I Can Not Add Another Person Onto My Existing Reservation!

[Everydaymatters]

OK, now I really need some help here. My cousin is going to take an AGR trip with me to Seattle in March. I already have her on the reservation for the return trip, but procrastinated and didn't try until today to put her on the trip to Seattle. I made the reservation back in September, got the old confirmation, and then a couple of weeks ago I got the E ticket.

I just now called AGR to put her on the reservation and was told they absolutely could not put her on my existing reservation. She Might be able to change the reservation to a new room if there are any available. But in order to keep my present room, which I do want to keep, she would have to cancel my reservation, make a new one, and take the chance that I can still get my present room, or any room at all.

This really seems absurd to me. They can't add someone to an existing reservation? I really need help on this.

 

[Ryan]

That does sound utterly ridiculous.

 

[RRrich]

Call again and keep calling until you get the answer you want

 

[Tracktwentynine]

OK, now I really need some help here. My cousin is going to take an AGR trip with me to Seattle in March. I already have her on the reservation for the return trip, but procrastinated and didn't try until today to put her on the trip to Seattle. I made the reservation back in September, got the old confirmation, and then a couple of weeks ago I got the E ticket.

I just now called AGR to put her on the reservation and was told they absolutely could not put her on my existing reservation. She Might be able to change the reservation to a new room if there are any available. But in order to keep my present room, which I do want to keep, she would have to cancel my reservation, make a new one, and take the chance that I can still get my present room, or any room at all.

This really seems absurd to me. They can't add someone to an existing reservation? I really need help on this.

You could always try calling back to get a new agent, or ask for a supervisor.

I've been able to modify companions on AGR tickets in the past.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Call back and visit with another Agent. Right off the hand I see nothing unusual about your request especially since you are not going over the limits of the Room; it sounds like you spoke with an Agent who does not know how to do an "add" to an existing Res.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I went back to another agent and she told me she had issued a separate reservation for my cousin and linked it to my reservation. She assures me nobody will be charged extra for this. That was about 1/2 hour ago and I'm waiting for the email. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks!

 

[Ryan]

Tracktwentynine and I tried the "linked reservation" again - didn't work, but a kind conductor and LSA that didn't check ticket stubs let him stay in the room with me.

 

[AlanB]

Tracktwentynine and I tried the "linked reservation" again - didn't work, but a kind conductor and LSA that didn't check ticket stubs let him stay in the room with me.

Linking isn't the answer, one needs to request an open sleeper ticket. Open sleeper requires that one person already had a coach reservation and the other a sleeper reservation. The agent can then take that coach reservation and create an open sleeper reservation for the person in coach. The ticket, when issued, will say "Open Sleeper" and it will not indicate the car & room number. So you need to inform the "coach" person on where to find you if you're not boarding at the same stop.

Both names will appear on the manifest however.

Note: For reasons unknown, the open sleeper reservation cannot be eTicketed, one will need to get a real ticket at the station. The person with the sleeper can still get an eTicket; but not the person who had the coach ticket.

 

[PRR 60]

Tracktwentynine and I tried the "linked reservation" again - didn't work, but a kind conductor and LSA that didn't check ticket stubs let him stay in the room with me.

Linking isn't the answer, one needs to request an open sleeper ticket. Open sleeper requires that one person already had a coach reservation and the other a sleeper reservation. The agent can then take that coach reservation and create an open sleeper reservation for the person in coach. The ticket, when issued, will say "Open Sleeper" and it will not indicate the car & room number. So you need to inform the "coach" person on where to find you if you're not boarding at the same stop.

Both names will appear on the manifest however.

Note: For reasons unknown, the open sleeper reservation cannot be eTicketed, one will need to get a real ticket at the station. The person with the sleeper can still get an eTicket; but not the person who had the coach ticket.

Can an open sleeper ticket be cut at zero cost for use with an AGR sleeper redemption?

 

[Trogdor]

Linking isn't the answer, one needs to request an open sleeper ticket. Open sleeper requires that one person already had a coach reservation and the other a sleeper reservation. The agent can then take that coach reservation and create an open sleeper reservation for the person in coach. The ticket, when issued, will say "Open Sleeper" and it will not indicate the car & room number. So you need to inform the "coach" person on where to find you if you're not boarding at the same stop.

Both names will appear on the manifest however.

This is not accurate. An open ticket will not appear on the manifest because it is not associated with that train. An open ticket is just that, a ticket between two points but not tied to a specific train.

