iahphx

Fare seems to be available again between PHL and SAN, but I don't see the other cities.

I refuse to look because I just got back from SAN, and already have 2 other SAN itineraries in the next year booked.

BTW, it's currently confusing at SAN as UA is operating out of 2 terminals (the old CO flights, and the old UA flights). They're supposed to be consolidating to the new wing of Terminal 2 soon.

ncurhan

Just booked one for September

Majikow

Looks like it's back up for Portland too.

iahphx

Yeah, they seem to be bringing it back slowly. Maybe Sacramento, too.

I sure wish they'd mix it up a bit when attacking US at PHL. How about some $98 roundtrips to the Southeast or something? Those transcons get old, fast -- especially when sitting in coach.

gak999

it's back on for PDX and SEA, just got 2 tickets for a quick vacation

Majikow

There's also some flights out of PHL connecting in IAH or SFO for like $178-$185 that get the cost down under 3 cpm. Almost booked one but fiance said I need to chill. Hope someone else can make use.

Kmxu

They are back again this week. You can fly out of PHL, instead of ZFV. Good travels.

discoverCSG

I just booked a double transcon for September 24-26:

PHL-ORD-SEA-EWR-ZFV-EWR-SAN-IAD-PHL

Total was $316.50, for 9611 EQM (3.29 cpm) or 9711 base RDM (3.26 cpm)

BUT I had a $60 Travel Club credit, which reduced my purchase cost to $256.50, so my real cpm is 2.67 cpm EQM or 2.64 cpm RDM.

Question:

The EWR-ZFV portion of my itinerary is as follows:

5:06 Arrive EWR (from SEA)
8:32-9:33 Train EWR-ZFV
12:16-13:20 Train ZFV-EWR
17:15 Depart EWR (to SAN)

Suppose I want to spend time in either NYC or Philadelphia in the 12 hours between my arrival and departure from EWR. Can I use these tickets to take different trains to/from ZFV?

gbryan84

Nope, not unless you want the rest of your ticket cancelled after the ZFV legs. Also, why do you hate yourself so much, double transcons on elite heavy routes?

SiberianTiger

LOL!! Great question ^

Kmxu

You can certainly cancel the reservation now if you do not want to take the ZFV train. You can replace one of SEA destinations by SAN and still have the reservation in a single locator. For example, PHL-SAN-PHL-SEA-PHL with a multiple destination search. You may be able to optimize your routes by adding a few more stops if the routing rules allow. Good travels.

discoverCSG

I'm aware of that option. However, I don't object to taking a train EWR-ZFV-EWR. Rather, my question is: is it possible to take a different train in order to optimize the amount of time spent near EWR and/or ZFV? I ask because this itinerary has me in EWR for 2.5 hours, ZFV for 2.5 hours, and EWR again for 4 hours, and I'd rather do something like EWR for 6 hours, ZFV for 1 hour, and EWR for 2 hours.

Better question: Are these train tickets transferable to another Amtrak train on the same route on the same day?

EDIT: I see why Kmxu made part of the suggestion he made: In my first post, I incorrectly said I was leaving EWR for SEA; in fact, I'm flying to SAN. Ahh, the joys of mileage running.

zhangbear

short answer: no. just don't even try. if you get a really nice conductor and look really innocent and say you got on the wrong train they might let you slide. but most/all conductors will ask you to pay the full fare of EWR-NYC.

long answer: since United doesn't issue unreserved tickets like before, the only train you can use the EWR-ZFV leg on is on your scheduled southbound NE regional train. as the stops go like EWR-trenton-30th station (metropark is somewhere after EWR and before 30th - dont remember if its before or after trenton), the train doesn't actually go through new york. You can get off the train at any stop before your scheduled destination (i.e. trenton) and be fine, but the train doesn't even head toward new york..

zhangbear

oops, my apologies for reading your question wrong. If you ask nicely, the gate agents at the train terminal (after the airtrain gate thingys) will almost always let you switch to an earlier train (and they should let you switch to a later train as well, but you might get a few wierd looks in the process) for no change fee - Amtrak is never full these days...(unless you plan to travel the day before a major holiday..)

scratchphysics

Picked up SAN-EWR-ZFV-EWR-SAN for labor day weekend! $150.90 (red-eye outbound, late flight in bound)