H room

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bretton88

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My grandparents are hoping to do a DEN-Lacey (OLW) round trip sometime next year, and my grandma can no longer get around the best. I've heard about the H room. Is it charged as a roomette or a bedroom? If its just a roomette, it would make their trip easier and cheaper. Thanks!
 
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Do you mean for an AGR award? :huh:
If so, a roomette and the accessible bedroom are the same point level. (BTW - the family bedroom is the same point level as a bedroom.)
No, I just meant in a regular booking, as my grandpa is leery of AGR. I just wanted to see if the cost was the roomette charge, or the room charge. I didn't know which one Amtrak charged the H room as.
 
My grandparents are hoping to do a DEN-Lacey (OLY) round trip sometime next year, and my grandma can no longer get around the best. I've heard about the H room. Is it charged as a roomette or a bedroom? If its just a roomette, it would make their trip easier and cheaper. Thanks!
I think they are the same price. Several years ago, I booked a roomette about 3 days before travel. The agent asked me if I wanted the H room for the same price. Best bet is to call Julie.

And I think with the toilet & sink in the room, it would probably be easier for your grandma & grandpa.
 
The H room is priced at a roomette price level, not the bedroom price levels.

It cannot be booked online though, they will have to call or visit an Amtrak agent to book that room.
 
The H room is priced at a roomette price level, not the bedroom price levels.
It cannot be booked online though, they will have to call or visit an Amtrak agent to book that room.

Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
 
The H room is priced at a roomette price level, not the bedroom price levels.
It cannot be booked online though, they will have to call or visit an Amtrak agent to book that room.
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I see some information being posted about the H Room that I feel may or may not be accurate and would like to offer my take on the subject.

A while back I attempted to figure out the pricing for an H room. I heard that it was the same as the Roomette but when checking that out it never proved out nor did I see any evience that this was actually the case. Somehow I found out that the discount on the H Room was supposed to be 15% of what I believe IIRC is the Bedroom price. I don't know however how the bucket system effects the pricing except for what we all already know about how buckets work.

So I started to try and figure out the math and find out how to do the calculations. Here is what I finally figured out.

Formula: Discount Price / (100% less 15% discount) = Original Price

Using the above formula, here are a few examples of doing the math. The first will be based on knowing the full price only. The second will be based on knowing the discounted price only. The third will show the savings between full and discounted and the fourth proving out the figures.

1. (Full price base) $2935.00 x .85 = $2494.75 (Discounted Price)

2. (Disc price base) $2494.75 / .85 = $2935.00

3. (Savings) $2935 x .15 = $440.25

4. (Proofing) $2494.75 (discounted) + $440.25 (savings) = $2935.00 (full price)

Now can I guarantee this 15% discount is accurate? Well... no, but it's the best I've been able to find or figure out. I may have proven it out, back when I figured out the formula, but I'm not sure that I did. It's kind of impossible to proof out without actually making an H room reservation then immediately check out the full price for a Bedrooom, hoping the the basis is the same bucket!

Next is something that was mentioned by AC OKJ that I find hard to believe! It is that there is a form you have to fill out to certified that you are in fact disabled. I started using H rooms in 1998 and have since made numerous trips in them. Never once have I ever heard that a form needs to be filled out; not even a rumor of it! The only requirement I've ever seen or heard of is that you're required to have proof when you pickup your ticket and when boarding. Being my handicap is obvious, I've never even been so much as asked for proof on boarding, but carry proof just in case I ever am asked. If there is a form, as the poster claims, I would like to see post a link where it could download from!

If in fact a certification form doesn't exist, that wouldn't surprise me. Just today (or I should say yesterday at this point) I received conflicting information between Amtrak reservations and customer service. Customer service as usual gave the correct information and the reservationist was quick to try sending me back to AGR to solve the problem. The problem involved my not having AGR points posted from 6/26 travel because AGR computers didn't show that I had traveled. It turned out that my submitted ticket number was not recorded by Amtrak because it was poorly printed. Quite to customer relations credit, within hours the problem was rectified and the 650 points appeared on my AGR account. Incidentally, I was also given different conflicting information by two different AGR agents.

Along with about another 7 persistant posting problems, steming all the way back to the day I joined AGR, it was quite a fustrating couple of hours on the phone with both Amtrak and AGR today.
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No wonder some give up trying to get points they are entitled to receive!
 
The H room is priced at a roomette price level, not the bedroom price levels.
It cannot be booked online though, they will have to call or visit an Amtrak agent to book that room.
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I see some information being posted about the H Room that I feel may or may not be accurate and would like to offer my take on the subject.

