Originally Posted by
GoAmtrak
For paid sleeper tickets, you already forfeit the full value for no-showing. Not so for all other tickets, of course. To avoid point forfeiture, you just have to call AGR now before departure time if you don't think you're going to make it (but you'll be SOL if it's a sleeper or, presumably, if the AGR service center is closed at the time).
AFAIK, you can call the regular number to cancel a reservation if the AGR office is closed.
Originally Posted by
GoAmtrak
It also comes across as mean-spirited. Amtrak's highly logical policy has always been that conductors should be eager to sell distressed premium inventory on-board and solicit all comers if space is available. Everyone's money is equally green regardless of how they paid for their ticket.
No, Amtrak changed that policy a month or so ago. They are now doing everything that they can to discourage onboard upgrades. On board upgrades no longer sell for the low bucket price, but instead they sell for the current bucket price.
Therefore there is no longer any advantage to waiting until one is on the train to buy a room, one might as well either call from the station or visit with an agent if one is available, to do any last minute upgrades.
Conductors are not prohibited from selling an onboard upgrade to my knowledge, but I suspect that few will even wish to bother with the process now seeing as how it could have been accomplished before boarding with the same results. Heck, even while on the train if one has a stable enough cell phone connection, one can simply call Amtrak to upgrade one's reservation and then just speak with the conductor to facilitate the transfer from coach to the sleeper.