Catch a train online with Amtrak.com
Written: Mar 25 '05
| Ease of Ordering: |
 |
|
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| Selection: |
|
|
| On-Time Delivery: |
|
|
|
| Full Review |
A trip to Sea World in San Diego had been in the planning stages for a few months. Since living in Los Angeles I have developed a phobia related to freeway driving, so taking Amtrak was the relaxing way to travel with my two children who have autism.
Using Amtrak.com is quick and simple. The fare-finder can be utilized for one-way trips, round-trips and multi-city trips. The station list is a pop-up window that has the three-digit code for each city in alphabetical order. The Los Angeles Union Station is known as LAX. San Diego has two stations, which confused me at first because I was told by online acquaintances that Old Town (OLT) was closer to Mission Bay than the downtown Station (SAN). It turns out that the train from LAX only stops in OLT late at night. When searching the station code list you will find OLT under the San Diego heading and not under O.
The drop down menu buttons list all the times on the hour with the option of choosing a time that you would like to leave. There is a calendar that pops open into another window. The months are listed, but there is no option to choose another year if you like to plan vacations months in advance.
Each time I checked schedules for San Diego I had to confirm which station location I wanted before going onto the next step. Once I decided it would be the downtown station I used the three digit code (SAN) to proceed quicker through the process. The problem I had was that I checked each time to see when the train went through (OLT) and after every hour and date I came to the conclusion it was once a day only. An easier way to avoid all the checking would have been looking through the schedules to see the stations stopped at daily from (LAX) to (SAN).
There is a limit of eight passengers, with the breakdown for age of children from 2-15 and infants under the age of two. The option is to sort via schedule or fare. Each time I used the site with the final booking of our tickets I chose schedule to sort.
The fares are displayed for a one-way trip. I found them to be the exact price as Greyhound. Three unreserved coach seats weekday price at $52.00. There are six steps within the booking process at Amtrak.com.
1. Fare Finder
2. Select Train
3. View Fare
4. Passenger Info
5. Payment
6. Confirmation
When you are selecting the train the departing times, station code and dates are in one column with the arrival times, station codes and dates in another column. The first column has the train number and name, the duration of the train is another column, the amenities are then listed in clickable links. The next column showing the seats with a green icon below to click for viewing the seat options. This is where I changed from coach to reserved seats. The last column is the fare.
If you click on snack-car a pop-up window entitled Amtrak Help indicates soup, salad, sandwiches and beverages are available. This page can be printed out as well. Amenities does mention non-smoking and checked baggage. This pop-up window explains the enforced rule for all ticketed members to carry on only two pieces of luggage, not exceeding fifty pounds with your name and address visible. The checked baggage limit is three bags and might not be available at all stops within the trip. Lightweight suit bags are not to be checked.
Under seats/rooms it showed 3 unreserved coach seats. This made me a bit nervous so I paid the additional $36.00 each way for business class. By clicking on the green icon you will have the option of changing your fare and continuing the booking process or canceling and starting over.
The second step now has highlighted the specific train chosen with the business class at the new price of $88.00 one way. The duration for this LAX to SAN trip shows 2hr 40 on one train, 2 hr 45 min on another and then 2 hr 50 min on yet another train.
Once you have made your selection for the first half of your trip you scroll down the page to choose the return section, choosing the train and the seat. I have timed out when using Amtrak.com since I had to look over the calendar and get the stations correct as well as times. I chose an 11 am to leave LAX with the return time at Noon in SAN.
Amtrak Help defines Business class seating with features that include conference tables, standard AC electrical outlets for each pair of seats, fold-down tray tables, over-head reading lights, over-head luggage racks, complimentary newspaper, in-car railfone, complimentary non-alcoholic beverage on most short and medium trips.
At this same page is where you can enter a discount code, as well as choose discounts under Adult for AAA, Senior (62+), NARP, Student Advantage or Veterans Advantage. The discount options for children are (AAA child).
Step 3 shows the breakdown of the trip total. At this step you can still modify your selections. I checked to make sure I did the correct times, stations and both were business class. The price breakdown was Rail Fare for Adult $104. Accommodations Price - $72.00 next to passenger 2 - Child with the total $176.00. The price for a weekend trip was $64 versus weekday cost of $52.00. I did not check the price for business class upgrade for weekend service.
