Lesson: Amtrak

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Lesson: Amtrak

Total Time: Content: Question/answer:

60 45 15

Lesson Description: This lesson teaches the eight steps to booking an Amtrak PNR, including reading fares and availability displays, and claiming a PNR. Author: Pat Garstad SME: Diane Rinck Approved: Master PNRs: N/A Instructors’ notes: PNR is created as the Amtrak segment(s) sold.

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Welcome

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Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to

• Locate and use Amtrak GRS • Display city codes for Amtrak cities and nearest Amtrak

city • Use the 8 steps to booking and ticketing Amtrak • Change a booking • Claim a PNR

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Agenda

• Amtrak GRS • Seven steps to booking

o Determine the city code o Determine the fare o Check availability o Sell from availability o Pricing options o Complete the PNR o Produce Ticket

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• Claim a PNR

Instructors’ Notes

Amtrak’s reservation system is called ‘Arrow’ and is available through AccessPLUS. With Amtrak, you have the capability to encode and decode city information, display availability, fares, and fare rules. You can also display GRS pages, sell seats, price itineraries and produce Amtrak tickets. The IATA approved cod e for Amtrak is ‘2V’. Buses may also appear in Amtrak availability and are booked the same as the train. Although availability and fare display formats are very similar to airline displays, the interpretation of the information in these displays may differ. Amtrak uses city, class, and service codes that have different meanings from the airline definition. (FYI – Instructors –There is no segment credit given for any Amtrak bookings (original booking or claimed PNR.) The following capabilities for Amtrak are available through Worldspan:

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Worldspan Amtrak capabilities

Auto pricing Availability Copy PNR Create PNR Encode/Decode Fares and Pricing GRS Itinerary/Invoice Multiple name fields Modify PNR Offline City Information Ticketing Automated MCOS Prepaids

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PNR Q/86 search

At end transaction, all booking information is sent to Amtrak via a direct communications Link. Upon receipt of the Worldspan PNR, Amtrak creates a PNR in their system and returns an acknowledgement to Worldspan. Confirmation of requested space will follow a queue notification.

Let’s review some booking rules and restrictions.

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Booking rules and restrictions

• Amtrak PNRs may not contain active air segments,

however if the air segments are cancelled, Amtrak may be booked.

• For seat accommodations, the number in party must match the number of seats requested. For bedroom accommodations more than one person can be accommodated in the room. So, you could have 3Jones/A/B/C.

• A maximum of 8 accommodations may be requested in one entry.

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Booking rules and restrictions

• Waitlisting is not permitted on Amtrak. • Amtrak PNRs built in Worldspan cannot be divided.

They can be reduced. • Amtrak segments can’t be MK’d into the PNR

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We will use a script to complete the Amtrak booking and review each of the screens as we progress.

Before you begin ticketing on Amtrak, you should assure that 2 things are complete.

1. Verify that Amtrak states ‘YES’ in your agency Information Record

2. Call Amtrak to register your IATA and Subscriber ID.

These two are one-time functions and once they are complete, should not need to be done again.

Application Sharing (Res) 111

1. To view the Agency Information Record, enter 4G.

4G 4G DISTANCE LEARNING ATLANTA GA 30339 IATA....99 06477 PSEUDO.......PQ2 NMC CITY CODE..USE SATO..N/A AUTO VAL.....YES COMP SEG SELL..NO INTERFACE LVL..017 VR BP TRAILER...YES DUAL USER......NO BP PRINTER...NO COMMERCIAL.....NO EZ OPTIONS.....TEMLI PD TELEX........NO APRVD E-TKT....YES LADDER.........HZ AMTRAK TKTG..YES TRAINING.......NO

To register with Amtrak, call 1-800- TELL-TRAK (835-8725) Now let’s look at some Amtrak references before we begin the booking. Let’s look at some GRS information and see how easy the reference system is.

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2. To view the complete index for Amtrak, enter HELP AMTRAK.

