First Class Lounge to open in LA Union Station?

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PaulM said:
Sactobob said:
In the other thread on this subject, there was reference to the Amtrak budget document that mentioned this project. It said that in addition to first class passengers, the lounge could be used by Pacific Surfliner business class passengers. There is no reason that East Coast rules regarding use of Metropolitan Lounges need to be applied to West Coast stations.
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This is pretty obvious, unless the LA lounge will be extremely small. With only 2 3/7 LD trains per day, why would it be bound by NEC and Chicago rules?7
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I'd like someone just try to schedule 3/7 of a train into a city somewhere on a given day...

"Today we'll have the baggage car and sleepers. Tomorrow will be the coaches, and the day after we have the diner and cafe coming in."
 
If Illinois can pressure Amtrak into allowing BC passengers to use the very busy and crowded Chicago Met Lounge, I see no reason why California which pays Amtrak a lot more money and runs many more Amtrak branded trains than Illinois does can't pressure Amtrak to allow BC to have access to the Met Lounge in LA. Especially since it sounds like LA's lounge may seat as many people as the CHI Met Lounge does.
 
AlanB said:
If Illinois can pressure Amtrak into allowing BC passengers to use the very busy and crowded Chicago Met Lounge, I see no reason why California which pays Amtrak a lot more money and runs many more Amtrak branded trains than Illinois does can't pressure Amtrak to allow BC to have access to the Met Lounge in LA. Especially since it sounds like LA's lounge may seat as many people as the CHI Met Lounge does.
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This. I'd also like to point out that IL does this with a station that hosts eight LD trains (LSL, Cap, Card, CONO, TE, SWC, CZ, and EB) and a bunch of transfers to/from other corridors and those trains. A similar-sized lounge in LAX only has three LD trains to serve.

Also, even though the lounge may be able to serve a given group doesn't guarantee 100% uptake on that service.

By the way, one nice side-effect of the lounge may be Cap-style pre-arranging of dinner seating on the SWC, allowing earlier dinner times on there.
 
AlanB said:
If Illinois can pressure Amtrak into allowing BC passengers to use the very busy and crowded Chicago Met Lounge, I see no reason why California which pays Amtrak a lot more money and runs many more Amtrak branded trains than Illinois does can't pressure Amtrak to allow BC to have access to the Met Lounge in LA. Especially since it sounds like LA's lounge may seat as many people as the CHI Met Lounge does.
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Was the pressure was successful? A couple of months ago hessjm announced

It's not very well known yet, but starting a little earlier this year, Business Class now has access to the Metropolitan Lounge. I was told Illinois pushed for it.
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I replied

I'll say it's not very well known, Amtrak included. I'd like to see more information before I say hallelujah.
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But it turned out to be a dump and run post.
 
Doesn't anybody find it odd that Amtrak hasn't peeped a word about the this Lounge? I would have thought the PR Dept. would have been pointing to this opening at least locally in a fairly wide distributed manor..
 
leemell said:
Doesn't anybody find it odd that Amtrak hasn't peeped a word about the this Lounge? I would have thought the PR Dept. would have been pointing to this opening at least locally in a fairly wide distributed manor..
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There will presumably be a lot of publicity about it when it is ready to open. At least a press release and a press conference at the station.
 
PaulM said:
AlanB said:
If Illinois can pressure Amtrak into allowing BC passengers to use the very busy and crowded Chicago Met Lounge, I see no reason why California which pays Amtrak a lot more money and runs many more Amtrak branded trains than Illinois does can't pressure Amtrak to allow BC to have access to the Met Lounge in LA. Especially since it sounds like LA's lounge may seat as many people as the CHI Met Lounge does.
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Was the pressure was successful? A couple of months ago hessjm announced

It's not very well known yet, but starting a little earlier this year, Business Class now has access to the Metropolitan Lounge. I was told Illinois pushed for it.
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I replied

I'll say it's not very well known, Amtrak included. I'd like to see more information before I say hallelujah.
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But it turned out to be a dump and run post.
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It was successful. While the general lounge description has not been changed, a visit to the time table confirms it.

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/586/330/Illinois-Missouri-Services-Schedule-071513.pdf
 
Anderson said:
By the way, one nice side-effect of the lounge may be Cap-style pre-arranging of dinner seating on the SWC, allowing earlier dinner times onthere.
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That would be nice. The SWC used to make those dinner reservations when you checked in at the counter. Once they eliminated check-in that went away. So it would be easy to add it back in a lounge.

Still hoping for BC Surfliner access. When we take BC to SAN, on a train originating in LAX, there are usually only about 5-10 people in BC. Most people don't think the perks are worth the price.
 
Sounds like it makes sense to use the lounge for Business Class passengers during the day. But is it big enough?

  • a single Coast Starlight can have more than 132 passengers in sleepers, leaving at 10:25 AM
  • there would be NB Surfliner passengers until 9:05 AM and SB Surfliner passengers until 9:25 AM
  • the Southwest Chief can have more than 88 passengers in sleepers, leaving 6:15 PM
  • there would be SB Surfliner passengers until 5:30 PM...
  • there may be some NB and SB Surfliner passengers waiting for the 7:10/7:30 departures...
  • the Sunset Limited can have more than 88 passengers in sleepers, leaving at 10 P
  • there would be SB Surfliner passengers waiting for the 10:10 departure
A 100 person capacity is likely to be filled by the Coast Starlight passengers alone. If the lounge had a 150 person capacity, I'd say definitely let the business class passengers in.
As for Chicago, they're supposed to be moving the lounge to a location which is at least twice as large. I don't know why that project has been delayed for so long.
 
