Amtrak Guest Rewards - Roomette redemption for me: what fare would a travelling companion pay?

Hi folks,

Hope this isn't too strange a question, but here goes. Currently have just short of 35,000 AGR points burning a hole in my pocket, and I'm considering redeeming for a coast-to-coast trip in roomette sleeper accommodations. If I'm travelling with a friend who's sharing the same roomette, can you advise me what fare they would have to pay? Would this just be the coach class fare, because as I understand it the AGR redemption would cover the roomette accommodation charge in full.

Thanks!

Sleeper redemptions are valid for two passengers; you may have to call it in rather than book online.

If you have paid for a roomette and want to bring a friend along, then that friend will just need a coach class ticket. Both of you will get the accommodations services, including meals.

So just to make sure I haven't misunderstood, the 35,000 point redemption for a three-zone roomette would cover both me *and* a friend sharing the roomette in full? If so that's fantastic, thanks!

Another thought that has occurred is the possibility of making a return trip from Chicago to the west coast, flying there and back from PHL where I'm based. Possibly the California Zephyr one way and the Southwest Chief the other. I know nothing about these routes so any recommendations about whether one would be better than the other, or if the whole idea is crazy because I'd be getting cabin fever after two multi-day train journeys would be greatly appreciated.

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Enjoy the trip.

So just to make sure I haven't misunderstood, the 35,000 point redemption for a three-zone roomette would cover both me *and* a friend sharing the roomette in full? If so that's fantastic, thanks!

Indeed--a sleeper redemption covers up to as many passengers as the maximum capacity of the room, and I find that this is what makes the sleeper redemptions so valuable!

For a roomette the normal maximum capacity is two adults, or one adult and two kids (or even four kids with no adults; presumably the adults are in an adjacent roomette)--although any of these combinations other than the first would be a tight fit. Similarly, a bedroom can officially fit three adults, although this would be an incredibly tight fit and you would be advised against it, even by Amtrak (I did a Viewliner bedroom with myself and my two small kids a few months ago, and while we were fine during the day it definitely got tight once the berths were made up).

If you have paid for a roomette and want to bring a friend along, then that friend will just need a coach class ticket. Both of you will get the accommodations services, including meals.

In this instance, the second passenger should still be linked to the roomette, for two reasons. One, since Amtrak doesn't overbook this allows Amtrak to sell the actual coach seat to someone else. Two, by being associated with an accommodation the passenger is entitled to the coach fare associated with the cheapest fare bucket (for example, if a coach ticket sells for between $80 and $120 depending on how booked the train is, a roomette passenger is always entitled to pay $80 for the coach fare no matter what--although the roomette price can and does fluctuate depending on availability as well).

Thanks guys, that's really helpful.

One further question: when I try a dummy booking on the website, the best routeing seems to be a Regional to DC, then the Capitol Ltd to Chicago and the California Zephyr onward from there. Both connections are fairly long (a good few hours in between trains). I have friends in both DC and Chicago, so presumably Amtrak wouldn't have any problem with me leaving the station for a couple of hours for breakfast/lunch/coffee then returning later on to catch the onward service.

presumably Amtrak wouldn't have any problem with me leaving the station for a couple of hours for breakfast/lunch/coffee then returning later on to catch the onward service.

Amtrak doesn't care, and there isn't TSA-like security to worry about. I think the rule is that you should be there at least half an hour before your departure, but I've caught the 4:05 p.m. Capitol Limited after arriving at Union Station at 3:57. I don't recommend cutting it that tight, but it can be done.

Remember that if you do have time to kill in either DC Union Station or Chicago Union Station, as a sleeper passenger you can use the Club Acela (in DC) and the Metropolitan Lounge (in Chicago). Heck, if you're coming from New York or Philadelphia on a regional, you can use the Club Acela there by showing your same-day sleeper ticket, even though you're leaving that station on a regional train.

Amtrak doesn't care, and there isn't TSA-like security to worry about. I think the rule is that you should be there at least half an hour before your departure, but I've caught the 4:05 p.m. Capitol Limited after arriving at Union Station at 3:57. I don't recommend cutting it that tight, but it can be done.

Remember that if you do have time to kill in either DC Union Station or Chicago Union Station, as a sleeper passenger you can use the Club Acela (in DC) and the Metropolitan Lounge (in Chicago). Heck, if you're coming from New York or Philadelphia on a regional, you can use the Club Acela there by showing your same-day sleeper ticket, even though you're leaving that station on a regional train.

And I've been left standing at the gate in Chicago 9 minutes before a train when my inbound train was late and they closed the gate at T-10.

And I've been left standing at the gate in Chicago 9 minutes before a train when my inbound train was late and they closed the gate at T-10.

I can assure you that after Mrs. Ispolkom's tirade, I'll never cut it that close again.

Another thought that has occurred is the possibility of making a return trip from Chicago to the west coast, flying there and back from PHL where I'm based. Possibly the California Zephyr one way and the Southwest Chief the other. I know nothing about these routes so any recommendations about whether one would be better than the other, or if the whole idea is crazy because I'd be getting cabin fever after two multi-day train journeys would be greatly appreciated.I think the return trip is a better deal: a single 3-zone trip is 35,000 points, whereas 2 2-zone trips are 40,000 points (2 x 20,000).

I have taken the Zephyr twice, but not the Southwest Chief. The consensus seems to be that the Zephyr has the best scenery (followed by the Empire Builder).

Just curious. If one wanted to book, using points, a room for 2 people... would you have to use points for 2 coach tickets AND the room? or does the room redemption substitute in full for the 2 coach tickets?

Odd how the website doesn't refer to this.. Always been curious.

Also, has anyone noticed that the auto-train is no longer mentioned on the rewards page? Is this not an option anymore? That being said, 2 people in a room on the auto train, with car in tow.. how many points would be needed?

Thanks!

Just curious. If one wanted to book, using points, a room for 2 people... would you have to use points for 2 coach tickets AND the room? or does the room redemption substitute in full for the 2 coach tickets?

The latter--the room redemption covers both the room and transportation (up to the maximum capacity of the room, which can potentially be greater than two--like one adult and two kids).

I agree, it's not clear at all, but when you realize this, you realize what a great deal sleeper redemptions are.

Just curious. If one wanted to book, using points, a room for 2 people... would you have to use points for 2 coach tickets AND the room? or does the room redemption substitute in full for the 2 coach tickets?The points cover both people.

Oops - EBC beat me to it.

oh that is great! for the autotrain, i guess you also need to pay separate for the car transport?

oh that is great! for the autotrain, i guess you also need to pay separate for the car transport?The new Autotrain rates are missing, oddly enough, but they are mentioned in this announcement:

https://amtrakguestrewards.com/info/news/redemptionchange/

An Autotrain award ticket would cost you a single-zone roomette/bedroom charge, plus the points for your vehicle.

So, I have the necessary points, and I'm about to pull the trigger on making a booking :)

One final question: I want to travel PHL to San Francisco, taking the Cardinal to Chicago and connecting into the Zephyr from there. Connection time in Chicago is 3 hrs 55 min (arr 10:05am, dep 2:00pm). How safe is this connection time, and what would happen should the connection be missed? Would you recommend taking a different route PHL-CHI instead (there are various different options offered, but the Cardinal seems like the most convenient and comfortable since it's a through train with sleeper accommodation).

Connection time in Chicago is 3 hrs 55 min (arr 10:05am, dep 2:00pm). How safe is this connection time, and what would happen should the connection be missed?It's a guaranteed connection - they will put you in a hotel if you miss it.

It looks like train 51 has a somewhat mediocre on-time record (65%)
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732511&cid=1237608335166

But if you look at the past 4 weeks, there are no delays even approaching 4 hours:
http://www.amtrakdelays.onlineschedulingsoftware.com/

I wouldn't change my schedule worrying about an outlier.

Thanks for that, appreciate the advice. I'll give them a call tonight or tomorrow morning!