Next is something that was mentioned by AC OKJ that I find hard to believe! It is that there is a form you have to fill out to certified that you are in fact disabled. I started using H rooms in 1998 and have since made numerous trips in them. Never once have I ever heard that a form needs to be filled out; not even a rumor of it! The only requirement I've ever seen or heard of is that you're required to have proof when you pickup your ticket and when boarding. Being my handicap is obvious, I've never even been so much as asked for proof on boarding, but carry proof just in case I ever am asked. If there is a form, as the poster claims, I would like to see post a link where it could download from!

If in fact a certification form doesn't exist, that wouldn't surprise me. Just today (or I should say yesterday at this point) I received conflicting information between Amtrak reservations and customer service. Customer service as usual gave the correct information and the reservationist was quick to try sending me back to AGR to solve the problem. The problem involved my not having AGR points posted from 6/26 travel because AGR computers didn't show that I had traveled. It turned out that my submitted ticket number was not recorded by Amtrak because it was poorly printed. Quite to customer relations credit, within hours the problem was rectified and the 650 points appeared on my AGR account. Incidentally, I was also given different conflicting information by two different AGR agents.

Along with about another 7 persistant posting problems, steming all the way back to the day I joined AGR, it was quite a fustrating couple of hours on the phone with both Amtrak and AGR today.
icon8.gif
No wonder some give up trying to get points they are entitled to receive!
I did find a link on amtrak.com that clears up the question of verification for the H bedroom.

It can be found here. Look under "Details about Discounts".
 
Quite a few years ago a disabled pax sued Amtrak for denial of service and won. In the settlement agreement Amtrak offered disabled pax a 15% discount for 10 years. I think the ten years are up but I'm not telling...
 
My handicapped adult son and I are taking the Pennsyvlanian/CL/SWC to and from Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon, leaving next week. We are using the H roomette both directions. When I made the reservations back in Feb no one asked us for proof of his disability. On 9/4 when I picked up our tickets my son was not with me, although I brought along his non-driving state photo ID and his National Park Access Pass to verify his status. The ticket agent did not want to see either item, but issued the tickets with Mobility Impaired Adult printed on his and Adult Companion of Mobility Impaired Adult on mine. Again, no forms were filled out. In comparing what we paid to the regular online fares I believe we got about a 15% discount.

What is confusing to me is the way the H room is sometimes referred to as a roomette and sometimes as a bedroom. I suppose this is because the price can be comparable to either, depending on who books it and when. My suggestion is to refer to the H room and the accessible sleeper to avoid confusion.
 
What is confusing to me is the way the H room is sometimes referred to as a roomette and sometimes as a bedroom. I suppose this is because the price can be comparable to either, depending on who books it and when. My suggestion is to refer to the H room and the accessible sleeper to avoid confusion.
The "H" room is definitely a bedroom in size on both the Superliner and Viewliner equipment. In fact, it is the biggest room on the Viewliners and rivals the family room on the Superliner. I only think reference is made to roomette for pricing and it has the same AGR values for travel as a roomette.
 
Quite a few years ago a disabled pax sued Amtrak for denial of service and won. In the settlement agreement Amtrak offered disabled pax a 15% discount for 10 years. I think the ten years are up but I'm not telling...
This is true except that it was for 3 years starting in 1998. The 15% was in addition to an already existing 15%, that's still in effect today, for a total of 30% for those three years! I first learned about this in when traveling to Dallas in 2000. What a pleasant surprise it was!
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You can read more about this by CLICKING HERE!
 
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I thought, too, that it was not for just any ol' disability, for only specifically for a passenger with a mobility disability.
 
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I thought, too, that it was not for just any ol' disability, for only specifically for a passenger with a mobility disability.

Yeah, I thought the same way until I looked at it closer. That extra 15% off would have been helpful. Along with the fact that the bedroom is larger, would make things easier for us.

But hubby said not to worry about trying for the bigger room, let those who really need it get it.

I wish the bedrooms & beds upstairs were a bit bigger, but they are ok for what we need.
 
Yeah, I thought the same way until I looked at it closer. That extra 15% off would have been helpful. Along with the fact that the bedroom is larger, would make things easier for us. But hubby said not to worry about trying for the bigger room, let those who really need it get it.

I wish the bedrooms & beds upstairs were a bit bigger, but they are ok for what we need.
You mean that I can get the H-room, plus a 15% discount, because my kid has a learning disability?
 
Yeah, I thought the same way until I looked at it closer. That extra 15% off would have been helpful. Along with the fact that the bedroom is larger, would make things easier for us. But hubby said not to worry about trying for the bigger room, let those who really need it get it.

