Just booked a round trip to New Orleans from Tucson. I immediately called a live person to be sure and get an upastairs, not next to the wheels & doors, roomette. Ok on the going - already had me fixed in one but to get the coming home room I had to pay 100 bux more to get out of the lower floor. Told them about my bad knee is why I wanted the upstairs one. Sounds like I am getting jacked on the deal all right, Steve in so az
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Nope, you're not getting jacked. It just depends on how their yield management system is creating the different fares. Lots of people would willingly pay more to have a roomette on the lower level. The ride down there is smoother and quieter. Using your knee as a reason, um, well......it doesn't make much sense. You have to go up and down the stairs to get to your room. You need to use the stairs to use the shower downstairs. If you have an upper roomette (such as room 9 or room 10), you're directly above the wheels which creates a rougher and noisier ride. If you want to be upstairs to get a better view, just say so...they might be able to help. But your knee?? Come on now.....
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
It is a "new one to me", and apparently to Mr. Smitty as well, if Roomettes 1-10 are sold at a different rate on the same train than are 11-14. However, it is quite understandable if your Eastward trip on #2 was priced differently than your #1 Westward return.
Again concurring with Mr. Smitty, this is simply the dynamics of Amtrak's demand pricing at work - the same dynamics used by any provider of transportation and lodging services, including Mom and Pop motels.
Lastly, I prefer Lower Level Roomettes 11-14, and I wish Amtrak could modify their web reservation system to allow a passenger using such to book Upper or Lower level Roomettes at their pleasure - as they allow Coach passengers to do with Seats.
Posted by DeeCT (Member # 3241) on :
Smitty -
As one with mobility problems I must protest your assumptions where Steve is concerned. One trip up the stairs and one down I can manage- but to do that trek 3 times a day to the diner would be difficult. It would perhaps be different if there were no bathroom facilities on the upper level. (Yes I know you can have meals brought to your room by the train attendent - but not being able to avail myself of the diner and upper lounge would be forced and un-needed isolation.)
Dee
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I've never heard of anyone specifically requesting the upper level for mobility issues. For those passengers with mobility issues, the lower place is the safer place to be. As you correctly pointed out, meals can be brought to your room by the attendant (and I see the attendants doing this on each and every trip I take). For a mobility issue, I would think it is not recommended to walk through several cars to reach the dining car or the Sightseer Lounge car. I have yet to see anyone slip and fall on the stairs (although I'm sure it has happened, probably many times), but I have certainly seen people slip and fall and get banged up against the wall or trip while walking on a moving train as they go through the doors or walk down the aisle playing bumper car with the walls, seats, and persons eating a meal in the diner.
It must be a super-specific issue related to mobility in order to specifically request an upper level room for "mobility issues". That's a new one on me! And I know mobility issues pretty darn well, as I am retired on a disability and can speak from experience. I respectfully stick with my original comment.....if someone wants an upper level room because the view is better or because they want a room upstairs, then ask for it (and/or pay the higher fare that is being charged), but don't make it an ADA issue. People take this stuff too far these days.
Posted by bmpbmp (Member # 4537) on :
Hey, my knees aren't that great either - they can handle the stairs once or twice a day, which allows for baggage access and detraining for a station-stop walk, but to go up and down 5-6 times a day (with observation car trips, dining car, etc.), those old knees start giving me fits, and the next day I'm basically worthless.
I'd pick another day to travel if they assigned me a lower floor room.
It's not the horizontal mobility that's the problem, it's the steps. Of course, if the true reason is simply the view as you suggest, then it would just be an excuse. But there are those of us out here who do have knee problems, etc., and steep steps are no fun.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
I would assume that Steve knows more about his mobility issues than anyone. I suggest we assume he knows what is best for him.
I don't know why they would price different levels differently.
Posted by DeeCT (Member # 3241) on :
bmpbmp
You worded it much better than I.
On flat ground (even if it is swaying) I can make my way albeit slowly. The stairs, however, are a horse of a different color.
I have never heard of a difference in pricing (when just making a room change)and would suggest that a call to Customer Relations is in order. Perhaps it was an error (and a refund is due). At the least they should be able to offer an explanation more definitive than our guesswork.
Dee
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
The difference in room prices was not an error. It's been this way for at least a year. When this happens, if you are an AGR Select Plus customer, let the agent know that you'd like to change rooms without a change in charge. They'll put you on hold for a moment, then come back and tell you that the fee is waived.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Re: the "bad knee" situation. Well, whatever floats your boat. Just keep in mind that if you lose your step when walking on a bumpy, rocking, moving train and you fall or hurt yourself, it is your fault---not Amtrak's. For a disability, you would be safer downstairs and have the meals brought to you. If you want to go to the lounge, Amtrak will allow you to get out of your car at a station stop, and walk outside and go to the lounge car. It is an ADA requirement.
