Bid-up tactics
Feb 4, 2022, 12:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
Posts: 982
Bid-up tactics
Is it better to wait until just before the cut off time to make a bid? If there’s dynamic pricing in the estimation of price/likelihood that would seem to be a better time to bid. If a bid goes in earlier, the pricing doesn’t change presumably? Are there any mistakes to avoid?
Feb 4, 2022, 4:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
Haven't bid in a few months, but when I did in 2020 and 2021, the minimum bid on my route (NEC) was always the same, whether I bid right after I made the reservation or at the last minute. I always lowballed and "won" around 70-80% of the time.
Feb 13, 2022, 7:16 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Hi, I am new to Amtrak. Have been looking at different fare options and found the "bid up" landing page. I noticed the first step to bid up is checking if itinerary is eligible. What determines the eligibility? Do I have to buy certain fares?
Feb 15, 2022, 9:05 am
#5
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,623
No fare class requirements. I think the biggest thing is you need to be booked 24 hours in advance of departure.
Mar 13, 2022, 1:30 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
I got an offer to UG from coach to Business class on the Lake Shore Limited CLE-ALB; the minimum acceptable "poor" offer was $21, while the minimum "strong" offer was $34. I put my bid in at $34, and got the upgrade. It was totally worth it.
Apr 16, 2022, 6:29 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
I used bidup today on a NER train from BOS-NYP. I lowballed and got it. I have no interest in upgrading on Acela trains -- I'd rather be in the quiet car than in first class -- but will now bidup any time I find myself on a regional. Today's train was booked near capacity in coach, yet the business class car was at less than 50% of capacity and was as quiet as the quiet car (once I told the woman sitting across the aisle from me she had to use her headphones if she was going to watch videos on her phone!).
Apr 17, 2022, 8:40 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
I used bidup today on a NER train from BOS-NYP. I lowballed and got it. I have no interest in upgrading on Acela trains -- I'd rather be in the quiet car than in first class -- but will now bidup any time I find myself on a regional. Today's train was booked near capacity in coach, yet the business class car was at less than 50% of capacity and was as quiet as the quiet car (once I told the woman sitting across the aisle from me she had to use her headphones if she was going to watch videos on her phone!).
Apr 22, 2022, 7:00 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,094
Is it better to wait until just before the cut off time to make a bid? If there’s dynamic pricing in the estimation of price/likelihood that would seem to be a better time to bid. If a bid goes in earlier, the pricing doesn’t change presumably? Are there any mistakes to avoid?
May 20, 2022, 5:48 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,094
Only one chance to get upgraded?
I placed a bid for a roomette on BidUp and the bid was not accepted; I got the email saying no about 36 hours before departure.
The Amtrak app shows that rooms are still available for purchase on the train. It's too late to make a new bid (they can be made only 37 hours before departure for roomettes).
Will Amtrak run through the existing BidUp requests again, so maybe I'll get upgraded? Or does Amtrak process them once, and that's it?
I have a plane ticket booked for the same trip so if I'm not upgraded, I'll just fly.
Thanks.
The Amtrak app shows that rooms are still available for purchase on the train. It's too late to make a new bid (they can be made only 37 hours before departure for roomettes).
Will Amtrak run through the existing BidUp requests again, so maybe I'll get upgraded? Or does Amtrak process them once, and that's it?
I have a plane ticket booked for the same trip so if I'm not upgraded, I'll just fly.
Thanks.