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Possibly others have found such to occur when making an on-line booking, but this was my first encounter with such. I can't think of a better term than "bait and switch" to describe my reaction when confronted with the situation.
For an upcoming Easter weekend trip to Detroit (the Detroit Symphony musicians and management have settled their labor issues and I want to go and support this world class orchestra that fearfully may still be lost), I booked a few days ago #350(23) and return on #353(24). While booking 350 Business Class went OK, for 353 was different. In this case, the screen first displayed a lower level "bucket' fare then offered Business Class at what I believe is a very modest premium. Clicking Business Class showed the "hurry hurry only one seat left" that Amtrak has borrowed from our friends aloft and then showed "estimated" by the previously quoted Coach fare plus the B/C seat charge. Now click "add to cart' (is this Amtrak or is it Amazon?) and guess what; a new higher "bucket" rail fare shows up in the "cart". For other trips, I have seen rail fares go down when adding Sleeper accommodations, but never up.
Since there is no local funding for the Wolverines, this practice appears to originate with Amtrak itself and could easily be applied to other routes. I haven't a problem as demand pricing is supposed to maximize the yield from each seat in inventory; and if Amtrak wishes to build the premium into the rail fare (as did the railroads lest we forget), fine by me as my Senior Citizen discount is applied to the rail fare and not the seat charge. My problem is strictly presentation; having one fare posted while inquiring then a higher one showing up in the "cart'.
True, a prospective passenger can 'click out' once the total higher fare is displayed in the 'cart', but when Amtrak has always in the past presented fares in the manner of "here's the fare in Coach; now if you want Business Class add this seat charge' and has now adopted this new pricing model, it was a bit astonishing.
For those such as myself who are going to travel 281 miles in nothing less than Business Class (if Day Roomettes were offered, that's where I'd be), that is one thing, for the decision to pay what you must has already been made. However to those for whom Business Class is a discretionary choice to be made on whether or not "the price is right', this new practice would appear to be quite unnerving.
But all told, the practice seems a bit deceptive, however I accepted the total fare, so who am I to complain? While I shall be happy to share the fare paid once the journey is complete as I think it unwise to quote fares for future travel at this site, for the moment be it assured it is quite competitive with the estimated cost of auto @ $4.50/USga (without throwing in valet parking at Westin Book Cadillac which we can surmise "don't come cheap") travel. Air travel? "let's not go there"!!!!
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Maybe somebody really did buy the last seat in that bucket just seconds before you added it to your cart? Though it really should tell you if that has happened.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Such could well be the case, Mr.Mayo, as both trains, 350(23) and 353(24) now report Business Class as sold.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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It sounds almost like making a last bid for something on eBay. You think you've got it, you press the button and whoosh! It's gone.
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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I clicked on the "estimated" at the booking page and this message popped up:
"Fares are estimated until you add your selection to the cart and select your passenger type/discount. The fare is the total charge for rail fare plus upgrades (to Business or First class seats, or sleeping accommodations). Depending on the availability and upgrade type the base fare may change (higher or lower). The cart will show the actual fare once you make your selections. Fares are not guaranteed until we provide you with a reservation confirmation."
On Cascades trains, adding a business class seat always seems to follow the rules of simple arithmetic (coach fare plus business seat fare equals total fare); but on the Starlight, requesting a roomette seems to lower the coach fare into the lowest bucket, even if the price for coach seats have lifted into a higher bucket.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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That makes no sense GBN. Maybe it really was the last seat. I think that is all that make sense but enjoy the trip. I like that day roomettes
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Vincent, that seems to be the rule on all Amtrakers with sleeping accommodations -- the train fare itself falls into the lowest bucket when you book a room.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: ...(if Day Roomettes were offered, that's where I'd be),...
quote:Originally posted by amtrak92: ....I like that day roomettes
Since the intent of this topic was to discussus a pricing issue, how say we take this "sidebar" from which interesting discussion could well develop, off to another topic:
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