It also differs when you are at a station with a gate and/or escalators. They may bring/send passengers early from the gate, but then encounter the lift or bridge plate issue at trainside.
Have one dedicated car for groups and one for single(1) passengers. Don't micro manage the conductor assigned seating conductor and attendants. Please let the passengers decides whom sits with them. On the Zephyr the micro manager seat czar sat me next to another 350 pound person I'm like forget this I charged cars and told them. Please think before you assign seats. Also on crescent another micro manager sat me with a woman and her 2 children the micro manager said so what I said use your head you never sit an adult man next to a female child. So he said if you don't like this I will put you in the bulkhead I'm like fine but the guy does it again. I went back to him and said come on you really need to go back to training. I went on platform at NYP and asked station person to get Amtrak manager he came in I explained what went on and he shook his head and said I'll take care of it. Well within a few minutes the conductor never sat any one in the seat next to me for the rest of the way to NOLThis is all a difficult situation because if you prioritize trying to give people an empty seat next to them seating groups together is harder, but if you prioritize sitting groups together, giving people an empty seat next to them is harder
On the same token - that big fat customer would no doubt appreciate being in a seat for two to spread out !i was on a sold out Silver Star in Coach earlier this month. When I boarded I was told to sit in one of 30 specified rows. Obviously these were seats for single travelers. At least I had a choice. I dislike being told where to sit. I have had my share of overweight and obnoxious seatmates…and agree if the train isn’t full please let us choose our own seats. Having both seats to yourself is the optimum when traveling Coach,especially overnight. Making the passenger as comfortable as possible should be a top priority.
On a number of occasions over the years I've heard conductors use the line of "if you paid for one seat, only occupy one seat" on a sold-out(-ish) train. I do honestly wonder if any of them have ever had someone respond by producing two tickets in hand...On the same token - that big fat customer would no doubt appreciate being in a seat for two to spread out !
Like most airlines paying a premium fare one should get to select the seat in the premium fare area - - -
Some seats rows are more desirable - i.e. exit rows and bulkhead - - -
Using the rule first come first serve is fine - but fine tune it !
When a train is sold out to occupancy - not much can be done - except to fit all the puzzle pieces as best as can.
The bus will almost certainly be open seating. On the train from Longview it's up to the specific crew/conductor, but they're generally receptive to requests to change if there is room.First trip heading out of Houston, bus to Longview, train to Chicago. I will be assigned a specific seat?
Curious as to how they decide who gets to spread out? And who doesn’t? So if I understand this correctly if a family of let’s say 4-5 who makes reservations late due to a death should then sit in single seats with whomever is already there? Nice!!!!Have one dedicated car for groups and one for single(1) passengers. Don't micro manage the conductor assigned seating conductor and attendants. Please let the passengers decides whom sits with them. On the Zephyr the micro manager seat czar sat me next to another 350 pound person I'm like forget this I charged cars and told them. Please think before you assign seats. Also on crescent another micro manager sat me with a woman and her 2 children the micro manager said so what I said use your head you never sit an adult man next to a female child. So he said if you don't like this I will put you in the bulkhead I'm like fine but the guy does it again. I went back to him and said come on you really need to go back to training. I went on platform at NYP and asked station person to get Amtrak manager he came in I explained what went on and he shook his head and said I'll take care of it. Well within a few minutes the conductor never sat any one in the seat next to me for the rest of the way to NOL
Also when it's 70 to 90 percent full let us spread out. No need to scold us.
That's what would likely happen on most airlines even though there are now guarantees to sit families together. Regardless of the reason for travel, I am not happy as a single traveler with the attitude that I need to forfeit a seat that I obtained through effort in planning merely because a larger group of people want to sit together.Curious as to how they decide who gets to spread out? And who doesn’t? So if I understand this correctly if a family of let’s say 4-5 who makes reservations late due to a death should then sit in single seats with whomever is already there? Nice!!!!