Among other things, open tickets are a workaround for the fact that you cannot book two people with different endpoints into the same room. That, itself, is because a PNR requires that all passengers have the same itinerary (this is not Arrow specific, either; most, if not all, airline reservation systems have the same requirement as well). In order to prevent double-booking/overbooking, you can't put multiple PNRs into the same room.

The only way such would appear on the manifest is if a special service request line was added to the original PNR (the one with the room actually booked), indicating the situation. Then it would show up as text at the bottom of the manifest, but it still wouldn't show up right on the chart of passenger room assignments.

As for why the PNR in this thread can't have an extra person added (assuming they are traveling on the same itinerary), I don't know. I'm not familiar with AGR PNRs, so I don't know if there is some special circumstance, or just a matter of training.

Also, it doesn't require a coach reservation, since the open sleeper ticket is not a coach ticket. It is a sleeper ticket with the accommodation charge zeroed out (since it was already paid on the other PNR), and only rail fare charged (which may or may not be the same as the coach fare, depending on the bucket paid). It does not count against coach inventory because 1) it's a sleeper ticket, not a coach ticket, and 2) it's not tied to any train, anyway, and therefore doesn't go into any train's inventory.

Note: For reasons unknown, the open sleeper reservation cannot be eTicketed, one will need to get a real ticket at the station. The person with the sleeper can still get an eTicket; but not the person who had the coach ticket.

The reasons are quite known (for those that know the reasons). Etickets are enabled on a train number basis. Open tickets do not have a train number, and therefore a PNR with an open ticket would be ineligible for eticketing.

 

[Ispolkom]

Last year my wife and I had an AGR bedroom award PDX-SEA-CHI-NOL. We had no issues adding my sister onto the PNR. None.

 

[amamba]

Everydaymatters, based on what some of the others have posted, I would call back and see if you can find someone who can actually add them to your room and onto your PNR if you are traveling on the same trip together the entire way. Keep calling until you can find someone who can help. Good luck!

 

[Ryan]

What we need is for an reservation agent to join up on the forum (or for one of us to get a job there) so we have our own dedicated agent to take care of (apparently) confusing stuff like this.

 

[AlanB]

Note: For reasons unknown, the open sleeper reservation cannot be eTicketed, one will need to get a real ticket at the station. The person with the sleeper can still get an eTicket; but not the person who had the coach ticket.

The reasons are quite known (for those that know the reasons). Etickets are enabled on a train number basis. Open tickets do not have a train number, and therefore a PNR with an open ticket would be ineligible for eticketing.

Interesting! I never noticed that before, but upon checking a recent reservation confirmation, I see that it does indeed Not have a train number indicated.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I'm more confused than ever since reading all of the above. The AGR agent who arranged it did tell me that my cousin has to get her ticket in Bloomington, and that sounds like it's in line with what Trogdor said.

At the moment I still have not received the email with my cousin's info. I called AGR again this morning, about 1/2 hour ago, was assured she was sending the email, and I still don't have it!

Stay tuned. If I don't get it by tomorrow morning, I'll call AGR again.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

AGR is by far the weakest link in the whole Amtrak system. Previously I was informed that AGR will only ticket routes that appear automatically on Amtrak.com. Ok, so be it. Having consulted Amtrak.com I found ELP > LAX > PDX > CHI to be a legitimate routing on certain days. Since it only crosses zones once I figured this would be a two zone award. Not so said multiple AGR representatives. ELP to PDX was one zone and PDX to CHI was two more zones, resulting in a three zone award. No amount of clarification was forthcoming. Upon being transferred to a "supervisor" I asked how many zones would be involved if I went from ELP to Wolf Point and then from Wolf Point to Chicago. He said that would require two one-zone awards, not a single two zone award and that the rules would require me to stay in Wolf Point overnight. I asked him which rule required me to stay in Wolf Point and where I could find it. His reply was that it was on the website, so I asked where I could find this rule and he said it was in the terms and conditions. Again I asked which part of the T&C's referred to this rule so I could see it and finally he admitted that it might not be in there. I asked what the name of the rule book was that was being consulted in his determination and he couldn't provide one. Apparently there is no rule book. It's all just a bunch of random nonsense. Which is probably why you cannot book connections or sleepers on the website. A computer requires a well defined algorithm that can be applied over and over again without constantly changing in random ways at random intervals, and apparently that's simply not what AGR is interested in.

