Printing E-tickets

[BLOND37]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but

a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

 

[Trogdor]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but
a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

I can tell you, such has already been looked at and is seriously being considered.

 

[BLOND37]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but
a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

I can tell you, such has already been looked at and is seriously being considered.

lmao i guess i am going to be using dad's printer a lot (LOL) i dont have one and call me old fashioned but i like to have a paper ticket

 

[jebr]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but
a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

I can tell you, such has already been looked at and is seriously being considered.

lmao i guess i am going to be using dad's printer a lot (LOL) i dont have one and call me old fashioned but i like to have a paper ticket

I would hope that they wouldn't charge to print it at a Quik-Trip machine, so that could be another option.

 

[DanaE]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but
a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

I can tell you, such has already been looked at and is seriously being considered.

lmao i guess i am going to be using dad's printer a lot (LOL) i dont have one and call me old fashioned but i like to have a paper ticket

I would hope that they wouldn't charge to print it at a Quik-Trip machine, so that could be another option.

a couple of low-cost European airlines already charge you to print out boarding passes at the airport.... don't give Amtrak any ideas!

 

[BLOND37]

i shouldn't say this too loudly and give amtrak any ideas but
a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

I can tell you, such has already been looked at and is seriously being considered.

lmao i guess i am going to be using dad's printer a lot (LOL) i dont have one and call me old fashioned but i like to have a paper ticket

I would hope that they wouldn't charge to print it at a Quik-Trip machine, so that could be another option.

a couple of low-cost European airlines already charge you to print out boarding passes at the airport.... don't give Amtrak any ideas!

zipping my mouth and throwing away the key LOL

 

[Guest]

a certain wireless phone provider who shall go nameless.. charges $5.oo if you pay your bill thru a live rep.. if you do it yourself online or at a kiosk at the store there's no charge... i am surprised amtrak hasn't implemented the same policy where if you have a station counter person print your tics for you there's a charge..

Some banks are seriously looking at this too. What a real life teller? There's a charge for that.

Though, seriously, Amtrak might do it the other way around. Offer a discount if you self-serve by booking yourself, either on-line or thru Julie. Ticket please? Just show your cell phone screen display. No paper involved.

 

[the_traveler]

Not Amtrak, but United Airlines charged (at that time) $30 per passenger to redeem an award ticket with a live agent and $-0- if done on line. A few years ago, my sister and BIL used an award ticket to Asia. Even they flew United from home to Tokyo, beyond that they had to fly on a partner airline. That meant the award had to be done by phone. And of course it cost $30 per person, because it was not done online - which it could not be done! :angry:

 

[TinCan782]

I usually print the PDF at home before I leave. A folded up piece of paper with the QR Code showing is sometimes quicker to show than opening an app on my Android.

 

[jis]

That's where Passbook or similar facilities come in handy. No app to start. Just touch the item as presented even on a locked screen based on time and other factors that are pre setable.

 

[TinCan782]

That's where Passbook or similar facilities come in handy. No app to start. Just touch the item as presented even on a locked screen based on time and other factors that are pre setable.

Usually, I display the PDF that was emailed to me. That is quicker than the Amtrak app also. Either way, problem is I tend to do other things like Facebook, read the news, etc. which means I have to re-open something to get to the ticket.

 

[benjibear]

To me it seams quicker if the conductor can scan a piece of paper rather than something on the smart phone. I think one problem is people may not have their phones ready when the conductor comes.

I honestly think it isn't a horrible idea to charge more if you use a station agent. However, I have had problems printing tickets from a quick track machine. There should be some cases that their is no extra charge (i.e. problems with quick track machines, handicap people, etc.).

 

[afigg]

The eTicket system is still pretty new. There are number of issues with adding charges for using station agents at this stage. For starters, the Thruway and other connecting bus service providers don't take eTickets - yet. At a minimum, need to wait until the Thruway buses can take eTickets. If Amtrak is planning to provide iPhone scanners to their Thruway bus drivers.

