Waiting for conductor

[denmarks]

I have boarded trains and within a few minutes have heard a call to make meal reservations. Do I have to wait for the conductor to check in before leaving the room?

Let me clarity. I have just boarded and usually wait for the conductor to check my ticket. Meal reservations are made in the dining car. Should I wait for the conductor first?

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I never do. If its my time to head to the diner car for my meal, I go.

 

[Austruck]

I thought the OP was asking about waiting for the conductor in order to make meal reservations in the first place. No?

 

[tim49424]

SCA usually will stop by right after you board. Ask him/her what the procedure is. The conductor does not do the reservations. It's usually the dining car attendant.

 

[the_traveler]

The Dining Car LSA comes around to take dining reservations. If you boarded after (s)he came around, ask your SCA. Normally they will make a time reservation for you.

I have never had to go to the Dining Car to make a reservation if I have a sleeper.

 

[TinCan782]

SCA's who are on top of things and know you will be boarding at mealtime, will have made a reservation for you (in my experience).

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I have boarded trains and within a few minutes have heard a call to make meal reservations. Do I have to wait for the conductor to check in before leaving the room? Let me clarity. I have just boarded and usually wait for the conductor to check my ticket. Meal reservations are made in the dining car. Should I wait for the conductor first?

I'm confused. I've rarely had the conductor come to my room. Or made a reservation by entering the dining car. 99% of the time the conductor has met me long before I reached my room, the SCA checked me off the manifest, and the dining staff came to my room to get my reservation. If I missed out on making a reservation I simply asked the SCA to do it.

 

[KmH]

SCA's who are on top of things and know you will be boarding at mealtime, will have make a reservation for you (in my experience).

Yep. Same here.

It was only on the return leg starting at SAC that a conductor lifted my ticket after I had boarded.

I was in my roomette as it wasn't yet lunch time and the train had just departed the station.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

And since the Conductor no longer has to physically lift your ticket, if you are not in your room when (s)he comes by, they will usually click you in if they see evidence you have boarded.

 

[snvboy]

Ditto. On the Capitol Limited tonight, conductor never came by. I even diligently waited, wanting to go to the Cafe to get a soda. My 6pm dinner reservation came around (2 hours after leaving Washington), and no conductor. The LSA did come by to check on dinner reservations, which I had already made at the Acela lounge in D.C. So, I assume my ticket was "lifted" by the SCA reporting his manifest to the conductor.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I've been told to go to the diner to make a reservation by my SCA when boarding mid-trip. So that can happen.

 

[Lonestar648]

I have never had to make a reservation in the DC. Either the LSA comes to each car taking reservations, or the SCA says what times are available and makes the reservation for you. If departing from an origin point like Chicago, I find the Conductor almost always comes by to scan your phone or check you in. Getting on mid-way, many times the SCA and the Conductor compare notes, especially if it is at night.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I thought the OP was asking about waiting for the conductor in order to make meal reservations in the first place. No?

I thought the OP was asking about needing to stay in your room until the conductor lifted your ticket (checked you in). If the SCA has you in for a dining car reservation, because you were boarded during a meal time, I would honor that reservation and head to the dining car. If the conductor really needs to see you personally, he/she can come back later.