All about the Autotrain

[Marshay]

Well...this makes no sense to me , but my fiancé asked when he called to book our trip down for our wedding next year today about why the prices are so high at 11 months and this was the response: She said they flipped the policy so the high fares start out, but they will drop dramatically (as you said) over the course of the year and we will get refunds if we call and ask for them. I would think this would be more work for them with all the phone calls they'll have to now handle, but there you have it!

Thanks! They are betting on people not checking and just paying the higher fares ... Or filling up quickly so they don't have to offer cheaper prices...

 

[vacationer1954]

Well...this makes no sense to me , but my fiancé asked when he called to book our trip down for our wedding next year today about why the prices are so high at 11 months and this was the response:

She said they flipped the policy so the high fares start out, but they will drop dramatically (as you said) over the course of the year and we will get refunds if we call and ask for them.

I would think this would be more work for them with all the phone calls they'll have to now handle, but there you have it!

This sounds like how airlines have worked in the past. I bet someone calculated that most people who book early won't check back often enough to get lower fares so that Amtrak wins this way.

 

[bdcp]

This sounds like how airlines have worked in the past. I bet someone calculated that most people who book early won't check back often enough to get lower fares so that Amtrak wins this way.

That's what I'm thinking.

We're getting ready to leave Shades of Green in about 1/2 hour to head to the AT. It's getting in to Sanford late today (around 10:43 is the estimate). We need to leave here around 11 so we'll just head over and hope that by the time we get there most cars are unloaded. Coming down a couple of weeks ago, I think the vast majority of cars were off in just over an hour.

 

[Marshay]

That's what I'm thinking.

We're getting ready to leave Shades of Green in about 1/2 hour to head to the AT. It's getting in to Sanford late today (around 10:43 is the estimate). We need to leave here around 11 so we'll just head over and hope that by the time we get there most cars are unloaded. Coming down a couple of weeks ago, I think the vast majority of cars were off in just over an hour.

Have a wonderful journey!

I have a favor to ask you. We are doing the AT on Thanksgiving Day. I was wondering if you could ask someone if they do anything special for Thanksgiving -- like a turkey dinner or Thanksgiving movie.

Thanks!

 

[bdcp]

Have a wonderful journey!

I have a favor to ask you. We are doing the AT on Thanksgiving Day. I was wondering if you could ask someone if they do anything special for Thanksgiving -- like a turkey dinner or Thanksgiving movie.

Thanks!

I'll try to remember at dinner. We got here around 12:00 and were about 15th in line. Cars were still coming off as the train got in around 10:35. Not sure why, probably freight traffic/breakdown. They started down the lines (2x2 up near the gate so no one was sitting on the tracks) with a list and cart of magnets. They got to us about 12:30 (I think) and then the last car left so all of us with numbers just pulled right in and were able to go right in and check in. Not sure if we'll be boarding at 2:30 or not, maybe a little later. Dinner for coach is 5 and 7 and for sleepers 5, 7 and 9. I'm surprised as there are usually more coach passengers than sleeper. We were probably in the first 20 people to check in and we requested 7 pm. The terminal is filling up. It's very cloudy here and we got sprinkled on near Orlando on I-4. It's supposed to rain this afternoon/evening. We had great weather, except for Wednesday when it was cold and windy. We had to buy sweatshirt/jackets since we weren't expecting it to be that cold and we had only brought windbreakers, plus our travel clothes which I wasn't going to wear in the park all day.

 

[jwboucher]

Anyone know how many reward points it would be for one way trip with roomette for 2? Thanks in advance.

 

[jad215]

Yes they've up that recently too. For the roomette which includes your rail fare it's 15,000 and for the vehicle it's also 15,000, so 30,000 points one way.

 

[Marshay]

However, you NO LONGER have to pay poinst for your vehicle.

You can pay cash for your vehicle and just use points for your room.

It used to be you HAD to use points for both...but no longer! They do not announce this but when you call and ask, they will confirm it.