I dislike sitting next to children, but seating policies like that are discriminatory (against both men & women) Airlines have gotten alot of flack, not to mention lawsuits, for stuff like that.Have one dedicated car for groups and one for single(1) passengers. Don't micro manage the conductor assigned seating conductor and attendants. Please let the passengers decides whom sits with them. On the Zephyr the micro manager seat czar sat me next to another 350 pound person I'm like forget this I charged cars and told them. Please think before you assign seats. Also on crescent another micro manager sat me with a woman and her 2 children the micro manager said so what I said use your head you never sit an adult man next to a female child. So he said if you don't like this I will put you in the bulkhead I'm like fine but the guy does it again. I went back to him and said come on you really need to go back to training. I went on platform at NYP and asked station person to get Amtrak manager he came in I explained what went on and he shook his head and said I'll take care of it. Well within a few minutes the conductor never sat any one in the seat next to me for the rest of the way to NOL
Also when it's 70 to 90 percent full let us spread out. No need to scold us.
Amtrak's steadfast refusal to sell two seats to a single passenger at double the cost confuses me to no end. If the fear is that someone will be left behind then add protections that prevent this during busy holidays and X% booked in coach.I've heard conductors use the line of "if you paid for one seat, only occupy one seat" on a sold-out(-ish) train. I do honestly wonder if any of them have ever had someone respond by producing two tickets in hand...[It is just regrettable that there is no way to credit both of "your" seats to yourself in such a situation.]
I have never been asked to move for this reason. Contrarily, I have been moved for dozens of groups and "families" that never boarded anywhere along my route.Curious as to how they decide who gets to spread out? And who doesn’t? So if I understand this correctly if a family of let’s say 4-5 who makes reservations late due to a death should then sit in single seats with whomever is already there? Nice!!!!
It's absolutely discriminatory but in the era of accuvictions being marginalized is better than being ruined over nothing.I dislike sitting next to children, but seating policies like that are discriminatory (against both men & women) Airlines have gotten alot of flack, not to mention lawsuits, for stuff like that.
Story about children on a plane:…
It's absolutely discriminatory but in the era of accuvictions being marginalized is better than being ruined over nothing.
If it's on video then it's direct evidence, although with the proliferation of artificially generated content who knows if that will be true much longer. I fly more than most forum members seem to but I've yet to encounter any TMZ-level freakouts on any of my flights and with newer chairs no longer reclining (in the usual sense) the one factor that could set me off will soon be gone. As for dealing with crying babies...I wonder if this passenger deserved the accuviction? 😮
If your ALB-NYP train is originating in Albany then there should be no problem. We Americans don't like to walk, so moving as far away from the stairs is probably the best bet. Be sure to sit on the right side for the views along the Hudson.'ve booked tickets for July from Albany to NYC and NYC to Boston (on different days) in coach. On the Boston journey it's not a problem because it's a terminus (although it would have been nice to choose where we sit in advance) but joining the train at Albany I have no idea where is the best place to stand on the platform to give us the best chance to find seats where we want to be - and being British we would like to avoid chatty fellow passengers as much as possible!
Yes, I've heard that sitting on the RHS is recommended - but presumably everyone else knows that too! I assume a 'red cap' is a station assistant.Albany is an interesting place, since a number of NYC bound trains originate there. In addition, some (but not all) of the trains originating further out do an engine swap at Albany to drop the P42(s) and pick up a DM. On those trains, you might get a red cap to "pre board" you, this opens up your ability to pick seating quite a bit. The trains that just make a shorter stop, (just crew change I think) see above.
A "Red Cap" is a station luggage porter. It is a very old term in US railroading. Unfortunately, Albany is not one of the stations where their services are available, which is only offered at a few of the larger stations.Yes, I've heard that sitting on the RHS is recommended - but presumably everyone .else knows that too! I assume a 'red cap' is a station assistant.
No, but there is a huge turnover at Penn Station, so many seats become available.Are there carriages reserved at Penn for passengers travelling through to Boston on NE Regional?
That's wild to me. If New Haven can do it, Albany can, with its long-distance trains.Unfortunately, Albany is not one of the stations where their services are available, which is only offered at a few of the larger stations.
This is by far my biggest gripe about traveling on the NEC: impossible to secure seats for group travel, which is often the most stressful type. Would also rid of the issue of seat hogging: I'd just tell you to move your stuff. Regardless, it's still the easiest and least-stressful way to travel; just could be cheaper. Just hit 30k miles! 🥳You can't win. On the NEC, half the people board at Boston South Station and immediately spread out one per window seat, especially on the ocean side. Then the other half board at Back Bay and Route 128, and no one wants to move to allow two people to sit together.
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