I feel like I've walked into the Twilight Zone with this topic. For you folks out there who have done extensive travelling, you've seen the crazy and stupid things people do when they travel. This sounds like one of those stupid things, where an injury (and of course, a lawsuit) can easily be prevented in advance. BTW, as I said before, I understand disabilities more than I wish I did. This whole thing with the knees being bad only at certain times, thus requiring an UPSTAIRS room, is ludicrous. That's my 2 cents.....
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: This whole thing with the knees being bad only at certain times, thus requiring an UPSTAIRS room, is ludicrous. That's my 2 cents.....
If I had a really bad knee problem (mine is not serious, just old cross country injury) I sure would want to be downstairs. Odds are better for working toilets downstairs then the one upstairs. Happens all the time that the single upstairs one goes out. Meals can be brought to you, bathroom facilities can't Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I have had different prices quoted to me for sleeperettes even on the same level. What I think happens is that the sleeperettes are priced in "baskets," or tiers. So the lowest price is the first 2 that sell, then the next 2, and so on. (I don't know if it's "first 2"; I'm just using that number as an example.) And the computer assigns the sleeperette. So, if the computer assigns sleeperette #4 (let's just say) for $165 (let's just say), and you ask instead for roomette #6, the computer seems to have that in its system on the next tier of pricing, so you are quoted a higher price for that sleeperette. I think the agent can circumnavigate this higher price by doing something manually with permission from a supervisor, but I'm not sure.
(In fact, I'm not entirely sure this is what's happening, but it's what I think is happening.)
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
Even if all available rooms show a higher rate when you request a room change, any Amtrak reservations agent who is willing to work at it for a few minutes can easily manipulate the system and swap one room for another without a hike in price. Agents have done it for me on several occasions (although, at times, it seems to be more difficult when the only available rooms are in a different sleeping car).
My guess is that the agent-in-question didn't know how to do it (which is doubtful), or couldn't be bothered.
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Posted by bmpbmp (Member # 4537) on :
Smitty - Where'd the deal about lawsuits get into this? Good grief, dude, chill back a bit. We're not even talking disability. I can walk, I can climb stairs. I could also drive where I'm going. Or fly. But I sometimes choose to ride the train to enjoy it. What kind of chip do you have to try so hard to call someone out on something? Is it okay to enjoy something?
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
bmpbmp,
I didn't call anyone out, so relax.......
I'm giving my opinion on things. I have some life experiences that provide some insight into my comments. Some of those are limited to, but not including, working in the field of public safety my entire life. This includes being employed as an EMT for several years. My years of other public safety experience (including plenty of time in the courts), taking reports from people in "accidents" (not limited to traffic accidents---there are other types), dealing with the public when they are in unusual and stressful situations (ie, vacation), and my many years of traveling on Amtrak----these all combine together to form the opinions that I expressed. In this day and age, I honestly don't think it's any mystery as to why the idea of a lawsuit was mentioned. As a matter of fact, on a trip a few months ago, a man tripped and fell right in front of me while I was sitting in the dining car eating dinner. He went down, screamed in pain about his knee, and within 10 seconds of screaming in pain (the "screaming" was exaggerated in my professional opinion), he then says, "I'm going to sue!". You only need to work in public safety for a few years to understand how people act under stress.
I stand by my original comments 100%.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
I think its time to put this one to rest, and let Steve decide what best suits him.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I'm pretty sure he would have done that anyway.
Posted by 4021North (Member # 4081) on :
Notice the lack of discussion here about the knee problem itself. I personally know someone who has a knee replacement from a serious injury. Their chief requirement is enough space to move and rest the leg intermittently. They don't have much trouble getting up or down stairs.
I don't know if Steve has a similar problem or not, since he hasn't posted a reply. Never having ridden Amtrak sleepers myself, could the upstairs rooms be more spacious, or simply have different dimensions than the lower ones? In either case an upstairs room could be more suitable.
------------------------------- "Turn off the television, turn on life" Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
Upper and lower roomettes are identical.
Posted by steve in so az (Member # 3394) on :
I didn't reply as some replies were hostile and I dont need that. My knee hurts when I walk up stairs. Nuff said on the subject, sorry I ruffled feathers here, steve in so az
Posted by railrev (Member # 2640) on :
Ran into the opposite problem recently in trying to book a lower level room on #4, LAX to KCY. Price difference was almost $300. All the solutions offered here were also suggested, but the basic idea of assigning price values (or buckets) to specific room numbers seems not to be the way it is supposed to be, maybe just easier.
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