We have a reservation for a December Auto Train to Sanford in a roomette. The current price for a bedroom on the same train is almost $500 more than the roomette; a little steep for a single overnight. So, are there ever reduced price onboard upgrades from roomette to bedroom available on the Auto Train? If so, who do you approach on the train? Is it possible to inquire about reduced price upgrades at the station ticket office, or do you have to wait till onboard? Finally, if the upgrades are available at a reasonable price, would the amount paid be the difference between what we already paid for the roomette, and the onboard price for the bedroom? Thanks.
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IME (but not on the auto train) upgrades on the train CAN be cheaper...but not always...
In December going to Fla though i would think all the sleepers would be full.
I swapped accomodations twice...both from coach to a roommette, and the price was about $100 (IIRC both times were on the Empire builder so for 2 nights it was worth it!) Another time, the conductor called someone and the charge was super expensive...
I presume, possibly incorrectly, that conductors may have some leeway with the fare, but they have to be sure the space is open. (since the Auto train doesn''t stop, an unsold room isn't going to get filled down the line at another station)
I have a feeling that I was just a beneficiary of the amtrak upgrade fairy!
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The cheapest way to upgrade is usually on-board with the conductor, who will charge the difference between your roomette accommodation charge and the lowest published bedroom charge (the "D" bucket). There used to be even deeper discounts for upgrading on board, but that's a thing of the past.
You can always ask a station agent before boarding if any bedrooms are available in the D bucket (sleeper rates often drop in the days before departure if rooms haven't sold). If not, inform your car attendant upon boarding that you'd like to speak with the conductor about upgrading to a bedroom. Even if bedrooms are supposedly sold out at the time of departure, the nice thing about the Auto Train is that he or she will know immediately upon departure if there are any no-shows.
Best of luck!
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"'Cause I had my tray table up, and my seatback in the full upright position!" -Weird Al Yankovic, "Albuquerque"
On any train except for the Auto Train, onboard upgrades can be a cheap way to snag either a Roomette or a Bedroom. The conductor will charge the low bucket rate for any such upgrade.
The Auto Train is the one exception to the rule. Unlike a normal Amtrak train, all tickets are collected when you check in at the desk inside the terminal. You also make your dinner reservation at that point in time too. The agent can process an upgrade for you at that time, but it will be at the current bucket level, which would be that $500 more that you are currently seeing or perhaps even higher if that's not already the top bucket.
Since the conductor's don't collect tickets, they also do not have the normal paperwork to sell tickets. And without that, they cannot perform an onboard upgrade on the Auto Train. If you board in a roomette, you'll remain in a roomette with no chance of an onboard upgrade.
On any train except for the Auto Train, onboard upgrades can be a cheap way to snag either a Roomette or a Bedroom. The conductor will charge the low bucket rate for any such upgrade.
The Auto Train is the one exception to the rule. Unlike a normal Amtrak train, all tickets are collected when you check in at the desk inside the terminal. You also make your dinner reservation at that point in time too. The agent can process an upgrade for you at that time, but it will be at the current bucket level, which would be that $500 more that you are currently seeing or perhaps even higher if that's not already the top bucket.
Since the conductor's don't collect tickets, they also do not have the normal paperwork to sell tickets. And without that, they cannot perform an onboard upgrade on the Auto Train. If you board in a roomette, you'll remain in a roomette with no chance of an onboard upgrade.
Oops, I failed to consider all that. My bad. Are you sure that the conductors aren't equipped even to sell upgrades? It would seem crazy for them not to be from a revenue standpoint.
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"'Cause I had my tray table up, and my seatback in the full upright position!" -Weird Al Yankovic, "Albuquerque"
I've never tried myself, but I have seen several posts from people who have tried and failed. I've never heard of anyone actually succeeding. And again, the conductors have no reason to carry ticketing paraphernalia with them, since they don't collect tickets and have no need to sell tickets.
Plus part of the issue is that the patronage that rides this train usually just books what they want from the get go and much of the time the sleepers are sold out long before the train ever leaves the gate anyhow. Especially when it comes to the Bedrooms, which is one reason why they run each train with two of the Deluxe Sleepers, and are anxiously awaiting the return of the one Deluxe sleeper that was wrecked a few years back and is now in the shop being restored thanks to the Stimulus.
) Another time, the conductor called someone and the charge was super expensive...
Oops, I failed to consider all that. My bad. Are you sure that the conductors aren't equipped even to sell upgrades? It would seem crazy for them not to be from a revenue standpoint.
