not using Amtrak
Feb 1, 2007 | 9:13 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,393
I thought I was take this oppty to speak of the trouble we had doing the Amtrak / Philly gig. We were scheduled Philly (Amtrak) to EWR to LAS, and then reverse home.
Our train left Philly at around 5 in the morning for EWR. The problem was, the stupid Amtrak machines could not "find" our reservations and dispense our tickets. Amtrak customer service people are not at the train station till 6 or 7 in the morning. We called Continental and told them of our problem. We elected, with Continental's blessing, to drive to EWR to try to catch our 9:30 am flight to LAS.
Didn't make it. CO put us on the next flight out 2 hours later - only thing that stunk was we couldn't sit together for a 4+ hour flight, and I was stuck with a middle seat that didn't recline.
The problem became the return flight home. I called CO a day ahead of time to make sure there were no problems - sure enough they had us as a "no show" on the Philly to EWR leg and had us in line to get our return reservations axed. This despite us having discussed our situation with CO both on the phone and in person in EWR.
What a mess, I will never screw with the Amtrak junk again. Until they get their act together it's far more trouble then it's worth.
Our train left Philly at around 5 in the morning for EWR. The problem was, the stupid Amtrak machines could not "find" our reservations and dispense our tickets. Amtrak customer service people are not at the train station till 6 or 7 in the morning. We called Continental and told them of our problem. We elected, with Continental's blessing, to drive to EWR to try to catch our 9:30 am flight to LAS.
Didn't make it. CO put us on the next flight out 2 hours later - only thing that stunk was we couldn't sit together for a 4+ hour flight, and I was stuck with a middle seat that didn't recline.
The problem became the return flight home. I called CO a day ahead of time to make sure there were no problems - sure enough they had us as a "no show" on the Philly to EWR leg and had us in line to get our return reservations axed. This despite us having discussed our situation with CO both on the phone and in person in EWR.
What a mess, I will never screw with the Amtrak junk again. Until they get their act together it's far more trouble then it's worth.
Feb 1, 2007 | 11:43 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
I thought I was take this oppty to speak of the trouble we had doing the Amtrak / Philly gig. We were scheduled Philly (Amtrak) to EWR to LAS, and then reverse home.
Our train left Philly at around 5 in the morning for EWR. The problem was, the stupid Amtrak machines could not "find" our reservations and dispense our tickets. Amtrak customer service people are not at the train station till 6 or 7 in the morning. We called Continental and told them of our problem. We elected, with Continental's blessing, to drive to EWR to try to catch our 9:30 am flight to LAS.
Didn't make it. CO put us on the next flight out 2 hours later - only thing that stunk was we couldn't sit together for a 4+ hour flight, and I was stuck with a middle seat that didn't recline.
The problem became the return flight home. I called CO a day ahead of time to make sure there were no problems - sure enough they had us as a "no show" on the Philly to EWR leg and had us in line to get our return reservations axed. This despite us having discussed our situation with CO both on the phone and in person in EWR.
What a mess, I will never screw with the Amtrak junk again. Until they get their act together it's far more trouble then it's worth.
Our train left Philly at around 5 in the morning for EWR. The problem was, the stupid Amtrak machines could not "find" our reservations and dispense our tickets. Amtrak customer service people are not at the train station till 6 or 7 in the morning. We called Continental and told them of our problem. We elected, with Continental's blessing, to drive to EWR to try to catch our 9:30 am flight to LAS.
Didn't make it. CO put us on the next flight out 2 hours later - only thing that stunk was we couldn't sit together for a 4+ hour flight, and I was stuck with a middle seat that didn't recline.
The problem became the return flight home. I called CO a day ahead of time to make sure there were no problems - sure enough they had us as a "no show" on the Philly to EWR leg and had us in line to get our return reservations axed. This despite us having discussed our situation with CO both on the phone and in person in EWR.
