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  1. J

    Rail for Less: a fare checking site

    I just want to say I've used this site a number of times with Edge and I haven't really had a problem, other than those I've seemingly caused myself. Using the "back" button and/or clearing the cache seems to remedy most situations I've encountered. Some returns are a little tedious if Amtrak...
  2. J

    Bid Up questions and experiences

    My first successful BidUp: On a recent trip (June 2023) on the Empire Builder from Vancouver to Chicago, I was invited to bid to upgrade our Roomette to a Bedroom. We (2 seniors) had paid $1133 for the Roomette, or high mid bucket. The offer was a minimum bid of $295 with a recommended bid of...
  3. J

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    Right! A little wishful thinking on my part that we might see $1098 become high bucket for 2024:)
  4. J

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    Yes, I tried that, but it wouldn't increase the count unless I had indicated 3 or more travelers. And, it kind of makes sense. In any event, I think calling, as trimetbusfan noted above, would likely be done, anyway, to secure two roomettes adjacent to or across from one another. Interestingly...
  5. J

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    Yes, I see some are now opening at something less than top bucket. For example, the EB to PDX roomette is opening today at $1098, which is around mid-high bucket, I'd say. Maybe this portends a return to "normal" pricing. It wasn't too long ago, before the pandemic, that high bucket for this...
  6. J

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    So, on a recent trip (June 2023) on the Empire Builder from Vancouver to Chicago, I was invited to bid to upgrade our Roomette to a Bedroom. We (2 seniors) had paid $1133 for the Roomette, or high mid bucket. The offer was a minimum bid of $295 with a recommended bid of $800+. I chose to bid...
  7. J

    Chicago Union Station discussion

    I can confirm, after visiting, that there are no red caps available curbside to assist arriving passengers
  8. J

    Chicago Union Station discussion

    Right, Eric. From your question and Zyphyr's response to mine, I don't expect to see any Red Caps curbside.
  9. J

    Chicago Union Station discussion

    Are there Red Caps available curbside on Canal St to assist passengers being dropped off? (From Eric's unanswered question above, it doesn't sound like it)
  10. J

    Rail for Less: a fare checking site

    I've used Rail for Less several times to search roomette fares on the Empire Builder between Chicago and Portland with 5-to-7-day windows. It has worked pretty well for me. It seems to take about the same amount of time as doing it manually on the Amtrak site (which I believe, according to the...
  11. J

    Tipping on Amtrak

    In my experience, the dining car servers will gladly give you change :)
  12. J

    Empire Builder discussion

    In the couple of instances I've seen it done, the switching passenger made arrangements with the SCA in advance. In a similar situation when boarding, we were told to wait in an empty bedroom while our roomette was prepared. It didn't take long.
  13. J

    Amtrak cancels Sleeper reservation on the Cardinal

    Having lost roomette 12 without warning (see my earlier post), if it were me, I would first call to see if by chance there were other rooms available. If not, I would continually check room availability online and if anything opened, I would call for a switch.
  14. J

    Empire Builder discussion

    As noted, the Empire Builder consist merges and splits in Spokane Washington. Going east they are the 28 from PDX and 8 from Seattle. Checking various departure stations along the route gives a better indication of sleeper accommodations. As an aside, the Dining Car belongs to the Seattle...
  15. J

    Amtrak cancels Sleeper reservation on the Cardinal

    Oh, right; I forgot the lower deck rooms.
  16. J

    Amtrak cancels Sleeper reservation on the Cardinal

    Right, that makes it simple. Don't accept any roomette number higher than 10 on any train. Edit: Oops, see below😊
  17. J

    Amtrak cancels Sleeper reservation on the Cardinal

    I think the moral of this story is not to accept RM 12 while Viewliner II's are being phased in.
  18. J

    How much time to allow between arrive and depart?

    Hi, Thomas. I think you'll be ok, especially if you are booked thru on a multi city ticket. I didn't check your return, but going out there appears to be a couple more trains after the one you booked. My experience is limited, but on one where I was going to miss my next outbound train due to...
  19. J

    Amtrak cancels Sleeper reservation on the Cardinal

    Yes, this happened to me likewise booked into room 12 to depart on June 2nd. Two days prior I checked the mobile app and found I had lost the QR along with a disclaimer that "service was unavailable". A call to agent at first could not explain but after some consultation with others decided...
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