Bucket price ranges get a lot of attention on the board. I just got reminded how important timing is in getting low bucket prices on accomodations on long distance trains (the EB in this case).
After passing on a Labor Day Weekend trip because I did not like the sleeper pricing and hotel rooms were scarce, I have been thinking about a SPK-SEA RT in early October. Yesterday morning I started my price research and found deluxe sleepers at $194 each way (low bucket) on my chosen travel dates. Still, I was only 80% decided I wanted to make the trip. I got home yesterday afternoon with an hour to spare before I had to leave for a local river cruise. I was rushed, but stopped and made my reservation on Amtrak.
Now, about 10 hours later, just for sport, I checked to see what deluxe rooms were pricing at after I had purchased my ticket. The accomodations that were $388 yesterday afternoon are now $666; 72% higher. I would have been kicking myself if I had waited until this morning to make my reservation.
As I have readily observed before, even brief procastination can cost you, and when talking about sleeper accomodations, the percentages translate into real money.
After passing on a Labor Day Weekend trip because I did not like the sleeper pricing and hotel rooms were scarce, I have been thinking about a SPK-SEA RT in early October. Yesterday morning I started my price research and found deluxe sleepers at $194 each way (low bucket) on my chosen travel dates. Still, I was only 80% decided I wanted to make the trip. I got home yesterday afternoon with an hour to spare before I had to leave for a local river cruise. I was rushed, but stopped and made my reservation on Amtrak.
Now, about 10 hours later, just for sport, I checked to see what deluxe rooms were pricing at after I had purchased my ticket. The accomodations that were $388 yesterday afternoon are now $666; 72% higher. I would have been kicking myself if I had waited until this morning to make my reservation.
As I have readily observed before, even brief procastination can cost you, and when talking about sleeper accomodations, the percentages translate into real money.