I wish the bedrooms & beds upstairs were a bit bigger, but they are ok for what we need.
You mean that I can get the H-room, plus a 15% discount, because my kid has a learning disability?
Nice try-but no cigar. It must be a mobility disability. Like trouble walking, or using crutches, braces, cane, wheelchair/scooter.

You must be jesting....Hubby has a physical disability, but it does not affect his mobility that much(yet). It may someday, I hope not.
 
Yeah, I thought the same way until I looked at it closer. That extra 15% off would have been helpful. Along with the fact that the bedroom is larger, would make things easier for us. But hubby said not to worry about trying for the bigger room, let those who really need it get it.

I wish the bedrooms & beds upstairs were a bit bigger, but they are ok for what we need.
You mean that I can get the H-room, plus a 15% discount, because my kid has a learning disability?
Nice try-but no cigar. It must be a mobility disability. Like trouble walking, or using crutches, braces, cane, wheelchair/scooter.

You must be jesting....Hubby has a physical disability, but it does not affect his mobility that much(yet). It may someday, I hope not.
I agree with you that a learning disability is not a valid qualification. However, I do want to assure you that there are other needs for the H room that goes beyond the discriptions you've described.

I don't want to go into my medical history, but I did find this out the hard way back in 1998 when I first discovered that could only make do with an H room. I lucked out on my way to Anaheim on the SWC because the H room was a last minute sale to non-handicapped. The SA made arrangements for us to switch out of our Bedroom, and the other couple in the next sleeper car's H room was more than happy to make the switch. I was happy too even with the other couple getting the benefit of the discount!

Coming back east was a different matter. Upon contacting a few unsympathetic reservation agents and trying to make necessary changes, I started to panic a little and asked for customer relations ready to beg if necessary. After explaining my problem, the agent really went above and beyond to help me. She contacted people with unpaid H room reservations around the date I needed to depart and checked with them to see if they were planning to complete their reservations or not. She got one that was not and immediately transfered my reservation into that room! Voila - relief!

Today I still have the same problems, but have also developed mobility problems since then, I now use a mobility scooter, but not when traveling by train. I generally rent one at my destination if I can! Also, I know some on AU complain about Amtrak service, but I'll tell you that if they were fortunate enough to receive the services and considerations I have from Amtrak, I'm sure they would feel differently! :)
 
It must be a mobility disability. Like trouble walking, or using crutches, braces, cane, wheelchair/scooter.
Serious vision impairment apparently also qualifies as a mobility disability. On two separate occasions I've encountered adult children traveling in H rooms with an elderly blind, and an almost blind, parent.
 
Im pulling these numbers straight from the Discount Tariff every Amtrak Conductor is issued, the most current version edition 4.

Disability

railfare discount

----------------

Adult 15%

Child (2-15) 58% (50% child, plus the 15% disabilty discount = 58%)

Companion 15%

NOTE: must carry verification of disibility in the form of an ID or letter from a doctor, health orginization, etc...

Mobility-Imparment Disability adult 15%

Mobility-Imparment Disabilty child 58%

Mobility-Impairment Disability companion 15%

NOTE: Must fill out a "self certification form" attesting to a mibility impairment in order to occupy accessable space or regular space, depending upon ticket asgnments.

To calculate sleeping car charges apply the accomidation charge to the 15% discount column

---------------

Anybody can occupy the "H" room at the full retail rate. In order to recive the 15% discount on the roomthe passenger must fill out the "self certification forms". This in effect will reduce the charge of the "H" room to that of a roomette...as by law and ADA regulations Amtrak can not charge a disabled person more for required accomidations due to their disabilty. It should be noted that the "H" room will not be sold to non-disabed passengers for I belive 15 days before departure. A non-disabled passenger will indeed need to pay the full price for the "H"room.

So, you would qualify for a 15% dis**** (58%child) for any disabilty, off the basic coach railfare. If you have a mobility impairment you are elegable for an additional 15% discount off the accomidation charge. In order to occupy the wheel chair space on a train in coach or sleeper you will need to have a "self cert of mobility impairment" form filled out. It can get pretty confusing but thats the basics of it.
 
