Keystone - getting on an earlier train?

[Barciur]

Hello

I've a question about the unreserved keystone service.. I know that the tickets are good for one year, so despite the time and date on it, I could travel for any time within a year between HAR and PHL.. My question is - can I get on an earlier train than the one departing? I have bought a ticket for Saturday for the 11:55AM departure from LNC, but I might want to go with the 9:30 instead - don't know yet for sure, but just in case, can I do it? Are there any rules about that? I must mention that I once have done it - had a 7PM ticket and boarded a 5PM train from Harrisburg to Lancaster, that was last year in September, but I am not sure if it was a one off or is that a standard procedure.

I don't want to change the date because I get a ISIC discount which requires a 3 day advance reesrvation, which makes no sense on the unreserved train, however, since I can buy a ticket and travel on it 5 months later, but anyway.

 

[NE933]

Once you got the date, ya better show up at the train gate, so that it's keeps for your ticket rate, otherwise you took the bait and are destined to your fate!!

Of missing the Keystone!

 

[Acela150]

No issues with boarding an earlier train. It's unreserved. If it was reserved that's a totally different story.

 

[benjibear]

I have had no problem on Keystone trains with this. I actually have a standing ticket for ELT-PHL because I am sure I will be going there sometime. Usually I don't know until the day before and then I don't get AAA discount. The only issue is there are non-peak and peak times. I beleive peak is Fridays after 10 and Sundays but I never ride at that time.

 

[SubwayNut]

Sundays is peak as well (and peak is only between certain hours 9:00am and 6:59pm) here are the restrictions copied from my last Unreserved Keystone Service (Points Run) eTicket:

OFF-PEAK-NOT VAL 9A-659P FRI & SUN/NO • NO TVL TVL26-28NOV13,30NOV13 26-28NOV13,30NOV13-02DEC13,23DEC13,24DEC13,26DEC13

Since its a Saturday I can't see it being a problem.

 

[FreeskierInVT]

I am curious about this as well. I am thinking of taking a quick points run from PHL-DOW tomorrow (11/3) after the Autumn Express gets in to PHL and before my train back to New York. Since it's less than 3 days in advance, could I book a ticket using my Student Advantage discount for say next Sunday and use it tomorrow? I know I'd only get points for one leg since I would be taking five trains in one day, but I think it would still be worth it to get 200 points for roughly $11.

 

[jis]

If your Autumn Express hits the system last by chance, I.e. The fifth for the day, you could miss out on all it's points. So be careful. It is impossible to guess what order the ticket scans will get to AGR.

 

[FreeskierInVT]

If your Autumn Express hits the system last by chance, I.e. The fifth for the day, you could miss out on all it's points. So be careful. It is impossible to guess what order the ticket scans will get to AGR.

I would probably book one of the Keystones without my AGR number. Would that work or would the system still recognize me?

 

[Acela150]

It will not recognize you unless you provide a AGR Number.

 

[FreeskierInVT]

It will not recognize you unless you provide a AGR Number.

Would my scenario of booking a ticket for next Sunday and then use them tomorrow work out though? I've never done a points run or been on a Keystone, so I have no idea if this would work or not.

 

[benjibear]

No, booking for next Sunday will not work. The tickets state that it can't be used before the date that you book. Do they actually check that? I don't know but the ticket is only $8 so in my opinion would not be worth the 0.80 discount you will get.

 

[Acela150]

No, booking for next Sunday will not work. The tickets state that it can't be used before the date that you book. Do they actually check that?

This. It would pop up on the scanner that the ticket wasn't within the valid dates, and that it's an invalid eTicket.

 

[PRR 60]

If your Autumn Express hits the system last by chance, I.e. The fifth for the day, you could miss out on all it's points. So be careful. It is impossible to guess what order the ticket scans will get to AGR.

Not true. The four trips per day only applies to trips earning the 100 point minimum. You can take four 100-point trips and a fifth trip will earn points if it earns more than 100 points. The Autumn Express earns more than points.

From the AGR T&C's.

A maximum of two roundtrips or four one-way trips, per Member, per day, will be allowed to earn points under the 100-point minimum per trip rule. Any trips subsequent to the maximum of two roundtrips or four one-ways, per Member, per day will receive 2 points for every $1 if the trip's point value exceeds 100 points.

 

[FreeskierInVT]

Based from quickly reading about the Keystone, I thought the ticket was valid from the day the reservation was made (say today), not for a year from the date the reservation is for

 

[SubwayNut]

Its definitely a year from the date your actually ticketed for. When you got and still get (itineraries that require them) paper tickets for unreserved trains they have a valid from date (the date you made the reservation for) and the valid through date, the year in the future that you have to use the ticket.