Originally Posted by
TRSTACIE
I just searched for july trips between bhm to pdx and it gives no options for CZ. How were you able to book this route. Only options I see are on the EB.
When I first called about the the trip, the agent first suggested the EB, but I asked for the CZ. The agent said that the EB was more scenic. I said that I would be returning on it. He said OK, and booked me on the CZ - per my request! ^
On another note, I am about to book a reward trip from Den to SAC, but was wondering if the equipment on the CZ has been refurbished or is up to par with say the EB? The family and I took a trip in OCT 06 and the sleeper car we were in was old and dilapitated. I would like to ride on a up to date train. The train for some reason was dirty. We sat in the observation car for awhile but the widows were dirty along with the car itself. Is there no one to clean these at service stops?
Since the Superliner cars are about 30 years old
, you may encounter an old car!
Many have been refurbished, but some have not been for years. I too have bee on some dirty trains, but (luckily) most are not!
The cars may get some minor cosmetic cleaning at stops, but with most extended stops of only 15-30 minutes, not much can be done in that time. Plus Amtrak does not have the manpower to station someone in a place like Denver to clean the whole train for the 30 minutes or an hour that the 1 train a day is there.
They try to clean the cars at the endpoints, but if the train is scheduled to arrive at (say) 9 AM, but does not arrive until 3 PM, and that
same car has to go out on tonight's train at 5 PM - that doesn't leave much time! They may keep many extra cars in a place like Chicago, but I doubt there are many extra cars sitting available in New Orleans or San Antonio!
I need to burn some miles so was looking for advice for trips from Denver.
I have about 60,000 miles to use.I did find one long route that travels on a smaller award. It was from DEN to New Orleans.
Luckily for you, Denver is a division point for the 3 zones!
Thus, a trip going west (like DEN-PDX) is 1 zone. Also, a trip going east (like DEN-CHI) is also 1 zone! A trip to the east coast (like DEN-NYP or DEN-WAS) would be 2 zones! However, because of the only routing allowed, DEN-BHM would be 1 zone - even though you must connect in WAS!
(You could connect in NOL - but that would require an overnight stay - at your expense! I don't even think they would allow it.) Personally, I'd rather be on a train (in a sleeper ^) for 2 extra nights for the same amount of points!
Also, don't forget that a sleeper award is the
same amount of points for 1 pax or 2 pax! And
all meals are included for
both pax! ^