Originally Posted by
the_traveler
But you don't show your ticket when you're in the diner. (At least I haven't.) I've just had to sign the check with my name and room number. And what's to stop 2 people going to breakfast at 6:30 and the 3rd person at 8?
The server may not see the same room 3 times, or even if they do, may not remember there were already 2 others.
You're right, there are still ways to cheat the system. But that's an asinine reason to punish otherwise honest pax who should not be denied the ability to share a bedroom in threes if they want to.
Ultimately, when Amtrak shifts to e-ticketing, they need to integrate pax manifests with food inventory control. Imagine being able to enter the diner and have your barcode from your e-ticket printout or cell phone screen scanned by a handheld device by a company like Symbol, much the way ski lift tickets are scanned these days. Or, you could just say your name and it would already be pre-loaded on the device. Your bona fides as a sleeper pax would be verified, and the attendant would also be able to instantly transmit your order to a screen in front of the chef downstairs. It would mean less paperwork, less waste and fraud, faster service, and a better experience for employees and customers alike.