We're thinking of moving our DC trip to December for a variety of reasons. I noticed that if we leave from Savannah, it's way cheaper to book a sleeper than from Orlando. Given that it's still one night, this confuses me.
Can anyone explain Amtrak's pricing system? I understand the bucket system but unless I was doing something wrong this was the same train at the same date.
posted
Part of the deal is that meals for two adults are included in the sleeping car room charge. If you leave from Orlando, that's two guests who will be eating dinner on board. If you leave from Savannah it is very unlikely that you'll still want dinner at that time of night.
IF you're finding a fare for the sleeper that is within your price range on the Meteor from Savannah to DC I'd recommend booking it now. The really good fares don't last long and usually only a limited number of rooms per train will be available for the lowest fare. Once someone else books the 'cheap' ones, rooms in the very same car will be more expensive for the next guy.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I'd say there are so many variables involved, that even Amtrak doesn't understand their own pricing fully.
Posts: 54 | Registered: Oct 2006
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So many variables...you can say that again. The cost for a roomette on the Silver Star for the same date in December SAV/WAS is much higher than for the Silver Meteor. And the Meteor has a more "sane" departure time. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 112 | From: Merrimac, MA | Registered: Nov 2007
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MB -- nope, I'm afraid that NO ONE here can explain AMTRAK's pricing policy!!!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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One trip we took from KC to New York city in 2006, we ended up taking the Capitol from Chicago to Washington D.C., in a Bedroom, then Business Class on a regular train from D.C. to New York. We did the return trip the same and it ended up cheaper than on the Lakeshore with a bedroom from Chicago directly to New York. This trip was booked only 4 weeks before the date and we traveled in Janurary.
Posts: 14 | From: SE KS/SW MO | Registered: Mar 2008
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I just finished making reservations for the Coast Starlight departing Seattle for Los Angeles in December. The cheapest deluxe bedroom for the 16th was $606 and was in the 32 car. I asked if there was a bedroom in the 30 car which I prefer as it is a shorter walk to the food and wine tasting (you can guess my priorities). There were plenty of bedrooms available in that car, but I would have to pay more than $100 over the 32 car. I took the "cheap" bedroom concluding that perhaps I could do with the longer journey back to my bedroom after consuming all those meals.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
One reason sleeper is cheaper on the Lake Shore Ltd than on the Capitol Ltd is that the Lake Shore does not have a full diner (yet the current timetable still says "casual service offering 'complete meals'......" where the Capitol is advertised as having "full meal service.")
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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