Here is how they worked it out:
withOUT the sleeper car, my trip was $360.
with the sleeper (HOS-LAX, LAX-HOS), it upped the ticket price to approx. $850.
However, when I got on the train at LAX, I waited till Palm Springs and asked for a sleeper for the trip to Houston (2-nights). The price was only $91 for the upgrade.
Is this typical? Is it worth it for me to wait to get on the train and then upgrade as a rule?
thanks.
Then again, upgrading on board is always hit or miss during any time of year. If you're planning a long trip, and you absolutely, positively have to go by sleeper, I wouldn't run the risk of waiting to upgrade on board.
You might discover that there are no rooms available -- or, at the very least, not get into your room until the wee hours of the morning, simply because the conductor is too busy (or lazy) to deal with your request.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 03-06-2004).]