Sneaking in to Parlor Car

[Lizzie24601]

Hello everyone,

I will be taking my first trip on the Coast Starlight next Monday, LA to SF. I have no desire to get a room or roomette, since it's a daytime trip and I'm not interested in isolating myself. But I would really like to experience hanging out in the PPC, since it sounds so nice!

So... how difficult is it for a coach passenger to go hang out on the PPC? Do they check tickets at the entrance? Or could I just lay low and be fine? Obviously I wouldn't attempt to eat any meals there or otherwise swipe amenities other than a book or two from the library, and as I'm traveling on a Monday I imagine it will be pretty empty...

Thanks!

-Liz-

 

[yarrow]

during the afternoon wine tasting in the ppc, coach passengers are generally invited to attend (cost $10). that gives you an hour or so in the ppc. otherwise it would be quite risky i would think

 

[pebbleworm]

No real need to sneak, just buy a ticket for the wine tasting and check it out. Also, roomettes are surprisingly cheap for that leg. Every time I've taken the Starlight from LA to SF it hasn't arrived until midnight, so a bed is nice to have. The library was about a dozen romance novels on my last trip.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hello everyone,
I will be taking my first trip on the Coast Starlight next Monday, LA to SF. I have no desire to get a room or roomette, since it's a daytime trip and I'm not interested in isolating myself. But I would really like to experience hanging out in the PPC, since it sounds so nice!

So... how difficult is it for a coach passenger to go hang out on the PPC? Do they check tickets at the entrance? Or could I just lay low and be fine? Obviously I wouldn't attempt to eat any meals there or otherwise swipe amenities other than a book or two from the library, and as I'm traveling on a Monday I imagine it will be pretty empty...

Thanks!

-Liz-

Both the above posts are pretty accurate. I'd suggest that if you don't want to spring for the roomette that you attend the wine and cheese tasting

as the previous poster suggested. Bring your own reading material, theres not much there for sure! The sightseer lounge will give you the same view and the diner on this car has pretty good food for Amtrak (the parlor car special menu is prepared in the diner/served from a steam table). I wouldnt risk getting put off by sneaking into any car on a train, you could ask the attendant if you can have a look when you board, most OBS on this train are pretty cool but they do try to rerserve the PPC for sleeper pax as they should! Have a good trip, give us a report!

 

[railiner]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

Personnaly, I would spring for a roomette, You don't have to hibernate in there, but during hectic times, it is a pleasure to have your own little "fortress of solitude".

If you add up the maximum cost of lunch and dinner in the diner...it pays almost half the additional cost. And if you were to find a companion to share the roomette with, the cost of the two lunches and dinners would just about pay for it. And if there is any significant delay enroute, you would really appreciate the room.

 

[Steve4031]

The attendants seem to know who is in fc and who is not. You will be asked to leave the first time you sneak in. At most you will last about 5 minutes. If you persist in sneaking in, you will risk being put off the train.

The wine tasting last about an hour. So for 10 dollars you get an hour in there. You will be seated at tables, not the comfortable swivel chairs. Keep in mind there is not much leg room at those tables.

 

[ThayerATM]

Hello everyone,
I will be taking my first trip on the Coast Starlight next Monday, LA to SF. I have no desire to get a room or roomette, since it's a daytime trip and I'm not interested in isolating myself. But I would really like to experience hanging out in the PPC, since it sounds so nice!

So... how difficult is it for a coach passenger to go hang out on the PPC? Do they check tickets at the entrance? Or could I just lay low and be fine? Obviously I wouldn't attempt to eat any meals there or otherwise swipe amenities other than a book or two from the library, and as I'm traveling on a Monday I imagine it will be pretty empty...

Thanks!

-Liz-

You'll probably have to be really careful about which end of the PPC car you enter from. If I remember correctly, all the sleeper cars are at one end of the train, and all the coach cars are at the other end. So if you're entering the PPC from the coach end, you're bound to be challenged, except for the wine tasting hour. Of course, if you're really agile, you could sneak out the side door of the coach, climb up and walk across the roof of the cars, then climb down and re-enter the train in a sleeper, then stroll into the PPC can unchallanged.