It's a much better option to just pay cash for your vehicle, IMHO.

 

[Ngwira]

Was able to book the lowest fare for a family bedroom 11 months out. Paid $252.00.

 

[pmso2]

I did a test run and was able to stuff ours in the back today with just the third row folded down, but it was a tight squeeze and was rubbing against the overhead console. Our Thule box is apparently very long. My other option is to close down one of the second row stow and go seats, but this involves removing a car seat and putting that somewhere else. I guess I will see if there is anyway we can fit all our stuff in the van without the box first. I don't see it happening though! We always use are box on road trips and have definetely gotten our $$ out of it, although it cost us alot more the $29!

For anyone interested we were able to leave our roof top cargo box on the car with no problems, we fit underneath the 88" sign with a couple inches to spare. They did ask us to sign a damage waiver, but otherwise there was no problems. The train was a bit late leaving, close to 5PM, but still got into Lorton at 9AM. It was an interesting experience, I appreciated not having to drive 900 of our 1200 mile plus trip. On the other hand the sleeping arrangements were difficult on the family bedroom and I slept like crap. Not sure if I would use it again or not. The train was about half full.

 

[Sysyphus]

Thanks for a great thread, loads of great advice and info which I was able to use to make our journey from Philly, lunch and check-in really smooth, and this post comes to you live from today's southbound train.

We did pull out of the station a little early, and stopped for the car carriers to be hitched up, but before we got any further we developed a mechanical fault which is now being worked on, and we haven't moved since.
On board today we have 451 passengers ( 188 sleepers, 263 coach) and 266 vehicles (1 motorcycle, the rest cars, 19 of which paid for priority unloading)

Movie is either Casablanca or Grown ups 2 depending on whether you believe our car attendant or the announcement. In coach we can choose beef, chicken, cod or cheese ravioli

More later, hopefully with news of some progress

 

[bdcp]

Thanks for a great thread, loads of great advice and info which I was able to use to make our journey from Philly, lunch and check-in really smooth, and this post comes to you live from today's southbound train.

We did pull out of the station a little early, and stopped for the car carriers to be hitched up, but before we got any further we developed a mechanical fault which is now being worked on, and we haven't moved since.
On board today we have 451 passengers ( 188 sleepers, 263 coach) and 266 vehicles (1 motorcycle, the rest cars, 19 of which paid for priority unloading)

Movie is either Casablanca or Grown ups 2 depending on whether you believe our car attendant or the announcement. In coach we can choose beef, chicken, cod or cheese ravioli

More later, hopefully with news of some progress

They were showing Casablanca a couple of weeks ago. Not sure why they are showing old movies, even if it's a classic. It's not like most kids would like it. They usually show something more recent. We had a mechanical problem one trip (maybe '08) right after we left the station and we sat in one place for a bit. Our return trip a couple of weeks ago, something like 15 people paid for priority, so, it's obviously not worth it to as many people as they thought since they will take 20.

 

[Sysyphus]

To be fair there aren't many children on the train today... Decidedly a snowbird special tonight... Of far greater concern than the less than inspiring movie is that we have now gone back to Lorton and are sitting with just emergency lighting awaiting further details on the fix for the mechanical issue... Over 3.5 hours elapsed, miles travelled 1 south and 1 north for a net of zero

EDIT: finally got underway a bit before 7. Train staff remain optimistic that we may make up some time. That remains to be seen. Lemon pepper cod for dinner was delicious, DW enjoyed her chicken, DD11 declared her "choo choo" chicken fingers the best ever, accompanying green beans were great, adults got a rice side which was tasty, kids got Mac and cheese which was above average. Waitstaff were friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about refilling everything including the wine carafe. You wouldn't necessarily come here for the wine, but it is good value for money . Overall family conclusion was that if this were a diner a couple of miles from home we would eat here quite often

 

[Marshay]