What a mess, I will never screw with the Amtrak junk again. Until they get their act together it's far more trouble then it's worth.
Sorry to hear of the problems. But at the same time THANK YOU for having posted about it,as there are a few people who recently woke up to ZFV and thought they would book it w/o taking the train or getting a train elsewhere. Now they will know that the Computers of CO & Amtrak are still in talking mode with 1 another, and that it doesnt pay to try and play the game. Either they should book it with the intent of getting to ZFV to actually take Amtrak or simply pay the higher fare and depart straight from EWR.
Feb 1, 2007 | 12:18 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Gold (Current Platinum), United Mileage Plus, Avis Preferred
Posts: 850
My bad.
Feb 1, 2007 | 12:54 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 154
What about checking in for Amtrak but not at Phila. 30th St. Station?
I live in NYC ... could I check in at NY Penn Station at an Amtrak quickcheck kiosk there for a PHL to EWR AmTrak Continental codeshare flight? What I am getting at is do you have to be in the departing location to check in for an Amtrak train? Also, what's the maximum checkin time for quickcheck?
Feb 1, 2007 | 5:16 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
Feb 2, 2007 | 9:30 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
I live in NYC ... could I check in at NY Penn Station at an Amtrak quickcheck kiosk there for a PHL to EWR AmTrak Continental codeshare flight? What I am getting at is do you have to be in the departing location to check in for an Amtrak train? Also, what's the maximum checkin time for quickcheck?
Everything else youmight think of at one time was doable but NOT any longer
Feb 2, 2007 | 3:51 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
So are you saying if the train originated in Philly and then arrives in NYC it would be okay. Since the city is on the other side of Newark how would this be possible?
Feb 2, 2007 | 5:43 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,683
The Amtrak tickets that CO sells as codeshares from Philadelphia go from 30th Street Station (ZFV) to the EWR rail station. CO does not ticket past EWR.
Feb 3, 2007 | 8:11 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 154
You may be slightly misunderstanding me. I am not intending on getting on ANY Amtrak train ... I just know that if I don't check in for Amtrak then Continental will cancel out my itinerary. So I was wondering if it is possible to check in for Amtrak at one of their Quickcheck check-in kiosks located at New York Penn Station ... the reason being that I live in NYC and want to save on the PHL "hidden city" ticketing that Continental offers without actually stepping on an Amtrak train.
Does anyone out there know if the Amtrak kiosk at New York Penn will let me check in for an Amtrak itinerary that goes from ZFV to EWR? Keep in mind, I'm not trying to actually board an Amtrak train at ANY point!
Does anyone out there know if the Amtrak kiosk at New York Penn will let me check in for an Amtrak itinerary that goes from ZFV to EWR? Keep in mind, I'm not trying to actually board an Amtrak train at ANY point!
Feb 3, 2007 | 9:48 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
The answer is no. You have to pick up the ticket at the 30th st. station from the co kiosk. This has been noted before - search on zfv. I'd guess that you don't have to board the train, but you would probably have to give your ticket to a conductor. You could also probably have Amtrak change the ticket - after you get it - but you'd still have to get from zfv to ewr at that point. If you're looking to save a bit, try open jaw - end at zfv - you can, according to Amtrak regs, get of the train early.
Feb 6, 2007 | 8:25 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Siesta Key, Florida
Programs: UA GS4Life, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Diamond RA, Hyatt Humorist, Bonv Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,741
Not sure how this eventually worked out for the OP, but I don't think that Amtrak stops at Princeton Junction. That is a NJ Transit stop only; Amtrak goes through w/o stopping. The OP could always board an Amtrak train at EWR (thereby earning the miles), and then transfer to NJ Transit at a common NJ Transit/Amtrak station. like MetroPark/New Brunswick/Newark Penn, buying the NJ Tranist ticket from the common station to Princeton Junction. That would probably also save a little $$, since for all trains that stop at EWR, there is a premium in those fares to offset the cost of the station