Programs: CO Plat, AA Gold, UA Premier, Hertz #1 Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Loews Gold, Marriott Gold, etc. etc. etc
Posts: 618
ZFV questions (yeah, I already know what you're thinking...)
Hey all-
I'm due to travel in roughly 2 weeks to a conference in Salt Lake City with a business partner (one who I would desperately hate to f**k over with a cancelled CO ticket), and our tickets on nonstop EWR-SLC segments would run us in the neighborhood of $800 for nonstops. On a whim I ran the numbers for ZFV, and they came out in the $400 range for the same flights, far easier for me to digest, since BOTH tickets are my own dime. My plan is to arrange for a companion upgrade for the gentleman I'm traveling with, so obviously CO/NW are the only options, and he prefers nonstop flights. This guy could mean mucho dinero for ol' Dave, so, in simple terms, I can't deal with bull**** here.
I have never done the ZFV-EWR "trick", and I have read all the tutorials and FAQs multiple times. I still have a few questions, and if anyone could help me out, it would be much appreciated, and good answers will save me money and because of that I'd be happy to buy any of you dinner and a few beers (or your preference) next time you are in my area, or if our paths cross on the airways.
Here goes:
-If I book the tickets ZFV-EWR-SLC, check in online 24hrs prior, and simply blow off the train and show up at the gate at EWR, what are my odds of being denied boarding, or at least going through an ordeal to get my itinerary reinstated?
-If I decide to blow the train off, it is a good bet that everything will go smoothly?
-If I decide to take the train, can I pick it up in Metropark, use the QuikTrak machine to check in for my train (after checking in for the CO segments online) or will I be denied boarding on the train since I didn't get on at 30th Street Philly?
-Is it a better idea to have my nephew or son go out to Metropark, use the QuikTrak machine to handle the Amtrak portion of the check-in, while me and my traveling companion just go to the airport normally?
-What has been the recent experience on the ZFV-EWR segment with you guys lately? Any problems I should know about?
Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I'd like to have this deal signed, sealed, and delivered one way or the other by around this time tomorrow night, so prompt replies are key. Thanks in advance for your help.
Well everything you are worried about is Exactly the problem with going ZFV. If you are that worried about it I would skip it all together.
Its a gamble and it seems that is one thing you cant take. MetroPark is the same as skipping it altogether. Either you board at ZFV and get your tkt there and then or you are gambling.
The only info I dont have is do they do a name check or not. In other words could you have someone drop you and someone else at ZFV and then the guy who is to actually fly meets you at EWR and the other guy goes home. I do know that the Amtrak tkt will have the names on it, I dont know if they do a photo ID check.
If it wasnt a biz thing Id say go for it. Seems the last thing you need is to be denied boarding at EWR or any type of a hassle and lose this guy. How about free tkts? Instaed
-If I book the tickets ZFV-EWR-SLC, check in online 24hrs prior, and simply blow off the train and show up at the gate at EWR, what are my odds of being denied boarding, or at least going through an ordeal to get my itinerary reinstated?
Odds are tough to calculate. I know of no cases where anyone was actually denied boarding at EWR. But there have been reports of hassles where the pax had to say they took the train (or give a good excuse why they didn't) to board.
Quote:
-If I decide to blow the train off, it is a good bet that everything will go smoothly?
A reasonable bet for a risk taker or system gamer. But not a good bet for a monkey-business-free business trip.
Quote:
-If I decide to take the train, can I pick it up in Metropark, use the QuikTrak machine to check in for my train (after checking in for the CO segments online) or will I be denied boarding on the train since I didn't get on at 30th Street Philly?
The Amtrak folks don't care where you get on as long as it's the right kind of train (no Acela or Metroliner, for example). Getting the ticket from the QuikTrak machine, however, is easier said than done.
Quote:
-Is it a better idea to have my nephew or son go out to Metropark, use the QuikTrak machine to handle the Amtrak portion of the check-in, while me and my traveling companion just go to the airport normally?
craz is right that taking the train from Metropark doesn't seem to affect the odds of CO "cancelling" the itin any more than skipping the train altogether.
Quote:
-What has been the recent experience on the ZFV-EWR segment with you guys lately? Any problems I should know about?
I haven't used a ZFV ticket in a few months, but have been keeping my ear to the ground, and the most recent reports I've heard (from reliable sources) indicate that CO is getting more aggressive in policing train skippers. I still haven't heard of anyone who's been actually denied boarding or forced to pay full fare, but an increasing number of folks seem to be experiencing "cancelled" itineraries that are reinstated only after a hassling about whether they took the train. So again, if you're looking to insure an oddity-free experience for your potential business partner, just buy the EWR-SLC tickets. Then again, if he's a risk taker or if you're trying to show how frugally-minded you are, he might be impressed by your ZFV shenanigans!
