Rebooked at lower fare

[PetalumaLoco]

Just a reminder it pays to keep checking the price of your booked trip.

We saved $94 tonite by nailing a lower bucket roomette that opened up on the EB, CHI-SPT for our trip in August.

We originally booked this back in January.

Got better a better roomette location too.

 

[Gingee]

Did you book it on-line?

 

[PetalumaLoco]

Did you book it on-line?

Booked the original on line, later phoned Julie and changed the room as it was #2 and got #7.

The new booking tonite was online, got room #4.

When the confirmation came thru I called Julie and canceled the original.

 

[sunchaser]

Score!!! Great job! Glad to hear checking & rechecking paid off for you!!

 

[PetalumaLoco]

Score!!! Great job! Glad to hear checking & rechecking paid off for you!!

Thanks. Still trying to nail a bedroom at lowest bucket, but I'll take the $94 any day.

We may have some luck upgrading on board.

 

[jmbgeg]

Did you book it on-line?

Booked the original on line, later phoned Julie and changed the room as it was #2 and got #7.

The new booking tonite was online, got room #4.

When the confirmation came thru I called Julie and canceled the original.

I was wondering. I have done something similar, but it has been when they had no deluxe rooms available; only a family bedroom. Watching the availability daily I have had low bucket deluxe bedrooms at less money than the family bedroom come available (likely a cancellation); so I make the new reservation; then cancel the first.

 

[Gingee]

Hey maybe I will keep trying. Part of my trip I got in the lower bucket and part in the higher bucket.

 

[dlagrua]

As long as you don't take physical possession of the tickets it is easy to grab a lower fare at any time. Booking online has its advantages. I just checked our June Chicago trip on the Capitol Limited and the price just went up over $268.00 RT ($606 vs $878) and we are still 90 days out!!!!. Wow if its that high already, I pity those who book last minute, yet as of today the roomettes are still reasonably priced at $119.99. Go figure.

Now just for curiosity I checked the fare on the LSL from NY to CHI w bedrm R/T. Are you ready for this --$1815.00 Man thats highway robbery. I can't believe that anyone would pay near $2000 for a sleeper trip to CHI and back. I guess that there are many rich people in NYC and CHI.

 

[Gingee]

I can believe the big bedroom price. If I upgraded from roommette to bedroom, I think it was a difference of $700 and that is just one way.

 

[dlagrua]

I can believe the big bedroom price. If I upgraded from roommette to bedroom, I think it was a difference of $700 and that is just one way.

I don't see how they justify prices for the bedroom like this and as you know its really not all that big. About 2 times the size of a roomette. Big enough for two people to spread out a biit but still its 6'6" x 7'6". What I like about it is that you have use of the lower berth as a sofa during the day and still have an easy chair. A roomette is great for one and will do for two but for a 6' tall couple we appreciate the bedroom. My wife is a positive influence on us always booking a bedroom.

 

[Ryan]

I don't see how they justify prices for the bedroom like this

The fact that they're routinely sold out suggests that the pricing is well justified (and well could be higher).

 

[dlagrua]

I don't see how they justify prices for the bedroom like this

The fact that they're routinely sold out suggests that the pricing is well justified (and well could be higher).

Or is it that since they are down to a few bedrooms left they try to legally extort as much money as possible from the customer but in reality maybe these bedrooms end up being sold as cheap upgrades once on board. I can't see anyone paying $880 or more for a 6 x 7 bedroom each way. Thats highway robbery.

 

[rrdude]

I can believe the big bedroom price. If I upgraded from roommette to bedroom, I think it was a difference of $700 and that is just one way.

I don't see how they justify prices for the bedroom like this and as you know its really not all that big.

It all about "supply and demand" as Ryan points out, they could probably go higher.............

 

[daveyb99]

Or is it that since they are down to a few bedrooms left they try to legally extort as much money as possible from the customer .... Thats highway robbery.

Are you kidding me: "extort"? "robbery" ??

Sit in coach, therefore no reason to complain. Well, maybe not with that attitude.

(As a side note: AMTRAK lost over $1 Billion last year. Prices should be 20% higher to compensate, so consider that)

I too check frequently for lower fares in hopes to snag a better deal. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Once I even got a bedroom for a down line segment and modified my roomette to that station. It was cheaper than the roomette full trip !!!

