How does Amtrak handle luggage?

[Ispolkom]

When I check luggage, it generally has to go on the same train as I, but that this isn't always the case.

I know that if I take the Cardinal, I can check luggage from Chicago to Washington, and it will be carried on the Capitol Limited.

What if I went Chicago-Sacramento-Portland? Would my luggage automatically travel on trains #5 and #14, or might it travel by train #7? If I checked a suitcase going from New York to Miami early enough, might it travel on the Silver Star, even if I'm on the Silver Meteor?

Now I wish that I had paid closer attention to luggage tags.

 

[AlanB]

Luggage will usually follow the shortest, most direct route and not necessarily the route that you are taking.

As for the Silver Star question, it would probably depend on the person checking the luggage and whether they pay attendtion to which train you're boarding when they check your bag.

 

[Tony]

If I checked a suitcase going from New York to Miami early enough, might it travel on the Silver Star, even if I'm on the Silver Meteor?

In all my many years taking the Silvers, my checked luggage has always been on the same train as I am.

 

[sechs]

What if I went Chicago-Sacramento-Portland? Would my luggage automatically travel on trains #5 and #14, or might it travel by train #7? If I checked a suitcase going from New York to Miami early enough, might it travel on the Silver Star, even if I'm on the Silver Meteor?

Amtrak can add a routing tag which will direct the baggage folks as to which trains onto which to put a bag. In theory, if you show tickets for a roundabout itinerary, they should automatically do one for you, but rarely do they do this -- or it matters that they don't.

When you check your luggage ask; these people will usually know (or can find out) what train the bag should start on.

 

[GoldenSpike]

When I check luggage, it generally has to go on the same train as I, but that this isn't always the case.
I know that if I take the Cardinal, I can check luggage from Chicago to Washington, and it will be carried on the Capitol Limited.

What if I went Chicago-Sacramento-Portland? Would my luggage automatically travel on trains #5 and #14, or might it travel by train #7? If I checked a suitcase going from New York to Miami early enough, might it travel on the Silver Star, even if I'm on the Silver Meteor?

Now I wish that I had paid closer attention to luggage tags.

I learned to pay attention to the tags.

On one trip last year MSP-SEA-VAN, I didn't want the hassle of the extra lugguage in Seattle.

I told the agent to send the bag to VAN. Later as she processed, she put a SEA tag on it and I caught her error.

Had I missed it, when I did arrive in VAN there would be no luggage waiting because it would be back in Seattle where I just came from. Since I live two hours from VAN, or any other station the delay in getting it back would have been untold hours.

The VAN station right at the WA/OR border (5 min. from I-5) is a little known gem right at the Columba River RR bridge: westside of the station is the mainline 11 mi. from PDX for the CS, and Cascades. On the other side is the EB route. No traffic, parking hassles and or hordes boarding as in PDX. Your car is 50 steps or less away.

Waiting for the EB for MSP, occasionally the train is caught on the Oregon side while the bridge opens for a passing vessel resulting in a 20+ minute delay.

 

[rile42]

I've checked baggage in Chicago on trips to Cleveland on the LSL. Since the CL departs earlier, my baggage has traveled on it quite a few times I believe since my luggage was already in the Cleveland station before the LSL baggage was brought up from the train.

 

[jmbgeg]

When I check luggage, it generally has to go on the same train as I, but that this isn't always the case.
I know that if I take the Cardinal, I can check luggage from Chicago to Washington, and it will be carried on the Capitol Limited.

What if I went Chicago-Sacramento-Portland? Would my luggage automatically travel on trains #5 and #14, or might it travel by train #7? If I checked a suitcase going from New York to Miami early enough, might it travel on the Silver Star, even if I'm on the Silver Meteor?

Now I wish that I had paid closer attention to luggage tags.

I guess I would ask why you are apparently taking the California Zephyr from Chicago connecting to the Coast Starlight to Portland instead of the Empire Builder. The EB direct would be much less expensive.

 

[p&sr]

I guess I would ask why you are apparently taking the California Zephyr from Chicago connecting to the Coast Starlight to Portland instead of the Empire Builder. The EB direct would be much less expensive.

Three possible answers: To see the Rockies, to see the Sierras, and to see the Cascade Range.

 

[jmbgeg]

I guess I would ask why you are apparently taking the California Zephyr from Chicago connecting to the Coast Starlight to Portland instead of the Empire Builder. The EB direct would be much less expensive.

Three possible answers: To see the Rockies, to see the Sierras, and to see the Cascade Range.

Good answer.

 

[saxman]

Last month I traveled from NOL to WAS to CHI to LAX to SEA. I checked a bag all the way to Seattle, but it went straight to CHI on the CONO and to SEA on the EB. Got there two days before I did.

 

[Ispolkom]

I guess I would ask why you are apparently taking the California Zephyr from Chicago connecting to the Coast Starlight to Portland instead of the Empire Builder. The EB direct would be much less expensive.

Three possible answers: To see the Rockies, to see the Sierras, and to see the Cascade Range.

Also, with AGR rewards both routes cost the same.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I guess I would ask why you are apparently taking the California Zephyr from Chicago connecting to the Coast Starlight to Portland instead of the Empire Builder. The EB direct would be much less expensive.

Three possible answers: To see the Rockies, to see the Sierras, and to see the Cascade Range.

Also, with AGR rewards both routes cost the same.

Free :lol:

Well you have to use your points but still why not take more trains for the same number of points.