Anybody can occupy the "H" room at the full retail rate. In order to recive the 15% discount on the roomthe passenger must fill out the "self certification forms". This in effect will reduce the charge of the "H" room to that of a roomette...as by law and ADA regulations Amtrak can not charge a disabled person more for required accomidations due to their disabilty. It should be noted that the "H" room will not be sold to non-disabed passengers for I belive 15 days before departure. A non-disabled passenger will indeed need to pay the full price for the "H"room.
So, you would qualify for a 15% dis**** (58%child) for any disabilty, off the basic coach railfare. If you have a mobility impairment you are elegable for an additional 15% discount off the accomidation charge. In order to occupy the wheel chair space on a train in coach or sleeper you will need to have a "self cert of mobility impairment" form filled out. It can get pretty confusing but thats the basics of it.
As I previously stated, I have never heard about a "self certification of mobility impairment form" in all the years that I have traveled in an H Room. The actual number of my occupations comes out to 17 times in an H room and I have reservations for another two occupations next year on the AutoTrain.

Giving you the benefit of the doubt that such a form may exist, I contacted a reservationist to have one sent to me if such a form existed. The rep told me that she was not aware of any such form. She contacted a couple of other sources inside Amtrak including Customer Relations and neither stocked any such form.

Now, do I believe you that such a form exists? The answer is yes! The person I was speaking to at Amtrak stated that such a statement could be required on board at the discression of the Conductor or the AC of course, if I were observed doing cart-wheels in the isles! Of course she was just being humorous about the cartwheels, but she was reinforcing that the form may be necessary.

So what I believe is that there is no form available from Amtrak for "advanced completion" but that there is probably a form the conductor might give to the passenger to fill out if there are doubts. If no blank forms are kept by the Conductor, then I would have to conclude that the form is absolete and no longer in use!
 
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I was told the, self certification of mobility impairment form, is what you bring from your doctor or other authority to verify the impairment. It is not a preprinted form from amtrak. Other local public transportation services also require same as the offical policy.
 
I was told the, self certification of mobility impairment form, is what you bring from your doctor or other authority to verify the impairment. It is not a preprinted form from amtrak. Other local public transportation services also require same as the offical policy.
In the context of this discussion, I fail to see how a "doctors verification" (which I carry) is the same thing as a "self certification form," except as a stretch of one's imagination!
 
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I thought, too, that it was not for just any ol' disability, for only specifically for a passenger with a mobility disability.
I've always assumed that the H room was specifically for anyone who was mostly confined to a wheel chair, thus needing the additional space in the room. In reading this discussion, I'm left with the impression that my wife might qualify for use of the H room because she had a stroke a while back, and definitely has a mobility problem, although a wheel chair is not necessary.

How mobility challenged does a person have to be to qualify for the H room? We usually travel in a regular bedroom, but the additional space at a lower price would be nifty.

I'm going to stick with my own values --- the H room is for people who must use a wheel chair, or some similar means of transportation, and NEED the additional space.
 
Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I thought, too, that it was not for just any ol' disability, for only specifically for a passenger with a mobility disability.
I've always assumed that the H room was specifically for anyone who was mostly confined to a wheel chair, thus needing the additional space in the room. In reading this discussion, I'm left with the impression that my wife might qualify for use of the H room because she had a stroke a while back, and definitely has a mobility problem, although a wheel chair is not necessary.

How mobility challenged does a person have to be to qualify for the H room? We usually travel in a regular bedroom, but the additional space at a lower price would be nifty.

I'm going to stick with my own values --- the H room is for people who must use a wheel chair, or some similar means of transportation, and NEED the additional space.
Your moral compass is right on point, however it sounds like your wife definitely qualifies to enjoy the comforts of this room! Have no compunction about booking this room for yalls trips, thats what its there for,folks like yall!
 
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Kind of. The 'H' room is priced significantly higher than a roomette, unless the person is disabled. The occupant must declare in writing (there is a form) that they are indeed disabled and need the 'H' room. Once they have declared such the room is discounted to the price of a roomette. The occupant will need to call a reservation agent to book the room.
I thought, too, that it was not for just any ol' disability, for only specifically for a passenger with a mobility disability.
I've always assumed that the H room was specifically for anyone who was mostly confined to a wheel chair, thus needing the additional space in the room. In reading this discussion, I'm left with the impression that my wife might qualify for use of the H room because she had a stroke a while back, and definitely has a mobility problem, although a wheel chair is not necessary.

How mobility challenged does a person have to be to qualify for the H room? We usually travel in a regular bedroom, but the additional space at a lower price would be nifty.

I'm going to stick with my own values --- the H room is for people who must use a wheel chair, or some similar means of transportation, and NEED the additional space.

Give Amtrak a call! Speak to an agent. If your wife has difficulty getting around, or has balance issues, that should be enough to classify as a mobility disability. If it would be better for her to be comfort & not have to worry about getting upstairs (on a Superliner), I say go for it. The Sleeper Car Attendant can also bring your meals to you, if you wish.
 
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