Passenger Trains > Amtrak Thanksgiving bookings?

How are bookings for what's traditionally the busiest time of the year?

I was surprised to plug in a few samples and find seats available.
Chicago to Garden City KS. 40% sold out
Richmond VA to Jacksonville, 30% sold.
Carbondale IL to New Orleans, coach sold out, rooms available

Posted from Android

Well considering that they're telling everybody to stay home for Thanksgiving it's not surprising that demand is down.

What days are are you looking at?  Do the days the trains run even line up with when you want to travel for Thanksgiving.  3 day a week trains do not work that well for holiday travel?
If I wanted to be somewhere for Thursday I wouldn't be planning a trip to arrive on Wednesday anytime after noon anyway.  Sorry just not that reliable.

Added to that who wants to go to Garden City, KS.

Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/20 15:42 by robj.

USA Today had an article looking at the most congested times to travel. And offered alternate days.

With so many people working from home, the need to rush home is lessened. Spreading out travel.

Posted from Android

robj Wrote:
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> What days are are you looking at?  Do the days
> the trains run even line up with when you want to
> travel for Thanksgiving.  3 day a week trains do
> not work that well for holiday travel?
> If I wanted to be somewhere for Thursday I
> wouldn't be planning a trip to arrive on Wednesday
> anytime after noon anyway.  Sorry just not that
> reliable.
>
> Added to that who wants to go to Garden City, KS.
>
> Bob

The good people of Garden City, KS resent that remark, sir.  And don't whine about tri-weekly service while throwing out comments like that, that's the "who wants to go to fly-over country" mentality that got us here.

One year, I rode the Pennsylvanian "over the (Conemaugh) River and through (Penn's) Wood(s)" to have Thanksgiving with my mother in Central, PA.  Sadly, will never be able to enjoy Thanksgiving wiht her again, as she passed on a few years ago. 

A couple invited us to join them and other friends for a Thanksgiving dinner, but withdrew the invitation last night with the spike in coronavirus cases.  Thanksgiving will be just my partner and I this year.  A little disappointing but I feel lucky to celebrate Thanksgiving with her and am fortunate to be in good health.

I've taken the Chief home for every Thanksgiving (La Junta to Galesburg) for the last two decades.  Not this year.  Aside from the schedule reductions throwing a wrench in arrival/departure times (would arrive on Thanksgiving, would have to leave Saturday rather than Sunday), just don't want to be inside a metal can with a bunch of people given the spike in virus.  Hopefully by next November we'll be back to 7 day service and I'll be back to my usual routine.  But at least this year, I'll be on rubber tires instead.

You would be surprised to know, that Amtrak has quietly added a thrid sleeping car to the Southwest Chief consist during the Thanksgiving Day period.

If in fact seats and rooms are booked on any train, Amtrak ought to be adding cars (which are available) to every LD train.

mp51w Wrote:
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> You would be surprised to know, that Amtrak has
> quietly added a thrid sleeping car to the
> Southwest Chief consist during the Thanksgiving
> Day period.

That is consistent with my finding of availability in all price points.

How much longer will Amtrak limit capacity to 50% Every airline has, or soon will, go back to 100%.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/20 22:31 by DevalDragon.

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> How much longer will Amtrak limit capacity to 50%

Until they limit capacity to 25%?