The passenger information step has two options. You can log in if you have an Amtrak user profile and obtain your forgotten password or proceed as a guest. Since this is the first time I have traveled in eight years I opted for the guest option and entered our first and last names. There is a drop down box for guest rewards number to enter at this step.
The delivery ticket option is the last choice at this step. There is only selection that is pre-checked. You can either get the ticket at the kiosk at the station or at the ticket counter. The fare is not guaranteed until you finish the process and get the confirmation.
The payment options are American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Card, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Your name is entered as it is displayed on the card being utilized. For American Express, MasterCard and Visa you need to add the security number. There are pop-up windows that show you where to find this number and what it all means.
The expiration date of the card, billing address and email address are then entered at this step before getting the confirmation number at the next screen.
The confirmation page should be printed and it is noted at the top that it is not a ticket. A ticket must be obtained before boarding a Amtrak train. This confirmation page has the price breakdown, names of passengers, billing information with type of card and last four digits used. This mentions that an email confirmation was sent to address indicated.
The confirmation email is two pages long with the two first lines showing the reservation number and in bold on right side THIS IS NOT A TICKET. The itinerary is listed below a paragraph that explains the carry-on baggage policy.
The second page has the billing information with additional information about arrival times. It is suggested to be at the station thirty minutes prior to the scheduled departure. If you need help with baggage and/or tickets more time should be allotted. If you are taking Auto Train will need to be at the station two hours prior to departure.
I was able to use my debit card with no problem. I checked my account after receiving my confirmation email and noticed it was posted to my account rather quickly.
This also lists the phone number - 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) and has a link for hotel deals.
I would warn those who might have loud kids that using the phone number might not be suitable. It is a voice recognition system and was very confused each time my son yelled out in the background. Using Amtrak.com worked best for my household.
I booked my tickets the day I got my income tax refund. Two weeks later I went to the Union Station to get the tickets from the counter. I stated my name and reservation number and showed my license. I checked the screens to see which track the train going to SAN used and walked through the tunnel up the stairs to the tracks to see the train. It was very noisy up there, but I did see a Pacific Surfliner and noted where the Business Class was. I wanted to prepare ahead of time so I was familiar with where we needed to go when my children and baggage were with me.
The actual day we went there was a backpack left in the tunnel, therefore the train station was evacuated and we took a cab around to the tracks. After getting up to the second level on the train we were told to get off because the security issue was not resolved. As we walked down stairs we were told it was over and back to our seats.
At Amtrak.com at the first page you can check the departure and arrivals of trains using the number. This might be worth checking because on the way back we had to wait several minutes for a freight train to unload before continuing. The LAX departure was almost one hour late due to the bomb scare.
They do check your tickets before heading into the Business Class section. The trip from LAX was not very crowded in the Business Class section on the second floor. We sat on the right side to view the ocean scenery going down. The seats with the tables are for families of three or more. I was able to have my bags at the seats next to us. Coming back from SAN was so crowded that I had to place them overhead.
Since the snack car was on the first floor of the business class I never did go down. The restrooms were clean and easy to use. There are no seatbelts on the train, the curtains were thick and green and easy for children to move. Coffee, juice boxes and the USA Today were at the front of the cabin. A steward went around asking if you wanted water or soda. A snack bag was handed out to everyone that consisted of sesame crackers, tortilla chips, lemon cream cookie, sauce and a trail mix.
My ten year-old ate it all and had a terrible toothache that first night. On the way back he did not eat the offerings. The Noon trip coming back offered one free glass of wine, which I consumed. There were three choices of wine or bottled water or a soft drink. I heard each person ask her to repeat the offerings since she spoke so fast. Our business class going back was filled with people standing the last hour of the trip. Many were continuing onto Santa Barbara so the stop was fifteen minutes for them. The snack car was serving cup of noodles and sandwiches. Most of the people around us needed help in opening the Dannon bottles of water and the sesame cracker package.
I would choose an earlier time to leave San Diego since this was such a full train. It was spring break, which might have had something to do with it. The traveler’s were a mix of elderly couples, families and single persons.
The air kicked in after awhile on both trips, it was quite comfortable and relaxing.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? train tickets
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
bonniesayers
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reviews written: 842
Trusted by: 1189 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.