Have you been recognized by Amtrak staff due to frequent travel?

[neroden]

LSL dining car staff recognized me until they got sacked by Amtrak's brainless food cuts.

 

[railiner]

. Back in 1994 I published a book called "Zephyr: Tracking a Dream Across America." It treated, among other things, the life of the on-board crew.

I enjoyed your book. I especially remember from the diner, Lela...but who can forget her?

 

[Ziv]

Not quite the same thing, OP, but I had a friend that I worked with back in the 1990's who was traveling to Scotland for a vacation. I was joking with him that he shouldn't tell anyone that his last name was Campbell because of the blood feud due to the Glencoe Massacre in 1692. He laughed at me and said something like, "I am an African American man, not even a Scottish person would think I was related to THOSE Campbells!" We both laughed and went back to work.
He came back 2 weeks later and told me that he was warned several times by Scottish people that it wasn't a huge deal, but he might want to NOT mention his last name to people he didn't need to tell.

The most memorable time was long ago when Hubby and I were on the LSL, and one of the cafe car attendants had the same last name. We started calling him "Cousin Ira" which we all took as a friendly joke because he's black and we're not. We got on the return leg, and went to the cafe car, there he was, and I just bellowed out "Hey, cousin Ira, good to see you again!" We all laughed, and certain others in the car just stared...

 

[Twinkletoes]

Because of my typical (pre-COVID) 3X/year trips from Boston to Meridian, Mississippi (Crescent), mutual recognition is a common experience for me on Amtrak with a number of people: redcaps, dining car attendants (when they still had them) and SCAs. Indeed they also remembered my late mother who also traveled with me for about 10 years as she gradually declined from dementia. They were very helpful in bringing our meals and water to our bedroom. We didn't need the H bedroom. Both a redcap and an SCA asked after her and expressed their sorrow to know that she was no longer with me because she had passed. Also as someone else mentioned, you can also have shared experiences--tragic and weird--to remember; e.g., the train collided with a passenger car (3 people were killed) or the unruly dining car passenger who was escorted off the train by law enforcement for throwing rolls at a fellow diner and verbally abusing the server. With some, usually SCAs, you chat with them and gradually learn about their families and children or culinary skills or even news about other SCAs (sickness or retirement) you haven't seen in a while.

 

[wwchi]

I know several of the conductors on the Pere Marquette, Wolverine and Blue Water Michigan trains. Even after the pandemic hit the few times I got on the train we all still knew each other's names, where we live, etc. I only wish the staff at Chicago Union Station would be better about that. After 16 years of seeing the same faces every week they always look like they've never seen me before. Crazy!

 

[jis]

I wonder if Amtrak provides any organizational help in recognizing frequent users of Amtrak to their customer facing service folks like some airlines do. In my experience I am not sure that the passenger roster contains information about AGR status of the passengers on the train that the customer facing staff can use effectively to recognize frequent customers. So whatever happens, happens due to individual initiative rather than an organizational one.

Contrast that with a few airlines that I frequent, where the cabin crew knows my frequent flyer status, and greets me thanking me for my frequent use of their service from time to time. It would be something nice that Amtrak could do easily if they wished. Unfortunately for a long time AGR was considered to be an outside interference by the Amtrak operating folks, and that bureaucratic mindset consistently lost an opportunity to make customer, specially the frequent ones feel good in a consistent way. I wonder if things have changed of late.

Also, unfortunately, Amtrak has never had a lifetime status thing in the AGR program as many airlines do. It sure felt nice when the Captain on a flight to Amsterdam came specifically upto me to greet me on completing 2 million miles on that flight and presented me a small plaque commemorating the event. As it says on it, Oscar Munoz was the CEO then. Later I received a catalog from which to select a gift. I chose an AppleTV 4K unit, which duly arrived and I still use it today.

 

[MARC Rider]

I wonder if Amtrak provides any organizational help in recognizing frequent users of Amtrak to their customer facing service folks like some airlines do. In my experience I am not sure that the passenger roster contains information about AGR status of the passengers on the train that the customer facing staff can use effectively to recognize frequent customers. So whatever happens, happens due to individual initiative rather than an organizational one.

Contrast that with a few airlines that I frequent, where the cabin crew knows my frequent flyer status, and greets me thanking me for my frequent use of their service from time to time. It would be something nice that Amtrak could do easily if they wished. Unfortunately for a long time AGR was considered to be an outside interference by the Amtrak operating folks, and that bureaucratic mindset consistently lost an opportunity to make customer, specially the frequent ones feel good in a consistent way. I wonder if things have changed of late.

Also, unfortunately, Amtrak has never had a lifetime status thing in the AGR program as many airlines do. It sure felt nice when the Captain on a flight to Amsterdam came specifically upto me to greet me on completing 2 million miles on that flight and presented me a small plaque commemorating the event. As it says on it, Oscar Munoz was the CEO then. Later I received a catalog from which to select a gift. I chose an AppleTV 4K unit, which duly arrived and I still use it today.

Well, the only time I was ever really a "frequent flyer" was during a 9-month period where I was flying down to Texas about once a month on American Airlines. Same early Sunday morning flight down, same Saturday afternoon flight back. Nobody ever seemed to recognize me, and I didn't recognize any of the the airport workers or flight attendants. Their shifts much change from week to week, so I saw different people each time. And, being forced to use Government contract carriers when traveling for work, I never flew on any one airline frequently enough to make it worth my while to sign up for frequent flyer programs.

