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PJRACER

Service Attendant
Joined
Sep 20, 2010
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Location
Dunedin, FL
I realize that most on the forum do the sleeper route, but my wife and I are wondering how comfortable the seats are in coach. Do they tilt back like a recliner lounge at home..and any kind of leg rest. Also....if you notice a couple of seats not occupied, can one stretch out in those or is not allowed?? Any special tips for sleeping in a coach seat.
 
I've never done coach back east, but on Superliner equipment the seats recline quite a ways and are equipped with leg rests. I've never slept in one, but could certainly imagine doing so- and my wife slept for about half the trip on the Starlight from LAX-OKJ, in daylight, with no complaints.
 
The seats do recline quite a bit. There are leg rests which come from under the seat as well as foot rests on the seat in front of you.

As far as using "unused" seats nearby, you can certainly try that. However, don't be surprised if you are suddenly awakened and told to move because the seat is needed. And some train crews run tighter ships than others and may not permit that even if the seats are not needed.
 
Do they tilt back like a recliner lounge at home..and any kind of leg rest. Also....if you notice a couple of seats not occupied, can one stretch out in those or is not allowed?? Any special tips for sleeping in a coach seat.
On which train(s) are you asking about?
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On LD coaches, they do recline like a recliner and have a leg rest. They are comfortable enough. If there is an unoccupied seat, you can stretch out. But be aware that sometimes during the night, if they need that extra seat, you may be asked to use only 1 seat, so someone can use the other seat!
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On some short distance trains, like Regionals, Horizons and Talgos, the seats do not recline as much, and most times there is no food rest.
 
Read through Things to Take With You on this forum. Lots of tips on how to be comfortable, not only in sleepers, but in coach. The tip that helped me the most in coach was bring your own pillow case & ask for 2 pillows. Also bring a (deflated) beach ball to pump up the pillow, if necessary. I've done 2 days in coach & didn't have too much trouble getting comfortable - although a shower would have been nice for me & my coach mates!
 
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Hi- We've slept in coach many times, but have always planned stopovers, en route, for a day or two. For instance, we went from Boston to Santa Fe one year on Amtrak- stayed in Santa Fe for two nights, then went on to LA and Ventura, CA.

How long will your trip be?

For comfort, we change seats during the night. We also wear (longish) lightweight parkas and use them as blankets. We also make sure to walk around enough during the day to keep flexible. And we always get off at long station stops to walk around.

Have fun planning your trip.
 
I realize that most on the forum do the sleeper route, but my wife and I are wondering how comfortable the seats are in coach. Do they tilt back like a recliner lounge at home..and any kind of leg rest. Also....if you notice a couple of seats not occupied, can one stretch out in those or is not allowed?? Any special tips for sleeping in a coach seat.
Slept two nights on the Southwest Chief from LA to CHI and back 2 yrs ago. I had no problem. I can sleep most anyplace though. It was a lot like a lounge chair at home. Plenty comfy for me. I am in my early 50s.

Dano
 
Several years ago, I took a trip Cleveland-Chicago-Seattle-Emeryville-Chicago-Cleveland all in coach with only one night in a motel (Seattle). If I recall, it was six nights on the various trains. As I tell most people that haven't riden in coach, the seats are almost as large as a recliner in your living room. I find them very comfortable and when you get tired sitting, you can get up and walk around. My wife sometimes travels with me in coach and we usually do use an empty seat to stretch out more if available. That seems to be getting a little tougher as trains are filling up more each year.

When I used to travel for several nights in coach on a trip, I take a washcloth and small towel. In Superliners, there usually is, I think, a restroom that is larger than usual. It's almost like two rooms. You can take a decent, what I call, campers bath to refresh yourself. I lay the washcloth and towel over my bag in the overhead where it can take advantage of the ventilation system to dry out.

Have a good trip.
 
I do not mind taking coach, I was on the Empire Builder not long ago, bunks were all booked so I did coach. Seats are comfy and my seatmate went to the Observation Car for the whole trip. I slept well enough, not good, but ok. Legs can be propped up and I read a lot, no outlet for puter use, but that was ok, I did not need to do any work this trip. I took a pillow and used a beach towel for a blanket, easy. I took cloth n towel as you suggested and some snacks. You and your lady should have a good trip.
 
