All about the Autotrain

[danjfoley]

I'll be on the auto train may 1st.. heading to disney. On my own. Family is flying..I have one of the cheapest rooms, and bring a mini van. Cost is right around $1000 round trip.

Just letting you all know Maybe i'll see someone in the lounge...

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Hope I made the right choice!

We're now booked to take the Auto Train this September! And that's not the choice in question, I think we're going to enjoy the AT. I knew if I waited any longer the price would go up and then be sold out completely so I made the leap and booked it. From what I understand, I can rebook and save some money if the price goes down, so now I'll keep an eye out for that (here's to hoping!).

Here's the part where I hope I did the right thing:

I booked 2, one-way trips; there and back. The trip south was very reasonable with a Family Bedroom ($231) but the trip north was another story; $653 for a Family Bedroom! Just a few days ago it was $443 and I missed it so this way, if the Family Bedroom price drops for the northbound trip, I only have to rebook that reservation, not the whole thing.

Was that a good idea or just a little more work for no real benefit? Having never done this before, I wasn't sure how rebooking worked. Didnt' know if I had to completely cancel and rebook or what. If I did that, I didn't want to lose a good southbound rate in the process.

Maybe I'm over thinking this; wouldn't be the first time.

I'd love to see a cheaper northbound bedroom!

D4D

 

[Henlady]

Hope I made the right choice!

I'd love to see a cheaper northbound bedroom!

D4D

Sorry, but I seriously doubt that a cheaper northbound bedroom will come up. AMTRAK sells their rooms on a tier basis. The first few are at the lowest rate, then so many at the next and so on...... For May '10, we booked a roomette for the way south but the roomettes north were about $261 so I booked coach traveling north. When we arrived at the station for our north bound return, I checked to see if any rooms were available, hopeing for a lower rate. They had 3 available rooms going for $753 each. The agent agreed that it was a rediculous rate, but said that he was almost 100% sure that those 3 rooms would be booked by the time the train departed.

For our May '11 trip, we chose a family bedroom and paid $229 for it and was told that after that there was only 1 remaining family room left at that rate. 3 days later it went to $335, and now about a month later it is $653.

A couple of years ago, the AutoTrain rates were pretty much equal going both directions. They are now much more for northbound travel. I still don't understand that reasoning.

 

[Wiloughby1]

It depends on the time of year. Northbound is more in the spring when the snowbirds are going home. Southbound is more in the fall when they are heading to the beach.

best to call at the 11month mark exactly. We got the only family room at the $231 price at 7am for our April/May 2011 trip.

 

[chartle]

A couple of years ago, the AutoTrain rates were pretty much equal going both directions. They are now much more for northbound travel. I still don't understand that reasoning.

It depends on the time of year. Northbound is more in the spring when the snowbirds are going home. Southbound is more in the fall when they are heading to the beach.

I did a little experiment, I priced some trips through out the year and north bound was always more expensive. It seemed like during peak northbound times it was just even more expensive.

 

[danjfoley]

As this is my first time riding the auto train in may. I just want to make sure i have all my bases covered.

I bought my tickets on the web site, printed out the reservation number. (which has all the needed info on it from the web site).

I'm planning on just driving up to the station, arriving at 1pm, with my printed out page from the web site in hand.

Is that all i need to do?

 

[PEANUT1]

Yes. After you leave your car you go up to the ticket window with your confirmation number and they will give you your paper ticket.You will also choose your meal time.

 

[chartle]

As this is my first time riding the auto train in may. I just want to make sure i have all my bases covered.

I bought my tickets on the web site, printed out the reservation number. (which has all the needed info on it from the web site).

I'm planning on just driving up to the station, arriving at 1pm, with my printed out page from the web site in hand.

Is that all i need to do?

You pick up your tickets in a folder outside, you give up your car and then you have to check in inside where they give you your car and seat numbers and pick your dinner seating.

This site gives you a more through explanation of what happens on the Autotrain.

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/autotrain-tips.shtml

 

[PEANUT1]

.not what we did in November..we just gave our name outside and received a ticket for our car with a number on it and got our train tickets inside at the window.

 

[chartle]

.not what we did in November..we just gave our name outside and received a ticket for our car with a number on it and got our train tickets inside at the window.

I guess my trip was before e ticketing.

I wonder how they linked the number on your car to your tickets?

 

[PEANUT1]

you give the car ticket to the person at the ticket window

I guess my trip was before e ticketing.

I wonder how they linked the number on your car to your tickets?

 

[Marshay]

Was that a good idea or just a little more work for no real benefit? Having never done this before, I wasn't sure how rebooking worked. Didnt' know if I had to completely cancel and rebook or what. If I did that, I didn't want to lose a good southbound rate in the process.

Maybe I'm over thinking this; wouldn't be the first time.

I'd love to see a cheaper northbound bedroom!

D4D

Yes, I think that is smart (booking two separate tickets). The cost is the same as booking round-trip but this way IF either price goes down, you can easily re-book.

And yes, the prices CAN go down even after 11 months, but this is NOT the norm. For our late Nov 2010 trip, I made our ressies in July ... a friend we met on board only made her ressies in early November and paid $200 or so less than I did for the same type of room. The train was really empty so it just happened to be a s-l-o-w time to travel.

But I learned my lesson ... book as early as you can but also check as your trip gets closer.

Enjoy!

 

[bdcp]

We decided last night to book a deluxe bedroom for the trip down. We're still coach coming back since we only live 45 minutes from Lorton and can relax when we get home.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Family bedrooms are $653 EACH WAY for our August trip.

I'm thinking we will be just fine in coach TYVM!

 

[PEANUT1]

ita..I would neve pay for that but I can't argue with free..so we are doing the family BR

Family bedrooms are $653 EACH WAY for our August trip.

I'm thinking we will be just fine in coach TYVM!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Saw an ad in the April issue of "Family Fun" magazine for the kids $19 rate, but when I try to use it online, it won't accept it... . It says my dates are out of range for the promotion, but my dates are very much in range for the promo (I'm going mid-July, and the promo says it's good from June-August.)

 

[christinou]

I keep looking at the prices for next February and the prices are crazy it is over $2,000 for 2 adults 2 kids 1 car and 2 roomettes, we have done that trip many times, at the same time and paid around $1,200. I guess we will be driving.

 

[NJBILL]

Saw an ad in the April issue of "Family Fun" magazine for the kids $19 rate, but when I try to use it online, it won't accept it... . It says my dates are out of range for the promotion, but my dates are very much in range for the promo (I'm going mid-July, and the promo says it's good from June-August.)

Try Calling. LAst time I used $19 rate it would not take online. I had to call 1-800-usa-rail

 

[Marshay]

Saw an ad in the April issue of "Family Fun" magazine for the kids $19 rate, but when I try to use it online, it won't accept it... . It says my dates are out of range for the promotion, but my dates are very much in range for the promo (I'm going mid-July, and the promo says it's good from June-August.)

Try Calling. LAst time I used $19 rate it would not take online. I had to call 1-800-usa-rail

I was going to say the same thing. I tried on-line and couldn't get the rate but the agent when I called was able to apply it to my existing ressies last July.

 

[Marshay]

Also wanted to say that if you sign up for the Amtrak rewards and are travelling in spring, they are given double and triple points. Look on-line for more details.

My May travel dates are during the triple promotionthat's 3x closer to a free trip-- hoping to use it next year once I transfer over Chase Ultimate Rewards points, too!! Woo Hoo!