 

[Exvalley]

My trips are generally not to the same location, so it is rare that I am remembered. The one time I can recall is when I had the same flight attendant on a JetBlue Mint flight from Boston to Los Angeles and return. It was pure luck, since my return was about five days after my arrival. I have a distinctive last name, and the flight attendant remembered me when he saw the passenger manifest. He greeted me by name the second I stepped onto the plane.

 

[OBS]

I wonder if Amtrak provides any organizational help in recognizing frequent users of Amtrak to their customer facing service folks like some airlines do. In my experience I am not sure that the passenger roster contains information about AGR status of the passengers on the train that the customer facing staff can use effectively to recognize frequent customers. So whatever happens, happens due to individual initiative rather than an organizational one.

Contrast that with a few airlines that I frequent, where the cabin crew knows my frequent flyer status, and greets me thanking me for my frequent use of their service from time to time. It would be something nice that Amtrak could do easily if they wished. Unfortunately for a long time AGR was considered to be an outside interference by the Amtrak operating folks, and that bureaucratic mindset consistently lost an opportunity to make customer, specially the frequent ones feel good in a consistent way. I wonder if things have changed of late.

Also, unfortunately, Amtrak has never had a lifetime status thing in the AGR program as many airlines do. It sure felt nice when the Captain on a flight to Amsterdam came specifically upto me to greet me on completing 2 million miles on that flight and presented me a small plaque commemorating the event. As it says on it, Oscar Munoz was the CEO then. Later I received a catalog from which to select a gift. I chose an AppleTV 4K unit, which duly arrived and I still use it today.

No,they don't...

 

[Steve4031]

A conductor on the cardinal thanked me for my select plus status last summer. We (Mike Hammond and I) were traveling to Washington DC. The train was running 3 hours late. We decided to get off in Alexandria so we could get to our hotel sooner.

I went up to notify the conductor about 30 minutes before Alexandria. He was sitting in the dinette car. He was pleasant and checked our names to see where we were going. He thanked me for being select plus. I was surprised because this had never happened before.

 

[Ziv]

I hear you Jis. I recently got Premier Gold status with United for the first time and it is fairly impressive how they try to make me feel welcome. A little bit of courtesy and attention goes a long way in a fairly cold and impersonal world. I used to book whatever airline had the cheapest fare but now I try to book United when I can. Amtrak could learn a thing or two from the airlines. And United isn't even a great airline!

...
Contrast that with a few airlines that I frequent, where the cabin crew knows my frequent flyer status, and greets me thanking me for my frequent use of their service from time to time. It would be something nice that Amtrak could do easily if they wished. Unfortunately for a long time AGR was considered to be an outside interference by the Amtrak operating folks, and that bureaucratic mindset consistently lost an opportunity to make customer, specially the frequent ones feel good in a consistent way. I wonder if things have changed of late.

Also, unfortunately, Amtrak has never had a lifetime status thing in the AGR program as many airlines do. It sure felt nice when the Captain on a flight to Amsterdam came specifically upto me to greet me on completing 2 million miles on that flight and presented me a small plaque commemorating the event. As it says on it, Oscar Munoz was the CEO then. Later I received a catalog from which to select a gift. I chose an AppleTV 4K unit, which duly arrived and I still use it today.
And spellcheck is still not my friend... LOL!

 

[OBS]

A conductor on the cardinal thanked me for my select plus status last summer. We (Mike Hammond and I) were traveling to Washington DC. The train was running 3 hours late. We decided to get off in Alexandria so we could get to our hotel sooner.

I went up to notify the conductor about 30 minutes before Alexandria. He was sitting in the dinette car. He was pleasant and checked our names to see where we were going. He thanked me for being select plus. I was surprised because this had never happened before.

You are right, the Conductors, on their ticket scanners, have that info. It is not reflected on the passenger manifests issued to the OBS crews.

 

[tim49424]

I know several of the conductors on the Pere Marquette, Wolverine and Blue Water Michigan trains.

You also know a conductor currently working the Empire Builder.

 

[wwchi]

You also know a conductor currently working the Empire Builder.

LOL TRUE!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I traveled on Amtrak's long distance network up to six times per year but the staff did not seem to recognize me. I mainly traveled during busy holiday periods so maybe that's why. It does not bother me if I'm recognized organically (or not) but the way some CRM systems push fake connections can be a little jarring sometimes. Such as when you return to an airline or hotel chain you haven't used in years and someone you've never met says they're happy to see you again. If it's handled in a clumsy or lazy manner it comes off as being insincere but some companies have figured out how to present it in a more natural manner.

 

[Acela150]

Yes, I actually became very good friends with a Conductor out of Beantown who retired recently. He was a darn good one too!

 

[user 14106]

I ride frequently enough that I've gotten recognized on my local service (SPG-NHV line)

 

[daybeers]

I ride frequently enough that I've gotten recognized on my local service (SPG-NHV line)

Same here, and on the CTDOT-run Hartford Line trains as well.

 

[RPC]

Lo these many moons ago I would ride the Broadway Limited every two weeks to visit my then-fiancée. One Monday morning coming back to Chicago I sat down in the diner and the waiter asked, "The usual?"