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My boyfriend and I reserved a Deluxe Bedroom on #14. (NB Coast Starlight.) I had explained to the reservation agent that I spoke with to reserve the room that my boyfriend and I would be traveling together from Los Angeles to Olympia-Lacey, but on the return, we'd travel in a Deluxe Bedroom on #11 as far south as Sacramento at which time we'd part ways, he taking a bus to South Lake Tahoe and me doing the Bus-Train-Bus combination to get to Riverside.
We have the reservation held until the 11th. We can't pay for the reservation until February 1st. (due to the timing of pay periods, since we're splitting the cost of the trip in half.)
To make sure that we get what we want, we had two ideas in mind.
1. Call Amtrak early on 1/12/06 and set up another reservation for the same itiniary, which should buy us another week of time.Repeat the aforementioned several times until the 1st of February, when we can go to the closest train station (Fullerton.) and pay for everything.
2. Book the CS reservations separately from the reservation for my BF (from Davis to SLT to comply with the "no bus without a train" rule.) and for me.
We'll just hope and pray that we can keep the sleeper ( Room "E" in Sleeper Car #1430 on #14 CS and Room "E" in Sleeper Car #1130 on #11 CS) That we had planned to have.
We're taking #14 on April 8th from LAX to OLW We're taking #11 on April 12th from OLW to SAC
What do you think about our ideas? Which one sounds more plausible?
chrisg Member # 2488
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Go to an Amtrak station agent, explain your pay check situation and they should change the date to pay it on.
or pay for the rail fare and the room charge later which is allowed.
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Your best option is to deal with someone in person as Chris mentioned - going to the Fullerton train station - or whatever staffed/ticketing Amtrak station is closer to you. You can extend a reservation via phone, but not for very long. If you let the reservation slip, and then re-book, you could be paying a higher fee for the accommodation, as Amtrak's supply and demand pricing could play out.
Other option is to pay for the passenger in either direction that is travelling farthest (whether it's you northbound, and your boyfriend southbound) to hold accommodation space, and then tack on the other passenger on Feb 1st - this will only work if you can at least pay for that one passenger with Amtrak's deadline. Course, the accommodation price is more expensive, so not sure if that's doable. You can add a second person to your reservation on Feb 1st (you would just be charged for the rail fare portion - but would need to advise the reservation/ticket agent that you are travelling jointly. So tickets are linked to a First Class reservation for both passengers.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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jp1822, when you add a 2nd person to a 1st class res, is there any problem getting free meals for both? Can you also do it last minute or on board?
I have been close to this situation a few times when travelling alone and someone wants to go along.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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As long as the second person has a valid coach class ticket, I think you can ensconce them in your room, plus get them fed in the Diner with yourself on a Sleeping Car diner ticket. "E" is the best room in the car-- right in the middle, by the stairs and coffee station.
train lady Member # 3920
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Bob, when I read your post I had to smile. Isn't it funny how what one person thinks is great someone else doesn't? I think bedroom "e" is the second worst (A being first). Why? For the same reasons you like it. I find it noisy with people tending to congregating in the foyer,talking, getting cofffee and the stair traffic. I always ask for "C". No one stands and talks outside that door.
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