HELP AMTRAK > ACCESSPLUS - AMTRAK INDEX HELP AMTRAK HELP 2V AUTOPRICE >HELP 2VPRICE( AUTOTRAIN >HELP 2VAUTO( AVAILABILITY/SELL ENTRIES >HELP 2VAVAIL( CBI LESSON ON AMTRAK >HELP 2VCBI( CITY DECODER/ENCODER >HELP 2VK( CITY OFFLINE DECODER/ENCODER >HELP 2VKO( CLAIM PNR - AMTRAK >HELP CLAIM 2V( CODES >HELP 2VCODES( DISPLAY PNR/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT >HELP 2V*PNR( EZ OPTIONS - AMTRAK >HELP 2VEZOPT( GRS >HELP 2VGRS( FARE QUOTE >HELP 2VFARE()>

3. Tab to availability/sell formats and briefly discuss.

HELP 2AVAIL

> AMTRAK AVAILABILITY/SELL ENTRIES HELP 2VAVAIL HELP 2VSELL AVAILABILITY ENTRIES-- BASIC @2V@A1SEPKCYLAX7A CONNECTION @2V@A1SEPBOSLAX9A/NYP CLASS CODE/8-DAY SEARCH @2V@A23SEPKCYLAX7A*YB CLASS CODE/PTY OF 2 @2V@A23SEPKCYLAX7A*2YA REQUEST SLEEPER CLASS OF SVC @2V@A10JULCHIWAS8A*SC REQUEST FIRST AND BUSINESS CLASSES @2V@A10JULNYPWAS8A*PC REQUEST COACH CLASS @2V@A10JULCHIWAS8A*CC RETURN AVAILABILITY/SAME DATE @2V@A/R RETURN/SPECIFIC DATE @2V@A/R18FEB)

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Note formats are included for connections, requesting a party of 2 with a specific class code, and requests for specific detailed classes such as sleeper, first, and coach classes. Let’s look at Encode/Decode or how to obtain the Amtrak city code.

4. Display HELP 2VK. > AMTRAK CITY DECODE/ENCODE HELP 2VK HELP 2VKO EXPLANATION ENTRY ONLINE CITIES - DECODE @2V@KD/ABE ENCODE @2V@KC/TX/HOUSTON OFFLINE CITY INFO - SAMPLE ENTRY @2V@KO/TN/MEMPHIS ABBREVIATED ENTRY @2V@KO/VA/A * STATE CODE **ADDITIONAL REFERENCES** AMTRAK INDEX >HELP AMTRAK( ENCODE/DECODE AMTRAK >INFO 2VK(



Let’s look at these formats more closely and check our own example. 5. To check the closest Amtrak station to Mill Valley California, enter, @2V@KC/CA/MILL VALLEY

@2V@KC/CA/MILL VALLEY

CITY IATA CITY NAME >

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The system doesn’t’ find an Amtrak station in Mill Valley, so let’s look for an offline station, or the closest station to that point. 6. To find the offline point, we will use KO instead of KC. @2V@KO/CA/MILL VALLEY

@2V@KO/CA/MILL VALLEY

CALIFORNIA CITY NAME CODE DIST DIR AMTRAK METHOD MILL VALLEY 10 E TO RIC CR BS >

The nearest station to Mill Valley is RIC, and is 10 miles east of RIC, with transportation of car and bus (CR BS).

7. To decode RIC, enter @2V@KD/RIC.

2V@KD/RIC

CITY IATA CITY NAME CITY IATA CITY NAME RIC RICHMOND CA >

The nearest point is Richmond California. Many of these pages will be displayed on the reservation screen as we use the script. We will note them as they apply. 8. To access the Amtrak script, click the Script box on the right toolbar, scroll to Z4Amtrak or type Z4Amtrak in the script name.

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9. Once the script is highlighted, click OK.


The Main Menu appears with choices for City Codes, Availability/Sell, Fares, Pricing, Claim PNR, and Station Information. Whichever option is chosen, the script will begin at that point and give further options when that portion is complete. Let’s begin our 8 steps to booking Amtrak.

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Step 1-Access Amtrak @2V@ response – AP*LOG-ON *** AMTRAK *** >


Since each step can be accessed separately in the script, the access (Direct Access format - @2V@) is included in each step in the script. When manually accessing in reservations, once logon is complete, subsequent entries are preceded with a @.

Sep 2 – Determine the City Code

1. Click City Codes.

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A dialog box appears to complete the Departure and Arrival information. A drop-down box appears by the state for each. Highlight the state, tab and type the city for each.

2. Complete the information using California as the State, Oxnard for the Departure City, and Los Angeles as the Arrival City. Then click OK.

