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Has anyone found a way to buy a ticket online FROM an unmanned station for pickup at a manned station? When I try to buy a one-way from BUR to SBA for example, the website says that the only option for pickup is to have the ticket mailed or express mailed at extra cost. I imagine it would make a difference if there were a Quik-Trak machine which there isn't at BUR (or SBA).
BTW, I need to buy two oneways from BUR to SBA for travel in the next two weeks. I tried to do it at the station here yesterday and there was not a single available parking space. I circled several times and left. The attendant said that the spaces were all filled with long term parkers by Saturday morning. In a way, that's great news. People are riding the trains! I also tried the surrounding streets but they are all "Resident Sticker Only" on weekends and holidays. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow after the holiday.
Frank in HOT but clear SBA!
Kiernan Member # 3828
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When I bought a ticket from Burbank to Lompoc last summer, the on-line booking system gave me the option to pick up the ticket at "the station." I picked it up at Lamy. All was cool.
Last month, however, I noticed the system had changed when I bought a Burbank to Lompoc ticket. It seems to me that it would be easier for Amtrak if you walked into a staffed station and picked up the ticket, rather than having them mail it to you.
It seems weird, though. If you wanted to get a ticket for next-day travel, it would be impossible.
notelvis Member # 3071
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This has tossed more than a few wrenches into my travel plans......fortunately there are several staffed stations for me to choose from within a three hour drive of the house (Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville, SC, and Columbia, SC) and I try to arrange to depart from one of those stations when I am doing the 'pick-up at station' routine.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Kiernan is correct. II tried again just now and it doesn't offer me the choice of pickup at ANY station. The only option given is Mail and at this date Express Mail for $12.00.
I'll make a quick trip down to our station (Circa 1905) tomorrow. I also want to apply a credit to one of the tickets and there is no way to do that online that I have found.
Frank in dark but finally cooling SBA
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I'm not positive on this, but I think it will only offer you the "mail" option if there is enough time to mail it. I don't know what the exact time period is where they determine mailing will work. I think if you booked, for example, the same trip that you are trying to book for travel tomorrow, then it will obviously not give you the mail option and will allow pickup at the Quik Trak machine (if they have one at Burbank). I know that Amtrak used to allow you to pickup your tickets in advance regardless of how far away the travel date is, but this was changed last October (I think). There was a weird reason for it---something like fraudulent use of the discounts----or something like that. Anyone remember the specifics?
railrev Member # 2640
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I recently made a reservation through Julie for travel in October (about five weeks lead time) and the pickup options were at "the" station (Oceanisde in this case) or by mail with a $12.00 fee. Picking up at another station was not an option.
In the past I have been able to pick up tickets for reserved travel at a station not on the itinerary. I have, however, run into agents who did not want to ticket a reservation that did not involve travel from their station.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I run into the same problem when I try to book the SWC west from (unstaffed) La Plata. Once I just got a ticket the previous stop, Ft. Madison (staffed) as my origin because it was only a buck or two more, but I still got on in La Plata. I was in coach, however, so I didn't have to worry about my bedroom being sold when I didn't get on in FMD.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Unless things have REALLY changed, since all stations have the same computer ticketing system, you should be able to pick up a ticket for ANY trip at ANY staffed AMTRAK station. If the agent is going to be a sourpuss about it, though, and refuses to issue tickets for travel to/from a station that is not his or her own, I guess there's not much you can do, however......
DeeCT Member # 3241
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RRRICH said "If the agent is going to be a sourpuss about it, though, and refuses to issue tickets for travel to/from a station that is not his or her own, I guess there's not much you can do, however......"
Yes there is --- you pick up the pay phone in the station and call the 1-800 number and ask for Customer Service.
Judy McFarland Member # 4435
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I had a problem with buying separate tickets to/from Essex, MT. The website insisted on wanting to mail the tickets leaving from Essex since there is no station, but since I was making the reservations (including accommodations) 11 months in advance, I wanted the flexibility to be able to pick up the tickets here in Milwaukee closer to departure. I called Amtrak & they suggested making it a round-trip & then I could pick up the tickets anytime in Milwaukee. Which is what I did. The problem is that Amtrak will try to call my home if there is a problem with the return & of course I will be in Montana - very helpful. Perhaps I will try to call them the day before departure from Essex, although cell service in Essex with Sprint can be problematic.
So my daughter and I are counting the days until Dec. 22 when we leave to spend Christmas at the Izaak Walton Inn. I'll be sure to let you know how it all goes.
I haven't been posting much because I haven't been traveling much. I had bilateral knee replacement surgery in May, and I'm doing great now. My trips back to NY this summer have been flying (UGH - I now get the full terrorist treatment because of my metal knees), but I will have one short ride Albany-Rochester NY on October 5 to see the grandchildren.
sbalax Member # 2801
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I got my tickets today and the agents agreed that it is a flaw in the system. If you are trying to book from an unmanned station that doesn't have a machine the only option you are given is to have the ticket mailed. You can, of course, buy the ticket on the train at no penalty but I didn't want to take the chance of a sold out Business Class on a Friday.
