piedpiper13
Train Attendant
- Joined
- May 5, 2003
- Messages
- 24
<_< Has anybody bought those cheap tix from Amtrak on eBay? They are now selling for Jun2 to Jul2. Prices seem almost unreasonable! The only downfall is no Guest Rewards points
No upgrades to sleepers either.piedpiper13 said:The only downfall is no Guest Rewards points
And you really are gambling, since the conductors are not supposed to allow on-board upgrades. I guess however that you got lucky and found a conductor who didn't know the rules.gyuri_ft said:But again, since the ticket is not upgradeable, you are gambling. You can win big but you can't lose because the eBay fares are extremely cheap anyway. :lol:
How long do'es it take for points to show up on Amtrak rewards after paying your monthly bill....mine is new & I just paid my 1st Months bill acouple days ago.....?Bill Haithcoat said:Good point. And, yes, that is exactly what I use for everything, my Amtrak mastercard.
I agree that it doesn't make sense to let a sleeper go unoccupied, if someone is willing to pay the money.gyuri_ft said:- From economic point ov view once nobody wants to occupy that room, the conductor would be crazy not to sell it and generate some revenue for company.
I must have passed you on Amtrak California Zephyr MOTORCOACH #6 on April 24: I was on my way from MTZ-RNO that day and train 6 (bustituted that day) was announced at both MTZ and SAC as "now boarding in the BUS loading zone is Amtrak train 6". I retuned home on TRAIN #5 the following Saturday, though, (Apr. 26) and saw the U.P. derailment remains in the Donner Pass snowshed - it looked pretty bad. Did you get to see it?gyuri_ft said:2) The train from DEN to EMY on April 24 was delayed, re-routed through Wyoming, delayed again in SaltLake and also delayed by a UP wreck after Truckee.
I see.....One does'nt trust MBNA WHEN IT COME'S TO GUESS REWARDS...ok I understand.I just got this card , so everything is in order so far.Thanks for the advice.Amtrak Watcher said:carknocker51:
WBNA is rather fast with award points; I get mine about half way through the next month's billing cycle.
You need to check something if you already had an Amtrak Guest Rewards card BEFORE opening your MBNA account. Look on the front of your MBNA card at the embossed number just below your name. If it is something other than your existing Guest Rewards number (the one Amtrak gave you), then you have two Guest Rewards accounts: your old one and a new one. The new one's number is the one below your name on your new MBNA card. If you have a mis-match such as I describe, then your MBNA points are going into the new account. You'll have to call Amtrak Guest Rewards and have them close the new account and transfer the points to your existing Guest Rewards account. Amtrak is good at straightening all this out even though it takes about four months for the smoke to clear from the process.
Amtrak will tell you that MBNA will send you a new credit card with the correct account number below your name, but don't believe it. MBNA will never do this no matter how many times you ask. Caution: do not call MBNA about anything having to do with Guest Rewards points or Guest Rewards account numbers. These kinds of matters a far beyond the ability of MBNA boiler room people to comprehend, and will only muck up your MBNA account for many months. Call MBNA only for credit card matters, and act as if Amtrak never existed on earth.
I agree, I never gamble. I'd rather pay extra than end up in coach.Viewliner said:I myself am not one to gamble, in fact I reserve my Deluxe room almost as soon as you're able to book them.
Yes, they are well worth it, but unfortunately they are so expensive that they end up being out of the league for many regular travelers, such as myself. I wish they would increase the capacity and lower the prices so I could afford to travel in one. My first trip in a sleeper will be on the Sunset from Los Angeles to Orlando this July. I pretty much spent my life savings paying for it!Bill Haithcoat said:To me, a sleeper is so well worth it, I could not imagine traveling in such a way that I did not know where I would be that night.
gyuri,gyuri_ft said:I agree with you - I simply cannot afford the sleeper other, than via upgrade. Given the choice to travel by train and "gamble" with upgrade or travel by plane I choose the former. IMHO still a better choice.
I hope that you considered the exchange rate when you were checking prices. Last time I had checked one American dollar was worth $1.40 in Canada. That's one heck of a discount!I did notice, however, that in Canada the sleepers are even more expensive than here and to get a discounted one is next to impossible.
Enter your email address to join: