Amtrak Guest Rewards - Anyone here taken Amtrak from Chicago to Boston or New York City?

It's getting kind of late to book a cheap airfare to either places from Chicago. I also haven't tried a long Amtrak journey before so I'm curious as to how it's like. I've been on Amtrak Downeaster and also on the Boston to New York City route. It wasn't bad and there was wifi. However, it doesn't appear that the Chicago to Boston or New York route have wifi.

Can anyone here comment on their experience with this route? It's a bit long at almost 22 hours of travel time, but I do have lots to read. I think the cheapest that I see right now and that involves a brief stop in Albany is $101. Can I get it for any less than that? It's still less than airfare though...

Which city are you going to? If you are going to New York Amtrak can route you directly on the Lake Shore Limited; via Washington DC on the Capitol Ltd with a connection to a NE corridor train to NYC; or (3 times per week) on the Cardinal which runs through Cincinnatti and Charleston WV before heading through Washington DC on its way to NYC.
The Lake Shore Limited serves both New York and Boston with a stop in Albany which is where the Boston section switches out. You are correct in that there is no wi-fi on the train, so you will probably be able to do some reading. This time of year the train is usually pretty crowded (in coach) so be prepared to be cozy. I have ridden this quite a few times and usually have a real good trip, but I also usually take a sleeper. This train seems to get a bad reputation as far as service quality is concerned but again I usually seem to have good trips.
If you are a AAA or NARP member, or a senior, you can get a discount if you book at least 3 days in advance.

Well, I would prefer to get back to Boston instead of NYC. So I guess the only option is to switch at Albany then?

Even if I were to go to NYC, there are no free stopovers right? The minute I get off, I'll have to buy a new ticket again?

Isquare,

Unless the Boston section is already sold out, you do not have to physically switch trains in Albany. You need to buy a ticket on train #448, which see you placed in one of the two coach cars that will go directly to Boston. Upon arrival at Albany, the train is split in half, the engines refuled, and off you go to Boston without even getting out of your seat.

Should you choose to go via NY or DC, or are forced because the Boston section is sold out, then the price of your reservation would include the needed extra ticket to get to Boston. The big concern with going through these cities is that if the train from Chicago is late, you could wind up on the overnight run to Boston.

If you choose to spend more time in either city however, then the cost of the ticket to Boston will be on you and much more expensive.

This time of year the train is usually pretty crowded (in coach) so be prepared to be cozy.

Actually, if the OP is used to flying coach, then even a sold-out Amtrak train will be pretty luxurious in comparison.

And yes, absent any of the aforementioned discounts, then $101 is probably the lowest you'll get. Be sure to sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards if you haven't already.

I took the Lakeshore Limited a few years ago from Chicago to New York City. Rode in a bedroom. Nice equipment. Delicious food. Great crew. Ran on time. Definitely worth a shot!

I took the Lakeshore Limited a few years ago from Chicago to New York City. Rode in a bedroom. Nice equipment. Delicious food. Great crew. Ran on time. Definitely worth a shot!

You were lucky, many of us call it the "late shore"........ and with this hot weather, many trains will be slowed down for safety reasons.

Bob H

I'm on the Lake Shore right now, going west. We're about an hour late, but that was due to a signal problem at the Schenectady station. No slow orders due to the heat so far!

Since there's no wifi for the routes, but what about outlets for charging my gadgets?

Since there's no wifi for the routes, but what about outlets for charging my gadgets?There will be 2 power outlets in the wall between the armrest and the window.

According to the Amtrak website (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?overrideDefaultTemplate=OTPPageHoriz ontalRouteOverview&c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732511&longUrl=true&cid=1241245664423&tn=448), the LSL arrived on-time in Boston 86% of the time over the past 12 months.

I would definitely recommend looking into a "roomette". You will likely find Amtrak coach seats to be more comfortable that airliner coach seats, however the fold down bed in the roomette is better. During daylight it was interesting to look out the windows, but got restless toward end of ~ 23 hr ride. Amenities were OK, but wasn't really a fan of the food and service was slow.

It was a fun experience but honestly would pay much more to fly...

I would definitely recommend looking into a "roomette". You will likely find Amtrak coach seats to be more comfortable that airliner coach seats, however the fold down bed in the roomette is better. During daylight it was interesting to look out the windows, but got restless toward end of ~ 23 hr ride. Amenities were OK, but wasn't really a fan of the food and service was slow.

It was a fun experience but honestly would pay much more to fly...