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The system performs the Encode/Decode function for you (@2V@KC/CA/OXNARD) allowing you to proceed with the booking. The code column displays the Amtrak city codes. The codes for these two cities are OXN and LAX. Note: In this display there is also an Amtrak station near the museum (LMU).

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A dialog box with offline transportation codes appears to code the method of transportation used in the method column.

3. When the City codes have been determined, click ok

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Step 3–Determine the Fare


Amtrak fares are computed on a basic charge of coach rail fare per person and an additional accommodation charge. Certain accommodations are designed for a minimum occupancy and an additional rail fare may apply when the minimum requirement is not met. Family plans, fares/excursions, or special promotional fares are also available. Every passenger must be charged a rail fare, that entitles them to an economy seat. If a first class seat or sleeper accommodation is booked then the accommodation charge is added to the rail fare. A dialog box appears with options to continue. Our next option will be to determine the fare.

1. Click Fares.

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A dialog box appears to complete the Departure Code and Arrival Code, Departure Date, Return Date and Passenger Type Codes.

Let’s take a look at the Passenger Type Codes. We are looking for Passenger Type Codes for Adult and Child. 2. Click Display Passenger Type Codes. Pause the script (Ctrl + W). Move down (MD) to view the differences in the PTCs.

> AMTRAK PASSENGER TYPES HELP 2VPSGRTYPES HELP 2VPT CODE EXPLANATION ---- ----------- F ADULT SA ADULT WITH 10 PERCENT AAA DISCOUNT H CHILD SB CHILD WITH 10 PERCENT AAA DISCOUNT U UNACCOMPANIED CHILD /8-11 YEARS/ G AUTOMOBILE /AUTOTRAIN/ W HANDICAPPED ADULT V HANDICAPPED CHILD /2-11 YEARS/ M MILITARY MC MILITARY CHILD E SENIOR CITIZEN)>

Passenger Type Codes F and H will be used.

3. Resume the script (CTRL + R) and complete the information using passenger types for 1Adult and 1 Child (1F1H), and request roundtrip fares.

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4. Click OK.

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The system has calculated the fare using the information provided (@2V@4FOXNLAX10DEC/15DEC-1F1H*RT). Again, every passenger must be charged a rail fare that entitles him or her to an economy seat.

Let’s look at the fares display a little closer. Amtrak fares are based on the following formula: The Rail Charge (per person) + Accommodation Charge = Total Fare

5. Pause the script. (CTRL + W)

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Sample screen display (a) MO 10DEC/SA 15DEC 738A FARES VALID OXN-LAX (b) ROUND TRIP ACCOMMODATION CHARGE J- 18.00 ES 228.00 EA 204.00 EB 182.00 EC 160.00 ED 142.00 DS 442.00 DA 398.00 DB 354.00 DC 310.00 DD 274.00 HS 300.00 HA 270.00 HB 240.00 HC 210.00 HD 186.00 FS 436.00 FA 392.00 FB 348.00 FC 306.00 FD 270.00 (c) 1FULL 1CHILD FARE RAIL FARES CALCULATED (d (e) (f)(g)(h) (i) (j) (k) (l) AMOUNT FT CL MAX LSTTVL R AP 1NLB2 36.00 OW T 180 07JUN2 P 0 NO LOCAL THRUWAY TRVL # BOB2 BLKT 2BOB2 39.00 OW YB 180 07JUN2 P 0 NO TRVL 20-26NOV XMAS SEE 3NLB1 42.00 OW T 180 07JUN2 P 0 NO LOCAL THRUWAY TRVL AOB1 BLKT 4AOB1 45.00 OW YA 180 07JUN2 P 0 NO TRVL 20-26NOV XMAS SEE 5NLF1 51.00 OW T 365 09DEC2 Y 0 NO LOCAL THRUWAY TRAVEL 6YOFC 54.00 OW Y 365 09DEC2 Y 0 ONE-WAY REGULAR Y )>

Display Explanation

Label Description

a Date, time of first train, and requested city pairs

b Accommodation inventory (compartment) codes and charges

c Passenger Types – Default is 1Full

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Label Description

d Fare Basis 1st character indicates class to book 2nd character indicates fare type O-One way Z-Zonal R-Round Trip M-Multi Ride 3rd character indicates combinability The letter –C- indicates it can be combined with other fare basis codes containing C.

e Amount

f FT = Fare Type OW-One Way ZN-Zonal RT-Round Trip MR-Multi Ride

g Coach booking code

h Maximum ticket validity

i Last Travel Date

j Refundable Y-Yes N-No P –Prior to travel

K AP-Advance purchase number of days-

l Freeform comments about each fare

The fare displayed is the total for adult and child. If we needed accommodation charges we would include only one charge. Accommodation charges are per unit (or group), rail charges are per person. For example, one way for two people, with economy bedroom-BOB2 is the fare basis code, EB is the booking code. –Rail fare $19.50, plus accommodation charge for economy bedroom $91, Total of $110.50. Whichever class of service is requested, Amtrak will return the lowest fare in that class.