Sactobob said:
I was in Union Station a couple of weeks ago, and made a point of checking this out. I actually saw and looked into the entrance of the lounge, where it appeared that most of the construction is complete and where painters were at work. It is located directly above the Amtrak ticket counter area, next to the track-level baggage and express handling area. The elevator and stairs are somewhat hidden around a corner from the ticket counters, but I guess that appropriate signage will help first class passengers find their way. I asked about the route to be taken from the lounge to trains, and was told that walking passengers would be escorted or given "golf cart" rides to their trains, crossing the Gold Line light rail tracks at grade at a crossing protected by lights and gates. They then would go past the south end of the stub tracks until they get to the correct platform. Thus they will not need to compete with the mobs of commuters in the tunnel.
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Very good news. Am taking the 421 Sept 10 and returning on the 422 Sept 20. Since everyone knows how early the 421 usually arrives at LA (before Hertz is open), and how late it leaves Union Station at night.....the lounge will be a very welcome place to be waiting.
 
Nathanael said:
Sounds like it makes sense to use the lounge for Business Class passengers during the day. But is it big enough?

  • a single Coast Starlight can have more than 132 passengers in sleepers, leaving at 10:25 AM
  • there would be NB Surfliner passengers until 9:05 AM and SB Surfliner passengers until 9:25 AM
  • the Southwest Chief can have more than 88 passengers in sleepers, leaving 6:15 PM
  • there would be SB Surfliner passengers until 5:30 PM...
  • there may be some NB and SB Surfliner passengers waiting for the 7:10/7:30 departures...
  • the Sunset Limited can have more than 88 passengers in sleepers, leaving at 10 P
  • there would be SB Surfliner passengers waiting for the 10:10 departure
A 100 person capacity is likely to be filled by the Coast Starlight passengers alone. If the lounge had a 150 person capacity, I'd say definitely let the business class passengers in.
As for Chicago, they're supposed to be moving the lounge to a location which is at least twice as large. I don't know why that project has been delayed for so long.
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Minor nit and it doesn't make much difference here, the CS departs at 10:10 AM.
 
TrainLoverJoy said:
Sactobob said:
I was in Union Station a couple of weeks ago, and made a point of checking this out. I actually saw and looked into the entrance of the lounge, where it appeared that most of the construction is complete and where painters were at work. It is located directly above the Amtrak ticket counter area, next to the track-level baggage and express handling area. The elevator and stairs are somewhat hidden around a corner from the ticket counters, but I guess that appropriate signage will help first class passengers find their way. I asked about the route to be taken from the lounge to trains, and was told that walking passengers would be escorted or given "golf cart" rides to their trains, crossing the Gold Line light rail tracks at grade at a crossing protected by lights and gates. They then would go past the south end of the stub tracks until they get to the correct platform. Thus they will not need to compete with the mobs of commuters in the tunnel.
Click to expand...
Very good news. Am taking the 421 Sept 10 and returning on the 422 Sept 20. Since everyone knows how early the 421 usually arrives at LA (before Hertz is open), and how late it leaves Union Station at night.....the lounge will be a very welcome place to be waiting.
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Do we know what hours this new lounge will be open?
 
Nathanael said:
A 100 person capacity is likely to be filled by the Coast Starlight passengers alone. If the lounge had a 150 person capacity, I'd say definitely let the business class passengers in.
As for Chicago, they're supposed to be moving the lounge to a location which is at least twice as large. I don't know why that project has been delayed for so long.
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I have never seen more than 40-50 people in the Traxx Bar waiting for the CS to depart. Not all passengers in the sleepers board at LAX. I think there will be plenty of room for the BC passengers as well if the lounge holds 100. Sure wish they would post some info about it.
 
Amtrak hasn't even publicly acknowledged that they have a lounge here yet, so I suppose that there are no hours made public yet either.
 
vickinish said:
I have never seen more than 40-50 people in the Traxx Bar waiting for the CS to depart. Not all passengers in the sleepers board at LAX.
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I have only ridden the CS three times, but I've never seen more than 20 people waiting in the Traxx Bar. Maybe most CS sleeper riders tend to wait in the courtyard in nice weather?
 
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Bruce-C said:
vickinish said:
I have never seen more than 40-50 people in the Traxx Bar waiting for the CS to depart. Not all passengers in the sleepers board at LAX.
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vickinish said:
I have only ridden the CS three times, but I've never seen more than 20 people waiting in the Traxx Bar. Maybe most CS sleeper riders tend to wait in the courtyard in nice weather?
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I know where I wait, and it is not at the Traxx lounge. There's this little place just down the street called Phillipies.... :p
 
Bruce-C said:
vickinish said:
I have never seen more than 40-50 people in the Traxx Bar waiting for the CS to depart. Not all passengers in the sleepers board at LAX.
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vickinish said:
I have only ridden the CS three times, but I've never seen more than 20 people waiting in the Traxx Bar. Maybe most CS sleeper riders tend to wait in the courtyard in nice weather?
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Some people may not even know about the Traxx bar waiting area, others arrive on a connecting train from San Diego and may just walk directly to the boarding platform for the Starlight rather than walking all the way into the station and back. And, finally, as was mentioned earlier, the sleepers do not fill up in LAX. The maximum loading point for the sleepers is of course for the overnight portion north of Sacramento. Lots of sleeper passengers board in the Bay Area and in Sacramento. As for business class passengers, many arrive at the last minute and go directly to the boarding platform and have no need for a lounge wait. So, I'm sure there will be plenty of room in the first class lounge.
 
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