Gotta be creative.

 

[Ryan]

Or is it that since they are down to a few bedrooms left

I'm not sure what you're talking about here. If you're talking about the fact that the first rooms are sold at a low price, and the last rooms are sold at higher prices, that's generally referred to as "revenue management", which is trying to get the most revenue out of a fixed inventory (and everyone does it). I'd suggest that the extraordinary claims of "extortion" and "highway robbery" be left out of a reasonable discussion.

 

[PRR 60]

Or is it that since they are down to a few bedrooms left

I'm not sure what you're talking about here. If you're talking about the fact that the first rooms are sold at a low price, and the last rooms are sold at higher prices, that's generally referred to as "revenue management", which is trying to get the most revenue out of a fixed inventory (and everyone does it). I'd suggest that the extraordinary claims of "extortion" and "highway robbery" be left out of a reasonable discussion.

While revenue management is a common practice in the travel industry, I do not think that suggesting Amtrak's implementation that system is "extortion" and "highway robbery" is out of line in any respect. It is a perfectly valid view point. You may not agree that is meets that criteria, but there are some who would.
In the end, one can elect to pay the price, or not. But if the only people who can afford last minute sleeper travel on Amtrak are the wealthy, then I have to question the pricing model.

 

[Ryan]

It is a perfectly valid view point.

No, it isn't.

Extortion: a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.

Robbery: taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear.

There is nothing about Amtrak's fare structure that remotely meets the two definitions above, as you seem to indicate that you're aware of later in your post:

In the end, one can elect to pay the price, or not.

Now if you want to have a reasonable debate about Amtrak's pricing decisions, that's fine. Lower price points for all rooms (and Amtrak losing more money, and not being able to book a room less than 6 months out because demand being significantly higher than supply) could be considered a reasonable viewpoint. Ridiculous hyperbole equating them to actual crimes are in no way reasonable.

 

[PetalumaLoco]

Or is it that since they are down to a few bedrooms left

I'm not sure what you're talking about here. If you're talking about the fact that the first rooms are sold at a low price, and the last rooms are sold at higher prices, that's generally referred to as "revenue management", which is trying to get the most revenue out of a fixed inventory (and everyone does it). I'd suggest that the extraordinary claims of "extortion" and "highway robbery" be left out of a reasonable discussion.

At least that should be rephrased to "railway robbery"!

 

[PRR 60]

It is a perfectly valid view point.

No, it isn't.

Extortion: a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.

Robbery: taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear.

There is nothing about Amtrak's fare structure that remotely meets the two definitions above, as you seem to indicate that you're aware of later in your post:

In the end, one can elect to pay the price, or not.

Now if you want to have a reasonable debate about Amtrak's pricing decisions, that's fine. Lower price points for all rooms (and Amtrak losing more money, and not being able to book a room less than 6 months out because demand being significantly higher than supply) could be considered a reasonable viewpoint. Ridiculous hyperbole equating them to actual crimes are in no way reasonable.

Both terms are commonly used to describe overpricing of good and services. The #2 Merriam-Webster definition of "extortion" is "gross overcharge." The #2 Merriam-Webster definition of "highway robbery" is "excessive profit or advantage derived from a business transaction." Both seem to fit nicely if one is of the opinion that Amtrak top bucket prices for rooms are way too high.

Notwithstanding your feeling badly for Amtrak being called names, reasonable pricing does not necessarily to equate to lower revenue. The trick is to set the low bucket high enough to build revenue, and the upper bucket low enough to not leave rooms unsold. Whether that means today's upper buckets are too high is a matter of opinion. But, if someone feels they are too high, thinking it represents "extortion" and "highway robbery" is supported by Merriam-Webster.

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

Now if you want to have a reasonable debate about Amtrak's pricing decisions, that's fine. Lower price points for all rooms (and Amtrak losing more money, and not being able to book a room less than 6 months out because demand being significantly higher than supply) could be considered a reasonable viewpoint. Ridiculous hyperbole equating them to actual crimes are in no way reasonable.

