Jumping in midway in sleeper with someone. Possible?

[Texan Eagle]

I have a friend traveling from LAX to SEA on the Starlight by roomette, ticket purchased by cash. I am planning to hop on the same train from SJC to SEA and if possible join him on his already booked roomette that is for two people but right now he is booked alone. What would be the best way to book this and will I have to pay the usual SJC-SEA coach fare, lowest bucket SJC-SEA coach fare (since it would be add-on to a sleeper), or some other fare?

 

[Devil's Advocate]

You will be charged the minimum coach fare. However, you'll need to call and explain the situation to get this rate. The website still can't sell it to you.

 

[Guest]

Have your friend call to add you to the existing reservation. You will then be booked in the same roomette and will pay the lowest rail (coach) fare. Of course, you may also voluntarily offer your friend payment for half of the accommodation charge, if you like.

 

[AlanB]

Texan,

What you need is called an Open Sleeper ticket. Essentially this is a special ticket, and you will NOT get an eTicket for it, it will be a real old style Amtrak ticket. The agent cross references things to your friends reservation number and you will need that number to do this. You ticket will not tell you what car or room number you are in, so make sure that you know that prior to boarding.

Your other choice is to just add on to his reservation from the origination point, but wait to board until SJC.

 

[Texan Eagle]

This was very easy. I had my friend call in Amtrak and explain the situation. The agent simply pulled up the low bucket SJC-SEA coach fare, applied my AAA discount to it, and added me to his existing sleeper reservation, but boarding SJC. Done! I like such an option is available.

 

[Blackwolf]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

 

[the_traveler]

Especially if it's a non-stop flight. :giggle:

 

[Texan Eagle]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

Not the same thing. When you book a First Class ticket on a plane, you don't get a cabin that costs the same whether one person or two persons are traveling. If airlines gave double bed rooms or double seats etc, we can talk about comparing it with Amtrak. Some people here like to bash air travel at every available opportunity, but hey, let's keep apples and oranges separate?

 

[Anthony]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

Not the same thing. When you book a First Class ticket on a plane, you don't get a cabin that costs the same whether one person or two persons are traveling. If airlines gave double bed rooms or double seats etc, we can talk about comparing it with Amtrak. Some people here like to bash air travel at every available opportunity, but hey, let's keep apples and oranges separate?

Here's apples and apples - Amtrak doesn't charge you to make a reservation over the phone Some airlines will charge you even if their Web site can't accommodate the request.

 

[PRR 60]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

Not the same thing. When you book a First Class ticket on a plane, you don't get a cabin that costs the same whether one person or two persons are traveling. If airlines gave double bed rooms or double seats etc, we can talk about comparing it with Amtrak. Some people here like to bash air travel at every available opportunity, but hey, let's keep apples and oranges separate?

Here's apples and apples - Amtrak doesn't charge you to make a reservation over the phone Some airlines will charge you even if their Web site can't accommodate the request.

Here's another apple and apples. I was returning from PHX to PHL on a discount, non-refundable fare in October. My meeting ended early and I was able to make an earlier flight. I was able to rebook onto the earlier flight with no fee or fare change. I was home two hours early. For a change like that, Amtrak would have repriced my ticket into the walk-up fare. The inflexibility of same day changes is a major failing of Amtrak for business travel.

 

[jebr]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

Not the same thing. When you book a First Class ticket on a plane, you don't get a cabin that costs the same whether one person or two persons are traveling. If airlines gave double bed rooms or double seats etc, we can talk about comparing it with Amtrak. Some people here like to bash air travel at every available opportunity, but hey, let's keep apples and oranges separate?

Here's apples and apples - Amtrak doesn't charge you to make a reservation over the phone Some airlines will charge you even if their Web site can't accommodate the request.

Here's another apple and apples. I was returning from PHX to PHL on a discount, non-refundable fare in October. My meeting ended early and I was able to make an earlier flight. I was able to rebook onto the earlier flight with no fee or fare change. I was home two hours early. For a change like that, Amtrak would have repriced my ticket into the walk-up fare. The inflexibility of same day changes is a major failing of Amtrak for business travel.

What airline and ticket class was that? Did you have status on that airline?

I would agree that Amtrak should offer that to some extent. However, I would argue that the same-day benefit could only be applied to Select members or above. (Maybe Select Plus.) It'd be a huge boon for Amtrak's rewards program.

 

[Ashland Train Enthusiast]

Just one more advantage to the train. Good luck adding an 'open ticket' to join your friend in First Class while flying between LAX and SEA!

Not the same thing. When you book a First Class ticket on a plane, you don't get a cabin that costs the same whether one person or two persons are traveling. If airlines gave double bed rooms or double seats etc, we can talk about comparing it with Amtrak. Some people here like to bash air travel at every available opportunity, but hey, let's keep apples and oranges separate?

Here's apples and apples - Amtrak doesn't charge you to make a reservation over the phone Some airlines will charge you even if their Web site can't accommodate the request.

Here's another apple and apples. I was returning from PHX to PHL on a discount, non-refundable fare in October. My meeting ended early and I was able to make an earlier flight. I was able to rebook onto the earlier flight with no fee or fare change. I was home two hours early. For a change like that, Amtrak would have repriced my ticket into the walk-up fare. The inflexibility of same day changes is a major failing of Amtrak for business travel.

I agree with Jebr, what airline, aNd what status do you have, of any, with them? I fly primarily United for business, and even though I am MileagePlus silver this year, I still have to pay a change fee for moving to an early flight for the very reason you described above. Now, I will say that I wish Amtrak would have a flat change fee, or a structure where it'd be the lower of either the difference of the fare you paid and the current bucket or a flat fee, but I wouldn't quite call your comparison apples to apples.

~ DCTE

 

[PRR 60]

US Airways. Applies to DM Silver and above. Non-elites can move up to an earlier flight (within six hours of booked departure) for $75 fee, no fare change.