Originally Posted by
Spent_All_My_Miles
My questions for the group
- Are Amtrak people always this confused?
- During irrops do people normally get tickets reprinted?
- Is there a clearly stated answer anywhere as to whether an Acela business class passenger on a irrops is entitled to coach or business?
- If Acela business and regional business are different, why are they both called business and why do people assert there is such a thing as Acela coach?
- More generally, if a person is entitled to sit in coach, can one pay the fare difference and sit in business? (I don't take Amtrak all that much) If so, how is the fare difference determined when there are no seats for sale to establish the price, but actual seats are available?
My responses based on experience:
1. Amtrak folks are not confused but a lack of IRROPS policy makes it difficult for them to take a stand and give you a correct answer!
2. As per my response above there is NO IRROPS policy. You are pretty much on your own or at the mercy of the conductor on the new train.
3. Since there is no IRRPOS policy and you haven't been rebooked on the regional then whether Acela Business is comparable to Regional Business is not the question (BTW Regional business only means a somewhat bigger seat, bottled water/soda and a newspaper so not worth it anyway). The fact is that there are folks booked in the Regional Business who have a right to their seats and since you were not re booked officially it makes the conductor's life difficult in accommodating the whole Acela in one Regional Business Car and hence the attitude too.
4. You should be entitled to a refund depending on the price you paid for the Acela Business ticket. Usually the Regional Business is lot cheaper than the Acela Business. So I would call the Amtrak Customer service. In addition if you are nice and explain the hardship, Amtrak may throw a courtesy credit voucher for some amount for future travel. NO guarantees here. I have even been promised one in the past which never showed up so you have to follow up diligently.
5. Finally some sympathy from me for being caught in the Amtrak IRROP situation. Usually there is no good official outcome. It all depends on how you handle the situation in getting re booked or dealing with the conductor! Getting frustrated will not get you anywhere!