What about adding a sleeping car or two to every long distance train to increase the supply of lower bucket rooms? Doing so would reduce the per-passenger cost of the engineer and cafe attendant, and some of the station operating costs, etc. It might also improve the ratio of revenue to non-revenue cars.

 

[Rail Freak]

I think everyone should "Lighten Up".

Have you ever heard or used the statement, " I was so mad I could have killed her!"? Doesn't mean they would literally do it!

RF

 

[RRrich]

What about adding a sleeping car or two to every long distance train to increase the supply of lower bucket rooms? Doing so would reduce the per-passenger cost of the engineer and cafe attendant, and some of the station operating costs, etc. It might also improve the ratio of revenue to non-revenue cars.

Unfortunately this brings upthe question - Where do we get the extra sleeper cars from?

OTOH - unsold high dollar sleepers are (should be) available for AGR pax and on-board upgrades

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

The #2 Merriam-Webster definition of "highway robbery" is "excessive profit or advantage derived from a business transaction."

Wow, I would never have thought that anyone would accuse Amtrak of "excessive profit". :blink:

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

What about adding a sleeping car or two to every long distance train to increase the supply of lower bucket rooms? Doing so would reduce the per-passenger cost of the engineer and cafe attendant, and some of the station operating costs, etc. It might also improve the ratio of revenue to non-revenue cars.

Unfortunately this brings upthe question - Where do we get the extra sleeper cars from?

Isn't Amtrak already planning an order of more single level sleepers? We should all be telling our Congresspeople that we want that to be a large order, which could be made large enough to add a sleeper or two to each of the existing single level trains. (It might even make sense to make that order large enough that the Capitol Limited could go single level to split/combine with the Pennsylvanian is Pittsburgh.)

 

[dlagrua]

It is a perfectly valid view point.

No, it isn't.

Extortion: a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.

Robbery: taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear.

There is nothing about Amtrak's fare structure that remotely meets the two definitions above, as you seem to indicate that you're aware of later in your post:

In the end, one can elect to pay the price, or not.

Now if you want to have a reasonable debate about Amtrak's pricing decisions, that's fine. Lower price points for all rooms (and Amtrak losing more money, and not being able to book a room less than 6 months out because demand being significantly higher than supply) could be considered a reasonable viewpoint. Ridiculous hyperbole equating them to actual crimes are in no way reasonable.

Both terms are commonly used to describe overpricing of good and services. The #2 Merriam-Webster definition of "extortion" is "gross overcharge." The #2 Merriam-Webster definition of "highway robbery" is "excessive profit or advantage derived from a business transaction." Both seem to fit nicely if one is of the opinion that Amtrak top bucket prices for rooms are way too high.

Notwithstanding your feeling badly for Amtrak being called names, reasonable pricing does not necessarily to equate to lower revenue. The trick is to set the low bucket high enough to build revenue, and the upper bucket low enough to not leave rooms unsold. Whether that means today's upper buckets are too high is a matter of opinion. But, if someone feels they are too high, thinking it represents "extortion" and "highway robbery" is supported by Merriam-Webster.

My comment said LEGALLY extort and I was being facetious. As for highway robbery, we need to put things in to perspective. If the train is way more than air travel, OK lets even say far more than first class air travel, then whats the point of taking an $880 bedroom on a train? We are already paying more for a slower and less efficient form of transportation so that we don't have to suffer the indignities of air travel. However, I believe that there is a crossover point where noncompetitiveness falls into the picture. Our upper limit for a bedroom is around $300. When it becomes much higher then we will chose to drive as we do not consider this to be a good value.

We must also consider the task of attracting new travelers. How is Amtrak expected to attract new customers when some rooms sell for over double the price for a night at the Ritz Carlton?? OK sorry I forgot to add the $40 dinner value.

Supply and demand theory doesn't always hold. Just look at the price of oil. Demand has decreased and the price is still going up. Amtraks ridership last year went down a bit but prices rose. So much for that theory but as pointed out in another post the LSL only has 6 std. bedrooms on the entire train so this may be an unusual and isolated case. I've been on trains where rooms (but mostly roomettes) were readily available and they remained empty the entire trip. I'm talking about less than 50% occupancy. Thats not revenue improvement.

Amtrak needs to think of a better way to price their rooms so that they can fill them all up on every train.