[Travelandtourism] Amtrak issue requesting help

[Jordan Gallacher]

I am still at the station, and my phone number is 985-640-3044.  I leave for Chicago at 4::05, and then leave for Kansas City on Friday.  Meet and assist is what apparently ended up on my ticket.  The Red Cap asked me where I needed to go, and after I asked him to take me to get my bags checked, the restroom, and to find something to eat, he left after helping me locate the restroom.  I'm about to go locate food one way or another..  I can forward the e-mail from when I changed my reservation to yesterday, the 20th, and I can forward my origional reservation as well.  II'll send an e-mail along with what occurs in Chicago tomorrow as well.
Thanks,
Jordan

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 21, 2013, at 12:36 PM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Good afternoon Mr. Jordan Gallacher:
> 
> I am reply not only to you but to also to the NFB Travel & Tourism Division, Mr. Marc Riccobono, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, and also, Ms. Valerie Yingling, down in our headquarters in Baltimore.
> 
> I am so sorry this has happened to you, and we need everyone to let us know what happens to them while traveling whether it be by train, plane, bus, cruise lines, etc.
> 
> For us to have a full picture, just please reply to everyone on this e-mail.
> 
> You have stated that you arranged for assistance with Amtrak, are you saying that your arranged this assistance when you booked your trip to Washington, DC - Union Station, arriving today, November 21st, 2013 from Sidell, LA on Amtrak Train 20, or upon arrival at the train station in Sidell, LA.
> 
> If you made these arrangements, do you have a confirming e-mail or a name of the person who made the reservations for you.
> 
> What kind of assistance were you asking for, as well. I am not trying to upset you, but we want to make sure get all the details.
> 
> You also, say that when you got off the train you had gotten some assistance from the Red Cap and he helped you find your luggage and then proceeded to assist you finding the bathroom and then left you there?  Did you ask him if he would be waiting for you when you left the bathroom, I know this is a stupid question, but some Red Caps only think tips, and might have thought, even though it is wrong, that you may be tipping him, because you are blind.
> 
> Normally when I travel on Amtrak, it is the Red Cap who meets and assists with these issues, where you told by an Amtrak Representative that someone else from Amtrak will be meeting you for assistance?also thank you for letting us know, because there will be over 500+ NFB members heading to Washington, DC on January 27th, 2014 for our Annual Washington Seminar, and I for one will be taking the Amtrak from NY City to Union Station. So we need to keep an eye on the issues.
> 
> Are you still at the Amtrak Station? Send me your phone number and I can try and call Amtrak myself, let me know where you are and when you are planning on getting home.
> 
> Is someone picking you up at the Amtrak Station or are your suppose to take a taxi to your ending destination.
> 
> Um the statement on the airlines, might pertain to yourself, and I am glad you haven't had any issues with them, but more and more blind people, if you have been following this list, as well as, NAGDU or other talk lists with the NFB. That the airlines are taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps or more backwards in that level.
> 
> Please give us an update.
> 
> I might have to ask you some personal questions by phone or e-mail off this list to find out more information on purchasing your ticket, so I can call Amtrak and find out more of what happened.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Cheryl Echevarria, President
> NFB Travel & Tourism
> National Federation of the Blind
> cherylandmax at hotmail.com
> 631-236-5138
> 
> 
> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
> 
> Cheryl Echevarria, Owner
> www.echevarriatravel.com
> 631-456-5394
> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>  
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>  
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> 
> 
> > Subject: Amtrak issue requesting help
> > From: jordanandseptember at gmail.com
> > Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 12:10:06 -0500
> > To: info at nfbtravel.org
> > 
> > Hello,
> > I am having an issue with Amtrak and requesting the Travel and Tourism Division's help to resolve it.  Here's what happened on part 1 of my trip.
> > I arrived at Washington Union Station today, November 21st, from Slidell, LA on Amtrak 20. I received pretty prompt service from a Red cap after getting off the train, although there was none there to meet me as there was supposed to be. I get my two bags checked and then proceed to the restroom. The Red Cap just leaves me at the restroom. I had to call Amtrak's Customer Relations twice to get assistance, and I still have not received the assistance I have asked for both times. I need to find lunch somehow. This is more than rediculous. I never have this type of issue with airlines where I cannot get assistance to where I want to go, and this is the second time I have had this sort of problem with Amtrak. This needs to be put a stop to.
> > Thanks,
> > Jordan Gallacher
> > 
> > Sent from my iPhone