I find this to be the most "positive" group of responses to any post I have put on this forum. It is all so helpful!! I am finding "roomette" pricing to be getting way out of hand, and for the most part out of my price range. I would never consider paying $181 for a motel room, even with meals included for an overnight travel...so cannot justify paying the exorbitant prices they have moved roomette to. We are about 99% sure, after reading these posts, that we can handle the comfy coach seats on our planned trip from ORL to WAS, and then WAS to CHI. After a couple of days layover in Chicago with family, the Empire Builder to MSP will be a piece of cake. THANKS SO MUCH.
 
If you have the time, you may want to take a very short coach trip (ex: STP-SAV) to see for yourself! I'm not one of the positive votes for overnight coach travel, but that's just me!!!
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Have Fun
 
I've never bought a single sleeper in my life, but I can be out like a light on a coach seat. I've done it quite a lot.
 
While I can understand not wanting to spend the money for a sleeping car, I would really recommend it. Figure in, your meals are included. They are usually out of my price range but I have splurged a couple of times and they are worth it.

I don't find the coach seats comfortable during the night. I must have long legs, I cannot use the leg rest. I have to just use the foot rest because there isn't any room for my feet or legs with the leg rest extended. I also find the seats not good on my back.

With two of you, at least you can lounge on each other.

For my trip coming up, I will be in coach, wishing I had a sleeper to stretch out in. :)

But, I take a travel pillow and use the pillow they will give me also. Also an eye mask to block the light and earplugs. The coach cars are not very dark at night. A light blanket is needed, I find the cars to get fairly chilly at night. I think I have also had to use my jacket with the blanket to keep warm.

Instead of a washcloth, I take the moist wipes to freshen up with, you don't have to worry about anything drying. I also take sanitizing wipes to wipe down the sink area, when I am preparing for sleep or getting ready in the morning.

Have a great trip!
 
I would never consider paying $181 for a motel room, even with meals included for an overnight travel...so cannot justify paying the exorbitant prices they have moved roomette to. We are about 99% sure, after reading these posts, that we can handle the comfy coach seats on our planned trip from ORL to WAS, and then WAS to CHI.
You'll be fine. Even though many folks on AU will swear that a sleeper is required to travel any long distance route I can assure you most Amtrak passengers are riding coach and surviving just fine. Take some simple steps to prepare for sleeping in a seat around strangers and you'll be alright. I've taken coach many times in the past and still do whenever the sleeper rates are too high for what you get. You've posted a lot of questions on AU so I'm hoping you'll eventually come back with a detailed trip report so we can finally see how well your trip went and what you thought of it.
 
You might also want to take some more substantial snacks, fruit, etc. -- buying stuff at the snack bar can get expensive in a hurry.
 
I am fairly small and I am not comfortable sleeping in coach. I always get a sleeper for overnight or long distance travel. I use AGR points about half the time and pay about half the time. Not only are the seating/sleeping arrangements more comfortable, the sleepers are more quiet, the restrooms are cleaner, the food is included, etc.
 
While I can understand not wanting to spend the money for a sleeping car, I would really recommend it. Figure in, your meals are included. They are usually out of my price range but I have splurged a couple of times and they are worth it.

I don't find the coach seats comfortable during the night. I must have long legs, I cannot use the leg rest. I have to just use the foot rest because there isn't any room for my feet or legs with the leg rest extended. I also find the seats not good on my back.

With two of you, at least you can lounge on each other.

For my trip coming up, I will be in coach, wishing I had a sleeper to stretch out in. :)

But, I take a travel pillow and use the pillow they will give me also. Also an eye mask to block the light and earplugs. The coach cars are not very dark at night. A light blanket is needed, I find the cars to get fairly chilly at night. I think I have also had to use my jacket with the blanket to keep warm.

Instead of a washcloth, I take the moist wipes to freshen up with, you don't have to worry about anything drying. I also take sanitizing wipes to wipe down the sink area, when I am preparing for sleep or getting ready in the morning.

Have a great trip!
I'm 6' 2" and have the same problem using the legrest. To make it work I have to slouch down in the seat which then starts to work on my lower back. I roll up a towel to put between the small of my back and the chair and that does the trick.
 
I have a question. We have never been on a train trip. We are going Starlight From Los Angeles to Seattle.

We want to take food on the train. How much space is there to bring a ice chest? what about prices of coffee on the train?

Thank you
 
While I can understand not wanting to spend the money for a sleeping car, I would really recommend it. Figure in, your meals are included. They are usually out of my price range but I have splurged a couple of times and they are worth it.

I don't find the coach seats comfortable during the night. I must have long legs, I cannot use the leg rest. I have to just use the foot rest because there isn't any room for my feet or legs with the leg rest extended. I also find the seats not good on my back.

With two of you, at least you can lounge on each other.