To be fair there aren't many children on the train today... Decidedly a snowbird special tonight... Of far greater concern than the less than inspiring movie is that we have now gone back to Lorton and are sitting with just emergency lighting awaiting further details on the fix for the mechanical issue... Over 3.5 hours elapsed, miles travelled 1 south and 1 north for a net of zero EDIT: finally got underway a bit before 7. Train staff remain optimistic that we may make up some time. That remains to be seen. Lemon pepper cod for dinner was delicious, DW enjoyed her chicken, DD11 declared her "choo choo" chicken fingers the best ever, accompanying green beans were great, adults got a rice side which was tasty, kids got Mac and cheese which was above average. Waitstaff were friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about refilling everything including the wine carafe. You wouldn't necessarily come here for the wine, but it is good value for money . Overall family conclusion was that if this were a diner a couple of miles from home we would eat here quite often

Glad to hear you finally got underway! Happy that your family enjoyed it!

We departed southbound on Thanksgiving day ... Tons of families...lots of kids ... And they showed Casablanca. The alternative poster was for Identity Theft so I guess we see that northbound. I was hoping for a family/kids movie, too!

I will say that after 6-8 trips on the AT, the staff on Thanksgiving day was really second string. I guess the better people had the day off. No one was rude but they weren't their normal friendly self...said the reception was "only a tasting" and we should buy our alcohol instead (previously they gave a couple of glasses at once)... Complained out loud to us that they had to work Thanksgiving and just not many hellos. It was just an off vibe. We'll see how it compares when we return in a few days.

 

[bdcp]

Glad to hear you finally got underway! Happy that your family enjoyed it!

We departed southbound on Thanksgiving day ... Tons of families...lots of kids ... And they showed Casablanca. The alternative poster was for Identity Theft so I guess we see that northbound. I was hoping for a family/kids movie, too!

I will say that after 6-8 trips on the AT, the staff on Thanksgiving day was really second string. I guess the better people had the day off. No one was rude but they weren't their normal friendly self...said the reception was "only a tasting" and we should buy our alcohol instead (previously they gave a couple of glasses at once)... Complained out loud to us that they had to work Thanksgiving and just not many hellos. It was just an off vibe. We'll see how it compares when we return in a few days.

Sorry to hear that. We had great experiences both ways on our trip. Everyone was very friendly. Wine was flowing in the sleeper wine tasting (and at dinner both ways).

 

[Marshay]

Sorry to hear that. We had great experiences both ways on our trip. Everyone was very friendly. Wine was flowing in the sleeper wine tasting (and at dinner both ways).

Yeah, that's what we have come to expect, too!

 

[BonnieA]

As long as they get tips, the wine is flowing.

 

[Marshay]

As long as they get tips, the wine is flowing.

They made the announcement at the very beginning of the reception, before food or wine started, so tips didn't matter. But yes, we do tip. It was the man running the bar who announced it for the entire lounge car on the speaker, who was different from the man pouring the wine. He said it twice...I figure he was afraid if everyone gets the wine, then he won't get any business...

 

[Marshay]

Just checked prices for our trip next year, late Oct early November, dates are somewhat flexible, but it will be $1000 more than this year...guess we are not doing train unless they come down...

 

[bdcp]

Just checked prices for our trip next year, late Oct early November, dates are somewhat flexible, but it will be $1000 more than this year...guess we are not doing train unless they come down...

We need to book for Feb 2015 for a cruise out of Port Canaveral. We'll start watching the prices in March, but plan to have enough points to at least get a roomette one way which will help with the total. I'm not sure how many points we currently have, but I think it's about 12K and we'll be charging our next cruise on our Amtrak Mastercard in a few weeks so that should put us over 15K between the two of us. DH has more points because the Mastercard is in his name. They wouldn't give me one based on my salary and our combined bills (seriously? they're "our bills" but only "one income" counts and no joint accounts?-sorry I know this was discussed a while back, but it still peeves me especially since DH and I have been married 32 years and have lots of joint assets.)