Called last Friday and got everything booked, Cardinal PHL-CHI then the Zephyr CHI-EMY. Really looking forward to it!

We've been booked into roomette #11 on the Zephyr, which from what I can gather is a lower level room. Advantages I can see are proximity to the showers/bathrooms/luggage storage, plus possibly quieter due to less "through traffic". But I'd guess the view may not be quite so good.

Never travelled on Superliner equipment before so advice would be appreciated on which would be better (or if it doesn't make much difference!). If I did decide that an upper level roomette would be better, would Amtrak be prepared to change the reservation or would the be a complicated process?

Amtrak will change the room for you - it is not a complicated process. Maybe it's just me but I would prefer an upper level room any day. But then again I will spend most of the day in the Sightseer Lounge, the cafe, or the diner.

Anyhow - enjoy the trip!

Speedbird,

Amtrak will, assuming that rooms are available, change you room for you to an upper level room. But be warned, it could result in a price change. So be cautious should you decide to pursue a change.

Advantages to the lower level room are less people walking by your room at all hours, since you pass between cars on the upper level; less swaying; and a bit more room in the upper bunk. The upper bunk on the upstairs rooms is impacted by the curving of the wall into the roof of the train. You will however hear a bit more track noise on the lower level.

As for the view, on a train like the Zephyr, where the best scenery is west of Denver, you really want to be in the Sightseer Lounge with its big windows anytime you're not sleeping or eating, and not in your room IMHO.

nerd and AlanB, thank you! I did call AGR last night to enquire about swithcing to an upper level roomette but they are apparently all sold out (glad I booked when I did: thought that booking a couple of months ahead for July would be loads of time but it looks like these things sell fast!).

I'm not worried though: in fact being a little quieter may well be a plus. As you say, I'll probably be in the lounge car for the bulk of the scenery anyway: certainly when I took a similar journey on Via Rail from Vancouver to Winnipeg a few years back I spent the majority of the journey through the Rockies in the dome car.

nerd and AlanB, thank you! I did call AGR last night to enquire about swithcing to an upper level roomette but they are apparently all sold out (glad I booked when I did: thought that booking a couple of months ahead for July would be loads of time but it looks like these things sell fast!).

I'm not worried though: in fact being a little quieter may well be a plus. As you say, I'll probably be in the lounge car for the bulk of the scenery anyway: certainly when I took a similar journey on Via Rail from Vancouver to Winnipeg a few years back I spent the majority of the journey through the Rockies in the dome car.

Just a brief forewarning: don't get your hopes up too high about Amtrak being on par with the Canadian. Don't get me wrong--the trip is totally worth taking, since the scenery is breathtaking and train travel of any time (for me at least) is always fun. Just set your sights appropriately (i.e. be prepared for mediocre service and perhaps some issues with the on-board equipment) and you'll have an awesome trip. With a little luck, you'll get a good attendant and no problems, and then you'll be pleasantly surprised. :)

Getting quite excited now - trip coming up on Friday. Ended up changing plans slightly so now it's Regional #125 from PHL-WAS, connecting into the Capitol Limited WAS-CHI on Friday night and subsequently the California Zephyr from CHI-EMY, departing on Saturday and arriving next Monday. Really, really looking forward to it!

BTW, can anyone shed any light on the "enhanced" nature of the dining car service on train #29? The menus looks fairly similar for trains #29 and #5, but only #29 mentions the enhanced dining car service in the timetable.

BTW, can anyone shed any light on the "enhanced" nature of the dining car service on train #29? The menus looks fairly similar for trains #29 and #5, but only #29 mentions the enhanced dining car service in the timetable.

Based on ABQ-CHI, CHI-WAS trip last month, the menu selections were pretty much identical on both the SW Chief and the Cap Ltd (including the special selections described by your waiter), with the 'enhancement' being china versus plastic plates. If there were other differences, I didn't notice. Food quality seemed to be somewhat better and more consistent than last long-distance trip (taken about a year ago).