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Once the fare has been checked, we can proceed to availability. We will continue with our round trip coach booking. 6. Resume the script. (CTRL + R)

7. Click Fare Rules.

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8. Complete the Fare Basis BOB2, and then click OK.

9. Pause the script and move down in the display (@MD).

BOB2 ONE WAY CARRIER CODE: 2V NOT VALID ALL DAY 20NOV01-26NOV01 21DEC01-24DEC01 26DEC01 31DEC01-01JAN02 VALID ALL DAY SMTWTFS 1.RSVD COACH YES 2.UNRSVD COACH YES 3.TVL AGNT SALE YES 4.SLEEPERS YES 5.METROS NO 6.STOPOVER NO 7.WEEKDAY METRO NO 8.REFUNDS PRIOR TO TVL 11.TKT VALID 180 DAYS 14. INVALID CLASS CODES Y/XY/YE/YF/JY/YG/WY/LA/LY/JA/JE/JF/ XA/XE/XF/WA/WE/YA/WF/LF/IY/ZY/XG/LG/# > WG/LE/IA/IE/IF/ZA/ZE/ZF 20. ONE-WAY SPECIAL FARE VALID ON UNRESERVED TRAINS AND IN RESERVED COACH 21. WHEN YB SEATS ARE AVAILABLE -- NO OPEN SEGMENTS IN RESERVED SERVICE. 22. MAY BE SOLD ON BOARD. 31. VALID PSGR TYPES: F U H FT M E W V WN VN LA OF GV MC CD OH OE FE FA HF ET WT HT LB LF LH LE LW LC LV KK XI SW SC AL XA SU WG WA WM VM GR WC SX UC VR RU# >

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The fare rule display lists all the rules and conditions that apply to this fare basis code. Not all restrictions apply to a specific fare, so the numbering of the fare rule lines may not be continuous. In the above display, lines 15 through 19 are missing. For further explanation, after resuming the script, you can click Display Explanation and more detail is shown on the reference page accessed. There are three ways to manually display Amtrak rules for a fare:

1. BY fare basis code - @2V@4F**BOB2 2. By passenger type code - @2V@4F**E 3. As a continuation entry from a fare display -

@2V@4F**1

10. Resume the script. (CTRL + R).

11. Click Availability.

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Step 4 – Check Availability


The dialog box with options appears and Amtrak availability displays in screen one. Let’s take a closer look at this availability display.

1. Pause the Script (CTRL +W).

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(a) *** AMTRAK ***OXNARD CA/LOS ANGELES CA WELCOME ABOARD (b) 10DEC-MO OXN LAX ** ** (c) (d)(e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) 11 2V 776 U8 JU8 OXNLAX 1007A 10DEC 1210P BS C 12 2V 784 U8 JU8 OXNLAX 258P 10DEC 455P BS C 13B2V4590 G8 OXNLAX 435P 10DEC 655P BT C 14 2V 11 FS3 DS8 ES8 LY8 LE8 OXNLAX 708P 10DEC 905P DLB C LF8 Y8 YE8 YF8 15 2V 794 U8 JU8 OXNLAX 753P 10DEC 945P BS C

Display Explanation

Label Description

a Header line which identifies this as Amtrak availability showing the origin and destination cities.

b This line recaps the date, day of the week, and time requested. The departure time defaults to 1 hour earlier than the original request.

c Line number

d Carrier

e Train number

f Base Inventory Code and Number available

g Origin-Destination Cities

h Departure Time

i Arrival Time (# indicates number of days)

j Train Service Codes D-Full Service Dining T-Tray Meal Service S-Snack Car L-Lounge Service B-Checked Baggage Q-Entertainment A-Assignable Seats M-Meals