Are there any staffed or part time staffed stations that don't have a Quik-Trak machine? Or stations with reasonably secure waiting rooms or buildings that don't have QT machines? If so, I would expect with the advent of eTicketing, the QT machines at major stations like NYP, WAS are seeing far less use. Should be able to deploy some of those QT machines to stations that don't have one.

Should also wait until more people have smartphones and/or tablet computers to make reservations and display eTicket images. The Amtrak app for iPhones and Android OS has not been around that long. An interesting market research question would be what percentage of Amtrak customers have modern smartphones and/or PCs with printers at home? More or less than the US population as a whole?

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Actually, at least on Long Distance trains the Conductor does not even need to see your ticket and often your ticket ends up getting lifted without you knowing it. Early in on a recent 8 segment trip, the Conductor never came by my Room before I was called to the Diner and I later chased him down fearing if my ticket wasn't scanned it would cancel the rest of the itinerary. He told me not to worry as he stopped by my room when I was at chow and simply manually keyed me into the system.

So I imagine if you don't have a copy of your e-ticket you just need to give your name and the Conductor will clear you manually.

 

[railiner]

No ticket? Not a problem.....just give your name.....

Now, that's progress.........

 

[mjaynes288]

This is a horrible idea. I book my trips online but I do not have access to a printer. I do not own a smart phone, tablet, or laptop. Why? Because I cannot afford them. A big reason I travel Amtrak is to avoid hidden fees. I get on at a staffed station and tickets are scanned on the platform. Would you have them hold the CS at the station while someone looks up my ticket? The station agent always looks up my info when I check my bag. Does it really take that much longer to print out a ticket? This makes no sense at a small station around 12 departures a day. I get to the station early and the station agents spend most of their time sitting around looking bored and announcing the new estimate for when the CS will arrive.

 

[BCL]

Not Amtrak, but United Airlines charged (at that time) $30 per passenger to redeem an award ticket with a live agent and $-0- if done on line. A few years ago, my sister and BIL used an award ticket to Asia. Even they flew United from home to Tokyo, beyond that they had to fly on a partner airline. That meant the award had to be done by phone. And of course it cost $30 per person, because it was not done online - which it could not be done! :angry:

It was $25 the only time I've ever redeemed. I had to since I was booking tickets via a partner airline, and over the phone is the only way.

I suppose you know how fun it is trying to explain where you want to go and how for 45 minutes to someone in India.

 

[BCL]

a couple of low-cost European airlines already charge you to print out boarding passes at the airport.... don't give Amtrak any ideas!

I go to QT kiosks and sometimes print a couple of e-tickets on Amtrak stock. If my kid is on the ride, it's something to play with. I think this would be less likely with a ticket agent since I'll be asked why I need another copy. The QT machine doesn't care as long as my credit card is inserted each time (I still haven't gotten my AGR card).

Other than that, a lot of hotels have computers with printers, although they sort of frown on people printing hundreds of pages. Printing PDF boarding passes or Amtrak tickets isn't usually too bad. Sometimes you'll have to specifically ask a concierge. Some hotels I've stayed at don't have a free service but have a business center that charges by the minute/page like Kinkos.

I remember being bored and printing out maybe 5 sets of our airline boarding passes at McCarran Airport in Vegas. They had check-in/boarding pass printers all over the place, including at the consolidated car rental facility that's actually located off the airport. I haven't seen them, but several of the hotels on the Strip have these machines that operate identically to the ones at the airport.

I'm not sure how it might work. I think you're probably talking about Ryanair at the very least. They actually charge a small fee for web check-in, and that's the cheapest fee. If you check in via the web and then forget to print it out, it's going to cost even more.

 

[TinCan782]

No ticket? Not a problem.....just give your name.....Now, that's progress.........