A small fire north of here has shut down rail service in both directions north of SBA. They still didn't know what they were going to do about the Starlight.
Frank in Sunny SBA
zephyr Member # 1651
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Add this to the "different strokes for different folks file," but I prefer to receive my tickets by mail.
Being a resident of flyover country served only by unstaffed stations, that's the "normal" way of getting Amtrak tickets. I find mail delivery convenient, and have never had a problem with it.
This summer I began a 6-leg Amtrak trip from Portland. One of the very few times I've started a trip from a staffed station. And, you know, it annoyed me that the online booking system did not give regular (non-Express) mail as a ticket delivery option.
I went to PDX a couple of days before EDD (estimated day of departure) to get the tickets, and was greeted by large lines at the ticket counters (doesn't anyone buy Cascade tickets in advance?). Fortunately, I spotted a lonely Quik-Trak kiosk (come to think of it, doesn't anyone in Portland know how to use a Quik-Trak?).
So I guess it's what you're used to. For me, snail mail is the preferred means of delivery. At least until they get with it and let us print out our tickets on our laserjets....
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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Aha! You live somewhere near Portland, Oregon.
zephyr Member # 1651
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quote:Originally posted by HopefulRailUser: Aha! You live somewhere near Portland, Oregon.
Now, Sister Hopeful, I don't think the fine folks of Multnomah County appreciate your suggestion that I reside there. Fact be known, I live no where near thereabouts. But I do have occasion to visit from time to time.
royaltrain Member # 622
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Here in Toronto I've never had any difficulties with the Via agent issuing an Amtrak ticket using the Amtrak computer and printer. I have purchased many a ticket that does not include Toronto in my journey and they are issued without a problem. Maybe there is an exception for Canada.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by Judy McFarland: I had bilateral knee replacement surgery in May, and I'm doing great now. My trips back to NY this summer have been flying (UGH - I now get the full terrorist treatment because of my metal knees)
Yes, we get the experience because my wife had both knees done about 8 years ago. It was real fun entering the US with an overseas originating ticket. One year we got pulled out of line for special checking every time we got on a plane. That the ticket originated and terminated at a foreign location and had several stops in the US was finally the answer I got that seemed more honest than most. I sent you a PM on the knee subject.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Here's something odd I have discovered with receiving Amtrak tickets via mail -
Julie and/or the website will not mail Amtrak tickets to a Post Office Box.
(I receive my mail at a Post Office Box.)
The folks at Amtrak Guest Rewards WILL, however, mail tickets obtained by redeeming points to my Post Office Box.
Sooooo.......if I'm ever inclined to depart from an unstaffed station, I do so with tickets obtained using AGR points mailed to my Post Office Box.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I thought you could pick up any Amtrak ticket at any manned Amtrak station with proper ID. After all, I take trips with many legs and pick them all up at one station.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Sojourner--
I think that is true if you make the reservation with an agent on the phone but not so if you try to do it online and your point of origin is an unmanned station. Is it too much to hope that we will see e-tickets at some point?
Frank in dark but cooling SBA
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Back a few posts -- Dee, yes of course your suggestion is absolutely correct!! If you get a "sourpuss" agent, you can certainly talk to AMTRAK customer service.
Judy -- concerning your comment a few posts back about "cell phone service in Essex, MT with Sprint being "problematic" -- let me amend that by saying that cell phone service with Sprint in Essex is NONEXISTENT!!!!!!!!! You have to use the pay phone at Izaak Walton to call long-distance (like we did last year).
City of Miami Member # 2922
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Well, the problem comes up for me now because I want to book a trip from Sarasota to Baltimore next April. Sarasota is presumably just a bus stop (certainly unmanned and no Quicktrak) for the thruway bus to Tampa to get #92. Sleeper accomodation is expensive now and presumably will get much more so as time passes, so I want to buy the ticket now. If Amtrak mails me the paper ticket I think cancellation is less easy and may even involve a penalty unlike the wonderful ease of canceling a website reservation. Canellation might be an issue if the new credit cards come on line and I can rebook at a reasonable cost AND get AGR points. Can I accomplish my goal (i.e. an easily cancellable reservation) on the phone?
City of Miami Member # 2922
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Well, Amtrak let me do it. I got agent Angel on the phone and he took my reservation from Sarasota (unstaffed) to Baltimore for next April without mailing the ticket. He confirmed I would thus be able to cancel without diffiuclty should it become necessary or desirable to do so. I also applied for the new AGR credit card today so if the price doesn't go up in 30 days I will cancel and rebook for the points.
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