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Label Description

k C-Conventional Train • Long Haul • Slower than Metroliner • Sleepers available • No First class – only Business and coach

M-Metroliner • Short Haul • Express Train- High Speed • No Sleepers • Business or First class only – No coach


Availability is shown in base inventory code. Additional classes of service can be requested when manually requesting detailed availability. The 3 options available are:

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@2V@A10DECOXNLAX9A*CC (Shows all coach inventories – not just base code) @2V@A10DECOXNLAX9A*SC (Shows all sleeper inventories – not just base code) @2V@A10DECOXNLAX9A*PC (Shows all premium seat inventories – not just base code)


Amtrak searches back only one hour from the time requested for train services. If no service operates on the requested date,

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the time defaults to 1201 AM the next day and searches forward each day until the next train service is found.

Application Sharing

2. Resume the script. (CTRL + R).

3. Then click sell.

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Step 5-Sell from availability


The Sell dialog box appears with information for the initial segment and any connections. When any sleeper accommodations, first class seat, conference room or Autotrain is booked, they will always be on a ’NN’ basis. Amtrak will confirm these types of accommodations after end transaction. One segment is created for each sleeper accommodation sold.

1. Complete the transaction selling 2 YE seats from line X (appropriate line with booking code). Then click OK.

1 TR 2V 11YE10DEC MO OXN LAX SS2 708P 905P /O * >

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The first segment is sold and the system reminds you that room and car assignments (if applicable) are returned after end transaction. The system has entered the sell format (@2V@02YE14). If a connection is sold, the segments are separated with a slash (02YE11/YE12).

2. Click OK to return to the Main Menu and begin the return booking.

3. Select Availability.

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A return availability dialog box returns with the return departure and arrival codes completed. Departure date and time are required.

4. Complete the remaining information returning 15th of next month, at 8AM.

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The return availability displays in screen with the dialog box to continue. We’ll use train 1. Select SELL. 5. Select Sell.

6. Sell 2 YE seats from line X (the line with the appropriate booking code).

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The Main Menu appears allowing us to go to Pricing options.

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Step 6 – Pricing Options


ARROW prices all Amtrak PNRs. Three things must occur before ARROW autoprices a PNR.

• End transaction (ARROW receives the PNR and prices it.)

• Retrieve the PNR • Amtrak returns a positive acknowledgement to the

Worldspan PNRr (*DR). If the acknowledgement is not present, the PNR does not autoprice.

A ticketing record (4*) is not attached to the PNR. The price seen in Worldspan (4P) is directly from the ARROW system.

Let’s look at the pricing format.

1. Select Pricing.

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The Pricing dialog box appears with options to customize, Rate Desk Price, Promotional Discount, or by Passenger Type Code.

2. To price by Passenger Discount, select Passenger Type Discount Pricing.

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Amtrak defaults to an adult passenger type code. If pricing a record for PTC other than adult, a pricing entry must be included in the PNR. A pricing dialog box appears allowing you to recheck Passenger Type Codes or Passenger Type Rules.

3. Complete the Passenger Type information for 1 Adult and 1 Child by tabbing to each area. Then click OK.

1 TR 2V 11YE10DEC MO OXN LAX SS2 708P 905P /O * 2 TR 2V 14YE15DEC SA LAX OXN SS2 1000A 1142A /O * 5T#2V1F1H * >


The pricing entry includes 3 parts: T#2V1H1F | | | | | Passenger type codes by number and PTC code | | | Code for Amtrak | Function Identifier The system includes them as a remark entry. The Passenger Type Codes are completed

4. Exit the script.

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Step 7- Complete the PNR

1. Complete the PNR by completing the name field, phone field, ticketing date and Form of Payment.

Gaines/John/Carol

G*#C/1$PAT 7TAW/00/10DEC-C2V

(A CARRIER VALIDATION FOR AMTRAK MUST BE INCLUDED) 5$CK ER IR

1P- 76LSN5 1.2GAINES/JOHN/CAROL*2ADT 1 TR 2V 11YE10DEC MO OXN LAX UN2 708P 905P /O * 2 TR 2V 14YE15DEC SA LAX OXN UN2 1000A 1142A /O * 3 TR 2V 14YB15DEC SA LAX OXN KK2 1000A 1142A /O * 4 TR 2V 11YB10DEC MO OXN LAX KK2 708P 905P /O * P- 1.PQ2 770 555-1234-T/WORLDSPAN TRAVEL/PAT T- 1.TAW/00/10DEC-C2V G- 1.SSRTKTL1PKK2 HLD LMT DTE 29SEP M- 1.T$2V1F1H **** ITEMS SUPPRESSED ****/DR >


Amtrak has changed the class of service (UN) and returned discounted YB fare for the BOB2 fare. Amtrak will return the lowest available fare per compartment. If a detailed request for availability (@2V@A10DECOXNLAX9A*CC) had been requested, the YB would show in inventory and could have been requested directly.