For my trip coming up, I will be in coach, wishing I had a sleeper to stretch out in. :)

But, I take a travel pillow and use the pillow they will give me also. Also an eye mask to block the light and earplugs. The coach cars are not very dark at night. A light blanket is needed, I find the cars to get fairly chilly at night. I think I have also had to use my jacket with the blanket to keep warm.

Instead of a washcloth, I take the moist wipes to freshen up with, you don't have to worry about anything drying. I also take sanitizing wipes to wipe down the sink area, when I am preparing for sleep or getting ready in the morning.

Have a great trip!
I'm 6' 2" and have the same problem using the legrest. To make it work I have to slouch down in the seat which then starts to work on my lower back. I roll up a towel to put between the small of my back and the chair and that does the trick.
I'm also 6'2" and find that the reason I don't like trying to sleep in coach is because the seats are NOT like a recliner. Yes, the seatbacks recline back fairly far, but what would make it easy to sleep in them would be if you had the option to raise the seat bottom at an incline just like a recliner would at home. Otherwise, I am like you, having to sort of prop myself up with my feet on the foot rest to keep from sliding down the seat. And the legrests only seem to work half the time - most of the time they are broken and seem to drop down the second I put any weight on them. The worst is trying to sleep in an aisle seat next to someone you don't know. It's a balancing act, trying to keep yourself from falling into the aisle as you fall asleep, or trying not to fall into the person next to you.
 
:ph34r:

I have a question. We have never been on a train trip. We are going Starlight From Los Angeles to Seattle.

We want to take food on the train. How much space is there to bring a ice chest? what about prices of coffee on the train?

Thank you
:hi: Plenty of room at your feet for your cooler, you won't be able to get ice however for it, since the trip is two days/one night Id suggest not taking lots of food/drink that might spoil or be subject to getting warm. The downstairs luggage rack and overhead bin have plenty of storage space for your luggage, you can also check your bags, I suggest you Google up the amtrak.com site and check out the sample menus on the LD trains, the cafe and diner can be pricey for what you get, especially drinks and deserts!

That being said, did you check out the price for a Roomette on the Strarlight, this is a one of a kind train with the Pacific Parlor Car, :wub: the scenery is fantastic and the price for a Roomette is for two plus includes all meals in the diner or PPC, juice/water and coffee are provided in your Sleeper by the attendant! (he works for tips, according to service you tip what you think is right!)This is a really Special trip so if you can afford it seriously consider booking a Roomette! Have fun, Im envious and Ive ridden 4 times! ;)
 
:ph34r:

I have a question. We have never been on a train trip. We are going Starlight From Los Angeles to Seattle.

We want to take food on the train. How much space is there to bring a ice chest? what about prices of coffee on the train?

Thank you
:hi: Plenty of room at your feet for your cooler, you won't be able to get ice however for it, since the trip is two days/one night Id suggest not taking lots of food/drink that might spoil or be subject to getting warm. The downstairs luggage rack and overhead bin have plenty of storage space for your luggage, you can also check your bags, I suggest you Google up the amtrak.com site and check out the sample menus on the LD trains, the cafe and diner can be pricey for what you get, especially drinks and deserts!

That being said, did you check out the price for a Roomette on the Strarlight, this is a one of a kind train with the Pacific Parlor Car, :wub: the scenery is fantastic and the price for a Roomette is for two plus includes all meals in the diner or PPC, juice/water and coffee are provided in your Sleeper by the attendant! (he works for tips, according to service you tip what you think is right!)This is a really Special trip so if you can afford it seriously consider booking a Roomette! Have fun, Im envious and Ive ridden 4 times! ;)
We probably should have checked out the sleepette.......oh boy!

There are four of us going. Two seniors, two grands...one twelve and one 19. Didn't realize meals were included on the sleepette.

As I said this is the first trip ever and we are all excited.
 
We have already purchased our tickets for coach. Could they ever be upgraded to sleepertte?
Start by calling Amtrak, or visiting an agent in your local station if that's convenient, and discuss the costs before you do anything. If you find that the costs are more than you are willing to pay you can just stick with what you have. However, once you board the train, speak with the conductor onboard the train. If there are still rooms left, he/she will upgrade you for what's called the low bucket price. Sleepera have 5 buckets or price levels. As they sell out, the prices rise higher and higher. But once the train has left the station where you boarded, the price drops back to the lowest price level.

For Los Angeles to Seattle, the prices can range from a low of $218 for one room to a high of $478. You would need 2 rooms for your party.
 
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