Just to make your life easier, why not spring for a roomette? You aren't obligated by law to stay in that roomette all the time. You would actually be allowed to hang out in the PPC, and even walk through the PPC, Diner, and into the coach section to mingle with your friends.

Sometimes the "fun" is worth not pinching the penny so hard. :lol:

 

[Neil_M]

The attendants seem to know who is in fc and who is not. You will be asked to leave the first time you sneak in. At most you will last about 5 minutes. If you persist in sneaking in, you will risk being put off the train.
The wine tasting last about an hour. So for 10 dollars you get an hour in there. You will be seated at tables, not the comfortable swivel chairs. Keep in mind there is not much leg room at those tables.

When I did the southbound CS in March there were so many takers for the tasting of the vin, they used the tables and the swivel seats.

 

[sunchaser]

It would be much better if you spring for the roomette-looks like prices aren't too bad right now. If you choose to wait until you board, you might be able to get a lower price IF there is any available. You would want to speak to the Conductor about it. The price of the roomette includes your meals, beverages, dessert. (Not alcohol) When you are in the PPC, they have the coffee going, do you can have coffee, (& I think some other beverages too) or get coffee or juice in the sleeper car. Each sleeper also has a shower in case you may want to use it. And as other have mentioned, you don't have to stay in the roomette all the time. We spent alot of our time in the PPC! In fact, we never went to the diner.

If you don't want to pay for a roomette-spring for the wine tasting. It's a fun diversion.

 

[Guest]

If you want to use First Class Amenities then pay for them. It is unfair to those who do pay for First Class to have Coach passengers use or get the First Class extras for free. In my opinion!

 

[rrdude]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

DANG........... I didn't know that AU-er's were so diligent. Actually ratting out a rider, who is just trying to see the parlor car.

"Sneaking In" probably would get you a polite, mild warning the first time. If you get "caught" again, then a stiffer rebuke.

I have to agree that springing for a roomette is the way to go. Hey, ya only live once. (well, most of us only live once, I think)

But if ya do manage to sneak in, and don't get caught. I certainly have no problem with that.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

Well its a pretty risky move since if the dining car crew doesn't question you at the other end of the diner there tends to be a sign "Sleeper Car Passengers Only Beyond This Point". I know having a sign doesn't usually stop people, but its still there.

I echo what others say, if you want to be in the PPC that bad get a sleeper, or go the wine tasting.

 

[ThayerATM]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

DANG........... I didn't know that AU-er's were so diligent. Actually ratting out a rider, who is just trying to see the parlor car.

"Sneaking In" probably would get you a polite, mild warning the first time. If you get "caught" again, then a stiffer rebuke.

I have to agree that springing for a roomette is the way to go. Hey, ya only live once. (well, most of us only live once, I think)

But if ya do manage to sneak in, and don't get caught. I certainly have no problem with that.

Excuse me, rrdude,

Liz said "hang out" in the PPC. I infer from the use of that phrase that it involes just a little more than a peek inside the car.

And if YOU went into the PPC and all the seats were taken, you wouldn't have a problem with someone from coach poaching a seat that YOU had paid to use?

 

[leemell]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

DANG........... I didn't know that AU-er's were so diligent. Actually ratting out a rider, who is just trying to see the parlor car.

"Sneaking In" probably would get you a polite, mild warning the first time. If you get "caught" again, then a stiffer rebuke.

I have to agree that springing for a roomette is the way to go. Hey, ya only live once. (well, most of us only live once, I think)

But if ya do manage to sneak in, and don't get caught. I certainly have no problem with that.

I agree that you should pay for the use, just like the sleeper passengers do. As for ratting out, there are a number of Amtrak employees on this (AU) forum and they would be ethically bound to seeing that paying passengers are the ones using the car.

 

[rrdude]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

DANG........... I didn't know that AU-er's were so diligent. Actually ratting out a rider, who is just trying to see the parlor car.

"Sneaking In" probably would get you a polite, mild warning the first time. If you get "caught" again, then a stiffer rebuke.