2. End and work the change Amtrak has sent..

EWR

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1P- 76LSN5 1.2GAINES/JOHN/CAROL*2ADT 1 TR 2V 14YB15DEC SA LAX OXN HK2 1000A 1142A /O * 2 TR 2V 11YB10DEC MO OXN LAX HK2 708P 905P /O * P- 1.PQ2 770 555-1234-T/WORLDSPAN TRAVEL/PAT T- 1.TAW/00/10DEC-C2V G- 1.SSRTKTL1PKK2 HLD LMT DTE 29SEP M- 1.T$2V1F1H **** ITEMS SUPPRESSED ****/DR

4. Price the PNR.

4P GAINES/JOHN PARTY OF 2 AMTRAK PNR 070000 HOLD LIMIT IS 29SEP RAIL ACCOM TOTAL PLAN 1. 1 FULL/ 1 CHILD FARE OXN-LAX 10DEC 2 YB COACH 19.50 BOB2 TOTAL FOR SEGMENTS 19.50 19.50 2. 1 FULL/ 1 CHILD FARE LAX-OXN 15DEC 2 YB COACH 19.50 BOB2 TOTAL FOR SEGMENTS 19.50 19.50# TOTAL THIS PNR IN USD 39.00 39.00 >


ARROW has returned the discounted BOB2 fare and the PNR prices as expected. Now, let’s look at some additional parts of the PNR, the Acknowledgement and the HOLD LIMIT. .

5. Display the Acknowledgement.

*DR

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>*DR M- 2.ACKN-2V 070000 22SEP 1140

ACKN –2V 070000 22SEP 1140 | | | | | | | | | Time of acknowledgement | | | Date acknowledged | | 6 digit AMTRAK record locator ( this could be a | | combination of alpha-numeric) | Amtrak code Function identifier for acknowledgement

Now look at the HOLD LIMIT. 6. Display all parts of the PNR.

*A

1P- 76LSN5 1.2GAINES/JOHN/CAROL*2ADT 1 TR 2V 14YB15DEC SA LAX OXN HK2 1000A 1142A /O * 2 TR 2V 11YB10DEC MO OXN LAX HK2 708P 905P /O * P- 1.PQ2 770 555-1234-T/WORLDSPAN TRAVEL/PAT T- 1.TAW/00/10DEC-C2V FOP- 1.CA G- 1.SSRTKTL1PKK2 HLD LMT DTE 29SEP M- 1.T$2V1F1H **** ITEMS SUPPRESSED ****/DR >


ARROW generates 3 types of HOLD LIMIT messages

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Amtrak HOLD LIMIT options

• HOLD LIMIT CANCELLATION –ARROW cancels all

PNRs that are not ticketed by the hold limit date. The message is sent via an SSR message (SSR TKTL 1P KK2 PNR CXLD HLD LMT)

• HOLD LIMIT TICKETING DATE –The hold limit ticketing date indicates specific date by which a PNR MUST BE TICKETED. Worldspan transmits the date entered in the 7TAW field to Amtrak. ARROW determines the hold limit date using an internal table and ships an SSR message to the Worldspan PNR (SSRTKTL1PKK2 HLD LMT 10JAN).

• HOLD LIMIT WARNING MESSAGE – A warning message is generated for all PNRs that have not been ticketed 24 hours prior to the hold limit date. The warning is sent via an SSR message (SSR TKTL 1P KK2 HLD LMT CXL ON 0200 10JAN)

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Step 8 – To Produce the Ticket


Here are some ticketing guidelines for Amtrak.

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Guidelines for Amtrak

• Before an Amtrak ticket can be issued, an

acknowledgement field must be present in the PNR. • One ticket is issued for all names in a PNR. Only the

first surname appears on the ticket. • Name select and segment select are not allowed. • The commission option is not valid with Amtrak.

