Need advice - what would you do (ticket question)

[MiRider]

I write this in bullets to make it easier.

My concern is the way the weather has been and likely will be.

I apologize in advance for not making sense but I'm trying

I have to be in NOL no later than Sat. 1/25

I'll be leaving NOL on Sun. 2/2 and have no problem with that.

I purchased a sleeper ticket under the old e-voucher system so I have an old fashioned, hard copy, round trip ticket for CHI-NOL 1/24 and NOL-CHI 2/2 (I had to drive 50 miles to get that dang ticket)

Plan B is CHI-NOL on 1/22 - I purchased that sleeper ticket just now because there was one left at $202 (coach was and is $212, crazy huh?)

If I leave on 1/22, which seems like the smartest thing to do at this point, am I SOL on the CHI-NOL portion of the hard copy ticket (e-voucher would be fine)?

I really don't want to lose my great price on the NOL - CHI portion of the original ticket - current price is $100 more.

So.... if I leave on 1/22, can I get the whole thing fixed in CHI with a real live person?

Edited to add - thanks for any and all help

 

[CHamilton]

My cousin in NOL says they are forecast for a high of 70 on Saturday. I think you will have no problems by the end of the week. This widespread weather disruption is unprecedented, and not likely to happen again.

 

[VentureForth]

Even the best weather forecasters can't predict for sure more than a week or so out except in vague generalities. Keep monitoring the weather and you should be fine. Honestly, though, it sounds like you got a steal for the 1/22 train. I'd stick with that one and figure out a way to get your current ticket to pay for it. In the worst case, should weather be a problem, you will have two days to figure out what to do.

 

[Nathanael]

In the Amtrak system (unlike the system for airlines) a round-trip ticket is officially two one-way segments.

In Chicago, talking to a real live person on 1/22, you *should* be able to get the first segment on your paper round-trip ticket cancelled and refunded / replaced with a voucher, while retaining (unmodified) the second segment on your paper ticket. I've done things like this before. If you are OK with getting another voucher, that's what I'd do.

 

[saxman]

Just make sure you cancel 14 days in advance for your sleeper tickets. Then you can get a refund. If you don't, you'll have to turn it in to an evoucher again. I'd stick with going 1/22.

 

[MiRider]

Thanks for the replies, everyone

My biggest concern is not losing the $ amount for the 1/24 segment if I decide to go on 1/22 - all I want is a voucher, no refund.

I'm going to play it by ear and if it looks iffy that week, I'm bugging out on 1/22

I only have a hotel res for 1/25 but the app Hotel Tonight that guest_lsa posted in the NOLA hotels thread is fantastic so I don't think I'll have a problem finding another hotel for 2 nights.

I love NOLA so some extra time there won't make me sad.