition the other party and allow you to remain in a single room for the entire trip.

 

[shelzp]

I figured they'd love it as much as we do and spend countless hours crossing the country by train instead of going to work.

Some do. I've run into them on occasion. They often get the rooms in the transdorm.

On my first long distance trip I was in the transdorm and there were quite a few partying/vacationing Amtrak employees in there as it was two days after Mardi Gras and the train left from New Orleans. They mentioned they worked in Riverside, CA. I didn't really know what I was looking at but I was aware they didn't go to the dining room. I don't know if that's standard or if they were hungover and not eating. They were definitely having a good time!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Amtrak employees traveling on their pass are not entitled to meals in the Diner, they must pay for them just like Coach Passengers! Same thing in the cafe!

Coffee, juice, ice etc. in the transdorm and sleepers is another thing since they are allowed access to the entire train and receive professional courtesy from the on duty OBS!