Iced tea not included in regional Business class?
Feb 9, 2016, 5:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CT/NYC Tri-state
Posts: 96
Iced tea not included in regional Business class?
Flyertalk,
I recently took a trip in Buisness class which should have been $16 was instead $32 because of the "fare bucket difference" 16 for the upgrade $16 for the fare difference which to me sounds a little bit unfair but I decided to pay it knowing that I could call customer relations about it. To make things worse, not only did I pay the $32 for Business but then I found out Iced tea is not included so it was a great call to let customer relations know about my bad experience seeming the ticket says all non alcoholic beverages included. I was pretty pissed to find out not only I had these two issues but customer relations politely just told me to have a nice day ouch!
taking my car seems to look better and better these days especially with gas prices.
what are you experiences on this?
I recently took a trip in Buisness class which should have been $16 was instead $32 because of the "fare bucket difference" 16 for the upgrade $16 for the fare difference which to me sounds a little bit unfair but I decided to pay it knowing that I could call customer relations about it. To make things worse, not only did I pay the $32 for Business but then I found out Iced tea is not included so it was a great call to let customer relations know about my bad experience seeming the ticket says all non alcoholic beverages included. I was pretty pissed to find out not only I had these two issues but customer relations politely just told me to have a nice day ouch!
taking my car seems to look better and better these days especially with gas prices.
what are you experiences on this?
Feb 9, 2016, 8:57 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CT/NYC Tri-state
Posts: 96
right from their webpage: More Comfortable, More Productive
With spacious, comfortable seats, you can fold down your extra-large tray table, plug in to an at-seat power outlet and get to work. Or recline, stretch out your legs and take a much needed break. You'll also be able to enjoy a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage when the train is equipped with a food service car.
With spacious, comfortable seats, you can fold down your extra-large tray table, plug in to an at-seat power outlet and get to work. Or recline, stretch out your legs and take a much needed break. You'll also be able to enjoy a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage when the train is equipped with a food service car.
Feb 9, 2016, 11:18 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
With spacious, comfortable seats, you can fold down your extra-large tray table, plug in to an at-seat power outlet and get to work. Or recline, stretch out your legs and take a much needed break. You'll also be able to enjoy a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage when the train is equipped with a food service car.
I can understand how you might infer from that wording that ALL non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, but IMO it clearly doesn't say that. Should Amtrak massage the wording a bit? Perhaps. But this doesn't really rank in the top 99% of Amtrak's many sins, IYAM. But as they say, YMMV. And yes, I'm trying to work in as much internet slang as possible into this paragraph. I haven't set a record yet, AFAICT.
Feb 9, 2016, 2:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Well, that very plainly doesn't say "all" non-alcoholic beverages. It just says "a" non-alcoholic beverage. This could theoretically take the form of a paper cup of tap water.
I can understand how you might infer from that wording that ALL non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, but IMO it clearly doesn't say that. Should Amtrak massage the wording a bit? Perhaps. But this doesn't really rank in the top 99% of Amtrak's many sins, IYAM. But as they say, YMMV. And yes, I'm trying to work in as much internet slang as possible into this paragraph. I haven't set a record yet, AFAICT.
I can understand how you might infer from that wording that ALL non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, but IMO it clearly doesn't say that. Should Amtrak massage the wording a bit? Perhaps. But this doesn't really rank in the top 99% of Amtrak's many sins, IYAM. But as they say, YMMV. And yes, I'm trying to work in as much internet slang as possible into this paragraph. I haven't set a record yet, AFAICT.
Feb 10, 2016, 11:40 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Chick-Fil-A Red, Wawa, Red Cross blood donor
Posts: 4,826
AGR Insider's post in this thread sort of helps explain the issue:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...biz-class.html
So it looks like if the iced tea doesn't come in different sizes, then you don't get a free iced tea.
That post was from 2013...likely it's the same policy now.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...biz-class.html
Originally Posted by AGR Insider
...the "free" inventory is different from the paid inventory in some physical way. This helps the attendant and the bean counters track the revenue and non-revenue inventory separately.
Example: paid Pepsis are 12 ounces, but the "free" Pepsis are 8 ounces. Paid Crystal Geyser water is a larger size than the "free" bottle. Paid Tropicana juice bottles are larger than the free ones. The paid coffee cups are taller than the free ones. You can always ask for two of the smaller bottles or cans to make up for the size difference (it's all subject to attendant's inventory and discretion... if he thinks your request for 12 apple juices is unreasonable, he might deny it). And you can always line up again later in your trip to get a different beverage, or another of the same.
Example: paid Pepsis are 12 ounces, but the "free" Pepsis are 8 ounces. Paid Crystal Geyser water is a larger size than the "free" bottle. Paid Tropicana juice bottles are larger than the free ones. The paid coffee cups are taller than the free ones. You can always ask for two of the smaller bottles or cans to make up for the size difference (it's all subject to attendant's inventory and discretion... if he thinks your request for 12 apple juices is unreasonable, he might deny it). And you can always line up again later in your trip to get a different beverage, or another of the same.
That post was from 2013...likely it's the same policy now.
Feb 10, 2016, 3:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
AGR Insider's post in this thread sort of helps explain the issue:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...biz-class.html
So it looks like if the iced tea doesn't come in different sizes, then you don't get a free iced tea.
That post was from 2013...likely it's the same policy now.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...biz-class.html
So it looks like if the iced tea doesn't come in different sizes, then you don't get a free iced tea.
That post was from 2013...likely it's the same policy now.
Feb 13, 2016, 3:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 41
"I know Gatorade is excluded as well."
That one has actually been hit and miss depending on who is running things that day on Lincoln Service.
Ice tea has always been valid for years on Illinois service routes in Business Class. So either something has changed do to cutbacks or depends on region / crew.
That one has actually been hit and miss depending on who is running things that day on Lincoln Service.
Ice tea has always been valid for years on Illinois service routes in Business Class. So either something has changed do to cutbacks or depends on region / crew.
Feb 14, 2016, 3:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
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Full 12-ounce soda on NER today but had to sign for it.
Full 12-ounce soda on NER today but had to sign for it.
Feb 15, 2016, 6:14 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
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Posts: 3,123
Feb 15, 2016, 12:30 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 41
That clearly proves the saying = only consistency with Amtrak is inconsistency. Each region has different procedures - ways of doing things - processes / experience can vary greatly by crew and region.
I think many of you out East forget that Amtrak serves a bigger portion of this country other than your neck of the woods.
I think many of you out East forget that Amtrak serves a bigger portion of this country other than your neck of the woods.
Feb 21, 2016, 1:14 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Bottled juice does not come in multiple sizes in my experience. Then again, they probably don't inventory those. Sometimes, when I order a bottle of vodka and a bottle of juice to mix it with (not traveling in business class), the cafe car attendant charges it as a cocktail (only the alcohol is charged for, the juice is not)
Last edited by diburning; Feb 22, 2016 at 7:11 am
Feb 22, 2016, 7:10 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Many of Amtrak's routes are funded by the State's so its really up to the State's what level of service is offered on the trains they fund. Business Class throughout the Amtrak system is a hodge podge of different standards. Pacific Surfliner ranks at the top and then there are the others.