N
notAnn
Guest
I am very obese and have been buying two economy seats on airlines since the 1990's and have never had a problem. I've done Amtrak long-hauls in roomettes and (later) the handicapped rooms with very few problems. However, when I moved back to California, I wanted to start traveling between SJC and FUL on the Coast Starlight and Surfliners. USA-RAIL happily sold me two seats on the Coast Starlight in the same manner that the airlines do -- one for my name, and one for my last name and EXTRASEAT. (I don't need two seats on the Surfliner.) The trip south was fine. But when I checked in at Fullerton to come back, I was treated to the immense rudeness of the ticket clerk, who nearly refused to let me get on any train at all. She said it was regulation that one person cannot buy two seats. She went off and verified it and then told me she had filed an official complaint against whoever had sold me the second ticket. She eventually allowed me to board the Surfliner, acting as if she was doing me a huge favor. No one else had a problem with me having two seats.
Since then, I have tried to find out what the reg is and why it exists. One guy at USA-RAIL was able to find the policy and tell me that it says that if the obesity is caused by a medical condition, then a passenger can buy a second seat (at full fare, of course). But obesity by itself is not a reason to allow the second seat. I find this ludicrous. As long as Amtrak is getting paid for the seat, they shouldn't care who is in it, or even IF anyone is in it. According to their website, if I were bringing a cello or a set of golf clubs, I could get a second seat then. So why not just for me?
Can anyone point me toward the actual regulation? I'm a bit nervous about taking the CS now, especially since I have no idea when someone will arbitrarily decide to enforce the reg. Most people say I should be fine and just go ahead and buy the second seat anyway, but I'm a bit terrified of running into that demon (or one of her siblings) at Fullerton. Most Amtrak people are wonderful and she was a particularly spectacular exception.
Thanks for any help!
Since then, I have tried to find out what the reg is and why it exists. One guy at USA-RAIL was able to find the policy and tell me that it says that if the obesity is caused by a medical condition, then a passenger can buy a second seat (at full fare, of course). But obesity by itself is not a reason to allow the second seat. I find this ludicrous. As long as Amtrak is getting paid for the seat, they shouldn't care who is in it, or even IF anyone is in it. According to their website, if I were bringing a cello or a set of golf clubs, I could get a second seat then. So why not just for me?
Can anyone point me toward the actual regulation? I'm a bit nervous about taking the CS now, especially since I have no idea when someone will arbitrarily decide to enforce the reg. Most people say I should be fine and just go ahead and buy the second seat anyway, but I'm a bit terrified of running into that demon (or one of her siblings) at Fullerton. Most Amtrak people are wonderful and she was a particularly spectacular exception.
Thanks for any help!