Amtrak automatically credits the correct commission amount.

• There is a system endorsement that prints on all Amtrak tickets.

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• A ticket cannot be issued on a partially traveled PNR. • Accepted credit cards are:

American Express Master Card Carte Blanche UATP Diners Club Visa Discover

• There are two ticketing options available when issuing an Amtrak ticket:

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o Add Form of Payment – EZ#$ o Add a manual approval code for a credit card

sale – EZ#$*Z

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• If the agency is not registered with Amtrak, the following error response is received

EZ AGENCY NOT ON FILE --CONTACT AMTRAK 1-800-TEL-TRAK

Claiming an Amtrak PNR


Bookings made directly with Amtrak can be claimed and ticketed with few exceptions. Let’s see how easy.

Application Sharing

1. Display Help 2V CPY.

HELP 2V CPY

> CLAIM PNR - AMTRAK HELP CLAIM 2V HELP 2V CPY STEP 1 - DISPLAY AMTRAK PNR RECORD LOCATOR @2V@*123152

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STEP 2 - CLAIM PNR @*CPY /OR/ - PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 MINUTES FOR AMTRAK TO PROCESS CLAIM - BEFORE ENTERING THE NEXT STEP. STEP 3 - RETRIEVE THE PNR IN WORLDSPAN *-RUSSO **ADDITIONAL REFERENCES** AMTRAK PNRS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CLAIM >INFO NO CLAIM 2V( AMTRAK INDEX >HELP AMTRAK( CLAIM PNR - AMTRAK >INFO CLAIM 2V


Let’s mention some guidelines on the Amtrak transfers:

• The response to the claim entry is “AMTRAK TRANSFER

IN PROGRESS”. Do not make the entry more than one time.

• The claim is complete when the acknowledgement is received from Amtrak in the remarks area of the PNR.

• The ticketing field should be updated with the specific ticketing option and date to be ticketed.

• The Worldspan PNR does not contain the Direct Access booking indicator (*2V*) at the end of the itinerary line. A dash (-) indicates this is a copied segment.

Now, let’s review what we have learned in this session.

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8 Steps to booking Amtrak

1. Access Amtrak

2. Determine the city code - @2V@KC/State code/city 3. Determine the fare - @2V@4FOXNLAX3DEC/5DEC 4. Check availability - @2V@A10DECOXNLAX9A 5. 4.Sell from availability - 01YE11

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8 Steps to booking Amtrak

6. Price - T#2V1F1H 7. Complete the PNR –

-Name G*#C/1$NAME 7TAW/00/10DEC-C2V 5$CK ER

8. Ticket – EZ, EZ#$CK

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Summary

• Amtrak is booked through Direct Access. • Amtrak has city codes for all stations, including offline

cities

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• Fares are shown in total per request, not per PTC • Detailed availability can be requested by including a

specific class such as CC (coach class), SC (sleeper class), and PC (premium class)

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Summary

• Accommodation (compartment) codes are sold per

accommodation, and seats per passenger • Amtrak segments are sold similar to airline availability

(01YE11) • Connections are sold with a slash. (02YE11/2YE12) • Pricing is entered as a remark (T#2V1F1H)

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Summary

• Amtrak will return a HOLD LIMIT remark to advise of time

limit • One ticket is issued for all names in the PNR • Amtrak PNRs cannot be divided • Bookings made directly with Amtrak can be claimed and

ticketed

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Questions

Amtrak

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Question/Answer

1. All Amtrak City Codes are the same as airline city codes.

True False

2. The fare displayed in a fare request is the fare per passenger.

True False The fare displayed is the complete fare for all PTCs requested.

3. Which of the following is not a true state for Amtrak:

a. Amtrak PNRs may be claimed. b. Amtrak PNRs may be reduced. c. Worldspan provides the price for Amtrak PNRs. d. Detailed availability can be requested for specific classes

of service. Answer: c

2. Amtrak PNRs can be divided.

True False Amtrak PNRs can be reduced but not divided.

3. Which of the following formats is correct to input a ticketing field for Amtrak using 1 Adult (1F) and 1 Child (1F).

a. T/1F1H b. T/2V1F1H c. T#2V1F1H d. T-2V1F1H

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Answer: c

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Related Topics

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Thank You

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Evaluation

Documents

Lesson: Amtrak