RAILforum: upgrading to sleeper car

This is topic upgrading to sleeper car in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by Houstonia (Member # 3084) on :

When I planned my Houston to Vancouver trip, I asked about getting a sleeper for the Hou to LA and LA to Hou legs.

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.

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

Upgrading after you board the train is generally only possible if you're traveling during the "off" season (in other words, not from June through September, when Amtrak sleepers are typically sold out in advance).

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).]