I hear ya. I'll thinkk about it over the next few days. I do have my iPhone loaded up with Businessweek and Economist magazines. I've been busy that I haven't read the past 10 or so issues for both magazines.

It's getting kind of late to book a cheap airfare to either places from Chicago.

I would definitely recommend looking into a "roomette".It's also probably getting late to book a cheap roomette. Even at the cheapest price points, they're generally more expensive than flying.

It's also probably getting late to book a cheap roomette. Even at the cheapest price points, they're generally more expensive than flying.

Unless Amtrak has "fixed" its reservation system, last minute cancellations show up at their original price. Sometimes one can get lucky; I once got a CHI-CRO (CROton Harmon) roomette at the lowest price the day before departure.

Unless Amtrak has "fixed" its reservation system, last minute cancellations show up at their original price. Sometimes one can get lucky; I once got a CHI-CRO (CROton Harmon) roomette at the lowest price the day before departure.I'd never heard that. Is it new?

I know accommodations bought onboard come out of the lowest fare bucket, but that the only situation where it's been reported.

I'd never heard that. Is it new?

I know accommodations bought onboard come out of the lowest fare bucket, but that the only situation where it's been reported.

Not at all. I and others have mentioned in several previous threads that Amtrak will often drop fares in any class to the lowest bucket at the last minute if there's distressed inventory that they think will go unfilled, as part of revenue management strategy. And if your desired sleeper accommodation doesn't become available at the low bucket, one can upgrade on-board for the low bucket, as you point out. ^

Not at all. I and others have mentioned in several previous threads that Amtrak will often drop fares in any class to the lowest bucket at the last minute if there's distressed inventory that they think will go unfilled, as part of revenue management strategy.

That's not how I understand it. Pretend there are two fare buckets, one at $200 with 3 rooms, and one at $400 with 7 rooms. The first 3 sell at $200, the rest at $400. However, in Amtrak's case, if one of the 3 $200 reservations gets cancelled, that room is available for $200.

Don't trust me.

That's not how I understand it. Pretend there are two fare buckets, one at $200 with 3 rooms, and one at $400 with 7 rooms. The first 3 sell at $200, the rest at $400. However, in Amtrak's case, if one of the 3 $200 reservations gets cancelled, that room is available for $200.

I would not doubt that scenario alongside the active revenue management which, to my understanding, does happen as well.

That's not how I understand it. Pretend there are two fare buckets, one at $200 with 3 rooms, and one at $400 with 7 rooms. The first 3 sell at $200, the rest at $400. However, in Amtrak's case, if one of the 3 $200 reservations gets cancelled, that room is available for $200.

Don't trust me.

Nope, that is not correct. And I readily admit that for a number of years I thought so too, and it appeared to happen exactly as you state. But I've been assured by several people at Amtrak that ARROW does not assign a specific bucket to a room.

When a room is cancelled it goes back into inventory at the current bucket price. That said, if returning that room back to inventory is right at the tipping point for a bucket, then it will go back in at the lower bucket price.

Example: There are 5 room at the low bucket price, 10 in the second bucket. If 8 rooms have been sold and someone cancels, even if that room was sold at low bucket, it will go back into inventory at the second bucket price. On the other hand, if 5 rooms have been sold and you check prices, you'll see the second bucket price. Then someone cancels, that's right on the magic line, that cancellation pushes things back into the low bucket and that's where that room will land.

Now, on top of that, revenue management can of course come along and change anything that they'd like. If they see that room, they could bump it up a bucket or two, or they could bump it down if they really want to just get it sold.

But bottom line, ARROW has no collective memory, it does not know that room #2 got sold at a particular bucket.

Nope, that is not correct. And I readily admit that for a number of years I thought so too, and it appeared to happen exactly as you state. But I've been assured by several people at Amtrak that ARROW does not assign a specific bucket to a room. .

When I wrote "room" I meant it in the same way that one would talk about selling a seat on a flight in a certain fare bucket; I did not mean a specific room.

When I wrote "room" I meant it in the same way that one would talk about selling a seat on a flight in a certain fare bucket; I did not mean a specific room.

While I admit that I misunderstood what you wrote the first time, it still doesn't change things. A room sold at the $200 bucket will only go back in at that bucket level if the train is still selling rooms at that bucket. If the train is selling rooms at the $400 bucket level, and someone cancels a rooms sold at $200 it will go back in at $400. The only exception would be if that room reduces total rooms sold back below the threshold set to bump the buckets from $200 to $400.