I have to agree that springing for a roomette is the way to go. Hey, ya only live once. (well, most of us only live once, I think)

But if ya do manage to sneak in, and don't get caught. I certainly have no problem with that.

Excuse me, rrdude,

Liz said "hang out" in the PPC. I infer from the use of that phrase that it involes just a little more than a peek inside the car.

And if YOU went into the PPC and all the seats were taken, you wouldn't have a problem with someone from coach poaching a seat that YOU had paid to use?

Yeah, I'd be pissed off, and might say something, IF I knew. That's the whole point. IF you are willing to risk it, then fine. IF you are willing to pay the penalty. Just like life. IF you skip putting money in the parking meter, fine, just DON'T complain when u get a tickie.

Put another way: "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time". Many people are very uncomfortable "Drawing outside the lines". Just cutting across the grass, directly in front of a sign that reads "Please don't walk on the grass" is enough to keep a lot of folks on the sidewalk. And will me too, most of the time. But if I have to sprint across the grass to catch a train, I will! :lol:

Live a little, risk a little. Enjoy life. Push rules to the edges. Just be prepared.

 

[ceblack]

Concur with the advice to get the roomette if you want to use the PPC. The cost of the two meals you'd get free is about $40 per person... so if you have two in the roomette the meals almost covering the cost of the upgrade ($95).

Wouldn't you rather ENJOY hanging out and relaxing in the PPC, rather than looking around wondering if at any moment someone is going to ask you to leave?

 

[rrdude]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

I agree that you should pay for the use, just like the sleeper passengers do. As for ratting out, there are a number of Amtrak employees on this (AU) forum and they would be ethically bound to seeing that paying passengers are the ones using the car.

If the passenger doesn't "take away" from a paying passenger, then "no harm, no foul" in my mind. Maybe my mind is a little warped from the 60's and 70's time period I grew up in.

You've got to realize that when you are the shady side of the "law" or the "rules" the person in that position is taking risks, and they need to be prepared to pay, whatever costs, if "caught".

I teach my kids to follow the rules and obey the law. But also teach them to challenge and question. "Do Not Enter" does not really mean "Do Not Enter". It means "if" you do enter, and do get caught, you better be ready to pay. But more than that, THINK about why the sign says "Do Not Enter" and the REASON they have that sign there, (safety, security, etc.,) before you just willy-nilly "enter"...........

 

[ThayerATM]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

DANG........... I didn't know that AU-er's were so diligent. Actually ratting out a rider, who is just trying to see the parlor car.

"Sneaking In" probably would get you a polite, mild warning the first time. If you get "caught" again, then a stiffer rebuke.

I have to agree that springing for a roomette is the way to go. Hey, ya only live once. (well, most of us only live once, I think)

But if ya do manage to sneak in, and don't get caught. I certainly have no problem with that.

I agree that you should pay for the use, just like the sleeper passengers do. As for ratting out, there are a number of Amtrak employees on this (AU) forum and they would be ethically bound to seeing that paying passengers are the ones using the car.

That's good to know.

I've become increasingly annoyed with freeloaders. Especially those louts that think it's OK to sleep on the floor of the lounge car in the middle of the night because they say they can't sleep in their coach seats. They seem incapable of dealing with the circumstances of their life without imposing on the space of others. <_<

 

[D T Nelson]

It's called "theft of services," and what you propose to do is about the same as sneaking into the movies without paying, or turnstile jumping on the subway. Do you do those things?

I'm not a lawyer but in the State of Washington I believe it would be considered theft in the third degree, a gross misdemeanor; a gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a five thousand dollar fine. Of course, since you will be riding in California, the California Penal Code would apply to your theft, and I'm not sure how the California Penal Code treats theft of services. If you want to find out, go ahead and try it.

 

[Bob Dylan]

It's called "theft of services," and what you propose to do is about the same as sneaking into the movies without paying, or turnstile jumping on the subway. Do you do those things?
I'm not a lawyer but in the State of Washington I believe it would be considered theft in the third degree, a gross misdemeanor; a gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a five thousand dollar fine. Of course, since you will be riding in California, the California Penal Code will apply to your theft, and I'm not sure how the California Penal Code treats theft of services. If you want to find out, go ahead and try it.

