Loop with layover from MSP - recommendations please!

[dupsterfuel]

Hi there!

I am taking a spring break trip with my kids and we hope we can take a loop out west. We can leave March 20th in the afternoon, and need to return the 29th - all to/from MSP or RDW in a family bedroom or two roommettes.

I called AGR to get some ideas. The first call they created a route MSP - PDX - LAX - FLG and said we would have to stay over in PDX or LAX, our choice and our expense. A return along the same route.

This morning I called and got a different route. MSP to Chicago, overnight in Chicago, then to St Louis, KC and eventually Flagstaff. She said the only return option was back to Chicago then on a bus overnight.

I don't want to do a bus. It seems like we should be able to take the MSP - CHI - FLG for the first leg, then FLG - LAX - PDX - MSP for the return. I was given these routes separately but the agent this morning said it wasn't possible to do the FLG-LAX-PDX-MSP route.

We have taken the Empire Builder a few times, and would like to ride it on one leg, but also want to ride either the CZ or the SC as part of our loop as well.

I'm hoping some of you can use your experienced minds to help me out!

 

[niemi24s]

If you're hoping to fund the entire rail journey using AGR points you need the follow the labyrinth of rules for AGR redemption. Sounds like the two agents you talked to may have different understandings of those rules. And that's understandable. That's why I referred to them as a labyrinth. (Either that or I don't fully understand your question)

Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[the_traveler]

The reason for the overnight and/or bus in Chicago is because the train to MSP departs before the others arrive. If you wanted to do the FLG-LAX-PDX-MSP route on the return, first enter "FLG-MSP" on the Amtrak booking site (DO NOT use the multi-city booking). If that routing comes up, it can be booked by AGR. If the agent can't book it, you can book a 1 zone award from FLG to WPT (Wolf Point, MT) and then later (in another call) book a 1 zone award from WPT to MSP on the same train.

 

[Ispolkom]

The problem is that St. Paul to Flagstaff is not a published route, so according to the Rules as Written you can't book a trip between the two cities as one AGR redemption. I'm impressed that you had two agents who were willing to break the rules to help you. The problem is that neither agent's proposed routings are necessarily going to be allowed by any other agent you talk to. Still, it shows that some agents have some flexibility when there's no published route.

What I don't think you are likely to get is an agent who is willing to book you on an unpublished, circuitous route (FLG-LAX-PDX-MSP), when there is a more direct, published route (FLG-CHI-MSP). Sadly, the traveler's solution probably won't work either, since FLG-WPT is also not a published route.

Once upon a time your itinerary was a published routing. Heck, I remember booking ABQ-LAX-PDX-MSP as a one-zone award. Those times are gone, I'm afraid.

If I were you I'd try booking MSP-PDX-LAX-FLG as a two-zone award, then FLG-CHI. I'd then fly home from Chicago rather than pay for a night in Chicago and tickets on the next day's #7.

 

[SubwayNut]

Hmm...

Two summers ago (started in Pheonix actually on the van as part of the award) I went flagstaff to MSP via Lax and PDX in a two zone roomette, was quite easy to book did FLG-MSP first then added the throughway connection for free much to my surprise!

Guess that's not allowed anymore?

 

[dupsterfuel]

FLG - MSP is routed through Chicago and uses an overnight bus ride from CHI - MSP. Not an option for me with 3 kids. I wish I could find an itinerary for us to spend 5+ days on the train originating from MSP.

 

[jebr]

Maybe MSP - DEN and back? You'd redo the trip each way, but that's not a bad trip.

 

[Ispolkom]

Guess that's not allowed anymore?

Lots of itineraries that start or end on the Empire Builder went away when they broke the connections at both ends last year, and haven't come back.

 

[dupsterfuel]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm looking at getting coach tickets from MSP to CHI and staying overnight in Chicago. The next day I take a 1 zone Family Sleeper from CHI to DEN and book separately the 2 zone DEN to MSP. Can we be guaranteed the same sleeper if we book separately on the CZ from CHI to DEN and DEN to SAC?

 

[the_traveler]

Well, there is only 1 Family Room per car, and the CZ only has 2 (and sometimes 3) sleepers, so you have a 50% or 33% chance!

 

[jebr]

If you did it together (with the same agent) and mention that you want to stay in the same bedroom at Denver, they should be able to do that. The only exception would be is if there is no through-bedroom available, in which case you may have to switch.

 

[dupsterfuel]

Well we ended up booking a trip from MSP to LAX and back. We'll spend one day on the beach and return to Wisconsin. Hopefully my kids will be able to watch the rail system develop into something much more robust in the years to come. Thanks for the help!

 

[Dave]

Where in Wisconsin do you live?

 

[Dave]

Where in Wisconsin do you live?

 

[tomfuller]

To anyone who wants to start an AGR trip from Wisconsin with a connection in CHI, drive or take alternate transportation to MKE and take one of 3 morning Hiawatha trains into CHI. I would not pay for a hotel room in Chicago because of no guaranteed connections from the Empire Builder.

Dupsterfuel started this thread the day I got off the CZ in Galesburg IL. That night I spent in Austin MN (home of Spam) after driving through a corner of WI across from Dubuque.