Oh, and one more thing, if the EWR-SLC ticket is twice the price of ZFV-SLC, it's also probably in a higher fare class, which increases your standing in the upgrade game. Just something to think about...
Programs: CO OnePass Plat and SPG - Plat, Marriott Plat (don't use -it's a comp), AmericaWest CP
Posts: 4,810
I personally wouldn't post anything about "the tricks" we pull anymore. Continental knows our user names and onepass numbers; hence a whole lot more. I don't put it past them to have someone who job included following online message board like this and seeing what happeneing.
Posting stuff like out ZFV trick could lead to them singling people out who they know do it.
All it would take in this case is someone to look up your username - match it to your onepass number and for them to pull up your reservation and mark it. Assuming you were at the DO, which you were right?
-Vincent
__________________ "On Continental Airlines, we really move our tails for you!"
I for one wasnt able to make the 'DO' and I have a different email address on my CO acct, and never had the one from FT as my CO, by chance.
So no they dont know who everyone is.
a moot point: ZFV as of late has been only slightly less than EWR in pricing to the cities I fly to, so I havent even thought to do a run with it. and PHL is coming up 1/2 the price of EWR lately, checking into Late May/June PHL is around $20 cheaper so it looks for now at least that both PHL and ZFV are no big deals. So for me at least it means flying out of LGA or JFK and NOT on CO, so CO can play as they wish to, in the end they are the lossers. I prefer CO but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, its my pocket that does the voting (walking). If anyone can get me to where I need to be for less than so be it. My last flight meant a $200 savings by flying out of PHL rather than EWR. That was worth the drive to PHL and parking was $3 a day cheaper to boot, no extra tolls the way I go either. either way Ill still be Plat with CO, the only question is how much of my $$$ will they get rather than CarrierX
Answering this question from a different tack, why not do JFK-SLC on DL,which prices much more cheaply? Your odds of getting a companion upgrade on CO EWR-SLC are slim based on my experience (having flown it for several round trips over the past few months, all seats have been ug'd or sold as Z prior to check-in. As an NW plat I've been upgraded but only if I buy the ticket 7 days out or more (even paid full Y closer in and they had no F seat to give me).
Last edited by PersonalFlotationDevice; Apr 27, 05 at 12:53 am.
CO knows where you get the ticket as it appears the computers now talk to one another. I could blow off the train or pick them up at metropark in Jan. and by Mar. my tickets were canceled because the system knew I did not get on the train in ZFV (they put them back in after a hassle). The only way is to take NJ transit to Trenton and SEPTA to PHL and get on the train.
Spinky ZFV is Not PHL. Its at 30th St, you need to take a different train if you go to PHL in order to get to ZFV.
Im sure that someone who is more aware of the systems can provide the correct info, but be rest assured that although there is a train and maybe Amtrak even that runs thru PHL that the ZFV station is not at the Airport and taking a train from the Airport and not starting at the ZFV station will most likely get your CO res cancelled just the same.
I wasnt sure if you were aware that ZFV and PHL are 2 different places, or simply knew it and meant the Train station all along and not the airport.
Programs: CO Plat, AA Gold, UA Premier, Hertz #1 Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Loews Gold, Marriott Gold, etc. etc. etc
Posts: 618
Thanks for those who offered some advice.
I split the difference by being a true professional:
- I sprung for the ~$800 ticket for my business partner, who will be meeting me at the EWR PC prior to departure
- I bought the $400 ticket with the ZFV-EWR train segment, and plan to actually take the train, since I will be in Philadelphia that day for a luncheon at the Sheraton near Penn (the university). I'm going to meet "the man" at EWR, and everything will hopefully go off without a hitch from there. I don't anticipate any problems.
The hassle factor probably means this will be the first and last time I do something like this, but it was pure luck that I had business in Philly the day of my flight, which made the ZFV connection convenient. Now, all I have to do is find a ride into Philadelphia...
Spinky ZFV is Not PHL. Its at 30th St, you need to take a different train if you go to PHL in order to get to ZFV.
Im sure that someone who is more aware of the systems can provide the correct info, but be rest assured that although there is a train and maybe Amtrak even that runs thru PHL that the ZFV station is not at the Airport and taking a train from the Airport and not starting at the ZFV station will most likely get your CO res cancelled just the same.
I wasnt sure if you were aware that ZFV and PHL are 2 different places, or simply knew it and meant the Train station all along and not the airport.
