Unsold Sleepers

[Ctim2]

We are 4 of 4 with on board upgrades 3 on the Crescent NB twice out of Atlanta, once out of New Orleans and once on the Lake Shore Limited out of Albany, NY. For me it's all in the ask and the timing of the ask. I always act like I just heard that I could move (I never say upgrade) and needed their help vs approaching it like they are obligated to upgrade me. Oh and by the way,, I don't run to the train crew as soon as the train starts moving, doing that makes it seemed planned and most likely would piss them off.

Ctim

 

[Dovecote]

If the silver meteor has unsold sleeping rooms... I know its probably rare, but it could happen right? can you purchase those after you are already on board?

Either my wife or I have been successful in getting an onboard roomette upgrade on both the Silver Meteor and Silver Star. As one poster commented success many times is a timing issue. Then again it is a moot point if all of the sleeping rooms are occupied.

We have been successful in upgrading to sleeping accomodations on the SM & SS, Capitol Limited, Crescent, and Sunset Limited. Ten times total. We usually travel long distance during non-peak travel periods but we have been fortunate to snatch upgrade during peak periods as well. Perhaps our pleasant personalities are a factor in securing the upgrades :lol:

 

[abcnews]

In August of 2010 we were returning from Florida on the Silver Star and we had the last bedroom - I had booked it through AGR about 4 hours prior to the train departing Orlando. The next morning we met a young mom with two small kids in the diner (for breakfast) and she mentioned that she had upgraded at Savannah GA to a Roomette. She was quite happy with the upgrade, it really changed her view regarding traveling by train. I think she paid $75 or so, can't recall, but it made a big difference.

Then on my next trip - that December, we had a roomette on the Cardinal. and the Amtrak crew was promoting available sleeper rooms on the PA system. They even brought folks up to our Viewliner car to look around and see the accommodations. So in that case, the conductor was actively trying to sell sleeper space. And on the same trip - later that week, we took the EB east from Portland to Chicago - and we had a Bedroom to Wolf Point, and then a roomette after that. When I asked the car attendant about keeping our bedroom to Chicago - he retrieved the Conductor, who offered us the opportunity to upgrade to bedroom (after Wolf Point), but the fee was rather high, since we were traveling on a free ticket (AGR award).

 

[Devil's Advocate]

We have been successful in upgrading to sleeping accomodations on the SM & SS, Capitol Limited, Crescent, and Sunset Limited. Ten times total. We usually travel long distance during non-peak travel periods but we have been fortunate to snatch upgrade during peak periods as well. Perhaps our pleasant personalities are a factor in securing the upgrades :lol:

I'm genuinely surprised about the Sunset Limited.

Maybe you really do think the rest of us are just bossing around the conductors every chance we get, but that's not what I've done and that's not what I've seen others do. After repeated attempts of my own and witnessing the attempts of others, kindness did not appear to be the determining factor in my experience. Unless you're talking about overt flattery or flirting or something. For all I know there are any number of hidden methods for obtaining a room by employing deception, bribery, or reverse psychology. I'm not going to bother with any of that either. Is there any legitimate reason that it should require more than a respectful request of the person in charge of handling it and the ability to cover the officially sanctioned cost?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hate to give a Lawyers answer Chris, but "It depends!" (on the Conductor involved!") Ive had luck on the Eagles and Eastern trains, not so much so on the Western ones! Lots of new Conductors coming on-line on the Eagles and perhaps they don't want to, or dont know how to do the paperwork???! Maybe e-ticketing will help solve this "hit-or-miss" procedure! :unsure:

 

[nferr]

Hate to give a Lawyers answer Chris, but "It depends!" (on the Conductor involved!") Ive had luck on the Eagles and Eastern trains, not so much so on the Western ones! Lots of new Conductors coming on-line on the Eagles and perhaps they don't want to, or dont know how to do the paperwork???! Maybe e-ticketing will help solve this "hit-or-miss" procedure! :unsure:

Exactly. I've been on trains where they've announced over the speaker system that there are sleeping accommodations available. I guess it all depends.