auto train reservations try to get Lorraine

[erinch]

I needed to make a very complicated auto train reservation for an impromptu trip in just 2 weeks. We're a party of 5--mom, dad, DD 11 and DS 19 and his GF 17. Roommettes southbound are very expensive, so we decided to send the lovebird teens by coach, and get 2 roommettes for me, DH and DD.

Then coming northbound on Aug 23, the train is much cheaper, roommettes are 1/3 the price and we are getting 3.

And I needed to try to configure it with the AAA cost, compared to the magicard cost.

As I was working on it, I could see the cost of the roommette literally go up in front of my eyes, as I discovered that I couldn't split accommodations between roommette and coach. So I called Amtrak and got connected to Lorraine, who literally worked with me for nearly an hour to freeze the roommette price, and then work on all the ticketing. She couldn't get 2 roommmettes even on the same car southbound, but moved some rooms around and got us 2 rooms together. She was phenomenal. I've never planned a trip this close out, and I figure her expertise probably saved me a couple of hundred dollars.

I asked to speak to a supervisor to register a compliment, and he was surprised and pleased and said they'd put a letter in her personnel jacket.

So--please remember to say thanks for good work, and there are times a live body is better at booking than the website!

 

[NJRRK]

I've always had much better luck on the phone for Amtrak than the website.

Hope you trip goes smoothly, we'll pass each other in VA because we're leaving Lorton on the 24, the day you get in.