 

[Bob Dylan]

And the Beat goes on! AGR still Making It Up as they Go Along! :blink: Time for AGR Insider and whoever is in charge of AGR to come up with a Policy that is Clear, Concise and Known by All, Especially the Agents, Supervisors and, Ahem, we Members! Is this Anyway to run a Customer Loyality Program? :help:

 

[Devil's Advocate]

AGR was fine at first, during the points earning stage. It was only when I tried spending my points that it started becoming a problem. Now I'm down to 50,000 AGR points, which is apparently just barely enough to get me from El Paso to Chicago in a roomette one way, depending on the day of the week. Crossing the entire country from coast to coast can apparently take as many as five zones depending on who answers the phone, which is odd since there are only three zones listed on AGR's national map. Folks can continue to defend AGR until they're blue in the face, but the fact remains that it's virtually impossible to count on AGR for any specific routing at any given point cost. Their map does not reflect the reality of how the program actually works. You research your options, you call AGR, you plead and beg, and then you take whatever they happen to offer. I've never once had a "supervisor" make anything better. The only thing I've ever gotten from a supervisor is an even more restricted interpretation than the original agent's offer.

 

[amamba]

I disagree that its virtually impossible to count on AGR for any specific routing at any given point cost. For example, if you are leaving from a major stop like CHI, NYP, SEA, etc it is very predictable to know what routings will come up and what the point value will be.

I think it just throws them into a state of confusion - because there don't appear to be rules - when one tries to board or debark at a less popular/common location that might be mid-route or also on a zone border, or when the routing brings you around somewhat circuitously.

 

[Anthony]

Texas Sunset, I suggest you write a complaint to headquarters. Mail it in and document everything you've tried and encountered. There is a management team that sets the policies and the call centers just do their best to apply those policies with whatever level of direction they're given.

If you don't like mailing letters, try sending a FlyerTalk PM to AGR Insider with your membership details and documented grievances.

 

[Ispolkom]

I think it just throws them into a state of confusion - because there don't appear to be rules - when one tries to board or debark at a less popular/common location that might be mid-route or also on a zone border, or when the routing brings you around somewhat circuitously.

And that's where the fun comes in. I'd much rather have an indeterminate program like AGR where anything is possible, but nothing is certain, than a rule-bound program like American Airlines' that doesn't allow me to book travel when I want.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I think it just throws them into a state of confusion - because there don't appear to be rules - when one tries to board or debark at a less popular/common location that might be mid-route or also on a zone border, or when the routing brings you around somewhat circuitously.

And that's where the fun comes in. I'd much rather have an indeterminate program like AGR where anything is possible, but nothing is certain, than a rule-bound program like American Airlines' that doesn't allow me to book travel when I want.

How much would you charge to book this trip as a two zone award?

 

[Anthony]

I think it just throws them into a state of confusion - because there don't appear to be rules - when one tries to board or debark at a less popular/common location that might be mid-route or also on a zone border, or when the routing brings you around somewhat circuitously.

And that's where the fun comes in. I'd much rather have an indeterminate program like AGR where anything is possible, but nothing is certain, than a rule-bound program like American Airlines' that doesn't allow me to book travel when I want.

And here I thought you were complaining all this time about AGR's lack of published rules because you actually craved consistency. :giggle:

 

[Ispolkom]

And here I thought you were complaining all this time about AGR's lack of published rules because you actually craved consistency. :giggle:

I'll take inconsistency if it gives me availability, an occasional oddly inexpensive trip, or entertainment. So far AGR has given me all three, and that's key. I have no problem using AGR points, but I'm having a devil of a time finding American Airlines redemptions that make any sense.

In any case, AGR is what it is, and I see no great advantage in complaining about things I can't change.

What I dislike is people claiming that there are rules, when (if they exist) they are secret, inconsistently applied, and subject to change at any time without notice. I can't see the difference from between such nebulous so-called "rules" and no rules at all, so I prefer to assume that there are no rules, and act accordingly. I don't ask for special favors, and I take my lumps when they are dealt. It's worked well for me so far, though I admit I've been using AGR points for only five years.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I still haven't received the email with my cousin's ticket. I again called AGR and the lady really did everything she could and tried to send it a couple of times, talked to support, etc., but still can't email it to me. She said I can pick up my cousin's ticket the next time I go to Bloomington.

The strange thing is that she was able to re-send my e-ticket, but can't send my cousin's.

So once again, stay tuned. I don't know when I'll be in Bloomington again, but I'll stop by the station and see what happens there.