In California "theft of services' is considered a profession! :lol: In most states, including mine, it's only OK for politicians to do this! But seriously folks,

ethics seem to be an old fashioned item that no longer is taught nor expected especially in business!

 

[Steve4031]

Its one thing to walk throught diner, and walk into the parlour car and look around, and then return to your coach seat. It is another to go in there and sit with the hopes of not getting caught You will be noticed, and the crew will ask you to leave. It won't even be a matter of an employeee looking at AU and ratting somebody out. The employees just know who belongs, and who does not. Other passengers might notice, and they have a right to say something too.

Its not worth the hassle. Pay for the rooomette, or go coach and take a quick look or pay for the wine tasting.

 

[BeckysBarn]

Hello everyone,
I will be taking my first trip on the Coast Starlight next Monday, LA to SF. I have no desire to get a room or roomette, since it's a daytime trip and I'm not interested in isolating myself. But I would really like to experience hanging out in the PPC, since it sounds so nice!

So... how difficult is it for a coach passenger to go hang out on the PPC? Do they check tickets at the entrance? Or could I just lay low and be fine? Obviously I wouldn't attempt to eat any meals there or otherwise swipe amenities other than a book or two from the library, and as I'm traveling on a Monday I imagine it will be pretty empty...

Thanks!

-Liz-

When I rode the CS in November, the attendant seemed to have a sixth sense (or really good memory) as to who was in the sleepers. She successfully challenged several coach passengers.

 

[Lizzie24601]

Hi everyone,

Haha, should have known this would be a topic to incite much debate.

I'm a solo traveler, and moreover a poverty-stricken one, so actually going first class isn't really an option for a non-overnight trip. But thank you for the info about the wine tasting!

I'll let y'all know if I succeed in my trespassing - or if I get keel-hauled into the Pacific.

-Liz-

 

[Lizzie24601]

Oh also! Is there wifi on the train?

 

[sunchaser]

I would not have mentioned the train you are taking, as someone in the crew may be tipped off by your post.

I agree that you should pay for the use, just like the sleeper passengers do. As for ratting out, there are a number of Amtrak employees on this (AU) forum and they would be ethically bound to seeing that paying passengers are the ones using the car.

If the passenger doesn't "take away" from a paying passenger, then "no harm, no foul" in my mind. Maybe my mind is a little warped from the 60's and 70's time period I grew up in.

You've got to realize that when you are the shady side of the "law" or the "rules" the person in that position is taking risks, and they need to be prepared to pay, whatever costs, if "caught".

I teach my kids to follow the rules and obey the law. But also teach them to challenge and question. "Do Not Enter" does not really mean "Do Not Enter". It means "if" you do enter, and do get caught, you better be ready to pay. But more than that, THINK about why the sign says "Do Not Enter" and the REASON they have that sign there, (safety, security, etc.,) before you just willy-nilly "enter"...........

The PPC is for Sleeping Car Passengers ONLY-except during wine tastings. So, folllowing this point, Sleeping Car Passengers are paying for the use of the PPC. Just like they are paying for their meals with the bedroom/roomette price. I have noticed that usually the low bucket for the CS bedrooms seem to be higher than say, the CZ.

So, then do you think it's ok on a plane to sneak from coach to first class, because it's "no harm, no foul"?

So if I want to 'light up' on a train to see if I can get away with it, you'd be ok with that?

Or if I want to wander downstairs in the diner to check out the kitchen? How about the Transdorm or the Loco?

Just wondering...

I don't think the staff would appreciate me testing the limits like that.

Do not Enter does not really mean "Do Not Enter"?

It means 'you may get in trouble'? Think about why the sign is there? How about just don't go in there, you aren't supposed to be there!

I agree with you, I think being raised in 60s-70s may have slightly warped you. A lot of us were warped then & still are! This is not meant as a personal attack or insult, so please don't take it that way.