I've had that done too, especially when you are the only one getting on that car (sleeper or business). The conductor just verifys the name he sees on his device and checks you in.

 

[the_traveler]

Not Amtrak, but United Airlines charged (at that time) $30 per passenger to redeem an award ticket with a live agent and $-0- if done on line. A few years ago, my sister and BIL used an award ticket to Asia. Even they flew United from home to Tokyo, beyond that they had to fly on a partner airline. That meant the award had to be done by phone. And of course it cost $30 per person, because it was not done online - which it could not be done! :angry:

It was $25 the only time I've ever redeemed. I had to since I was booking tickets via a partner airline, and over the phone is the only way.
I suppose you know how fun it is trying to explain where you want to go and how for 45 minutes to someone in India.

And to make it worse, they were going to Phnom Phen, Cambodia (they have friends there). The airport code for Phnom Phen and and airport somewhere in Minnesota are the same - but with the 2nd and 3rd letters reversed!

 

[PRR 60]

This notation appears at the top of Page 136 of the Spring / Summer Amtrak System Timetable:

A fee may apply to bookings made through a contact center agent, if the booking could have been made through a self-service channel (Amtrak.com, Julie, or Quik-Trak).

I don't think that notation would have been put into the timetable if Amtrak was not seriously looking at implementing such a fee.

 

[trainman74]

That's where Passbook or similar facilities come in handy. No app to start. Just touch the item as presented even on a locked screen based on time and other factors that are pre setable.

Now, if only Amtrak reservations made by phone (such as Guest Rewards sleeper redemptions) could be brought into the Amtrak app, and therefore into Passbook...

 

[TinCan782]

That's where Passbook or similar facilities come in handy. No app to start. Just touch the item as presented even on a locked screen based on time and other factors that are pre setable.

Now, if only Amtrak reservations made by phone (such as Guest Rewards sleeper redemptions) could be brought into the Amtrak app, and therefore into Passbook...

I think we'd all like that. Don't know why. Such a ticket could always be "locked" so you had to modify it by phone instead of via the app if that's their concern.

 

[AlanB]

That's where Passbook or similar facilities come in handy. No app to start. Just touch the item as presented even on a locked screen based on time and other factors that are pre setable.

Now, if only Amtrak reservations made by phone (such as Guest Rewards sleeper redemptions) could be brought into the Amtrak app, and therefore into Passbook...

I think we'd all like that. Don't know why. Such a ticket could always be "locked" so you had to modify it by phone instead of via the app if that's their concern.

That's not their concern Frensic. And I think that Amtrak would love to be able to provide what you guys are requesting. The issue is that ARROW can't handle it. Online booking, App stuff, and AGR are all really overlays sitting on top of ARROW. They all know things that ARROW doesn't and ARROW doesn't have the ability to pass that information around. At least not without a major rewrite, which no one wants to do and at this point no one may even really be capable of doing it without risking bringing down the entire system.

I fear that the only way that this may happen is if/when Amtrak finds the money to actually replace ARROW with something more modern.

 

[Acela150]

In regards to Afiggs comment about QT's seeing less use, When I've taken my trips I always have 3 tickets, iPhones Passbook is my first choice. Simple slide of my finger conductor scans onto the next Rider. Conductors say that scanning Cell Phone tickets are hard cause people mess with the brightness of their phone. I've been told by 5+ conductors that my phones brightness is perfect. Second Choice is QT printed, Third is print at home.

Now regarding Names on the scanner, On my trip out to Harrisburg last week an elderly couple got on to the BC car. When the conductor came by they offered their print at home up, he said "Don't worry about it, I got ya. You're the only people getting on here". That was Lancaster. So keep in mind that it can be done by, Service i.e. Business, Coach, First Class and Station.

I have to add that if Amtrak does puts the fee into effect, when one calls about upgrading from Coach to BC or BC to FC with an AGR coupon, would one have to pay say $5 for their time?? :wacko: