First Class Station Lounges

[Amfleet]

So out of all the ClubAcela, Metropolitan, and other first class lounges you have used, which one do you prefer the most?

 

[EmpireBuilderFan]

Well, I had to vote for Portland's Metropolitan Lounge since it's the only one I've been in. It's a very nice lounge that overlooks the boarding platforms. It's really nice to be sitting in the lounge, sipping on a cup of coffee, and watch a UP freight rumble by. Well, it's nice to see the freight if it's not holding up your train.

 

[jccollins]

Ok - yell at me now. I voted for New Orleans. It was me. I admit it. While I have only seen the Chicago and New Orleans lounges, I can tell you that the staff in New Orleans was much more considerate of their first class passengers. An Amtrak agent came over to the lounge and walked us out to the train to reboard the Sunset Limited when it was ready ahead of all the coach passengers in the waiting room.

At least they didn't force us outside in the cold to freeze for 35 minutes before letting us board, making us watch the coach passengers get to remain in the nice warm waiting room and not letting us go back in.

My vote goes for the southern hospitality of the poor, underfunded (but comfy) New Orleans lounge. B)

What was your vote, Amfleet?

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

I vote for Washington sheerly because it is the one I am most at home in. I have taken numerous overnight trips ATl to WAS, spent the day, left my bags, etc in the lounge and it is there waiting for me to rest my tired feet that afternoon, before returning to ATL. I could find my way blindfolded in it. I do realize Boston is without doubt the best but I have never been in it, so........

Chicago is the worst, of course (just by virtue of overcrowding, regardless of anything else, which obviously varies from time to time from the posts we got on that subject) NY is good though I do not have as much experience in it as in WAS.

I've never encountered even a smidgett of attitude in WAS. And, funny thing, when I return in the afternoon they never question me....it as if they know I have already been there.....well, I have signed in. and shown my ticket, but that is in the morning when I arrive.....but it is always a different staff in the afternoon so how do they know---just by looking at me?????--that I am already signed in?? I mean, I tell them that, but why do they believe me?

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

I think something is wrong---I have voted, and my vote(for WAS) does not show. Maybe I did something wrong,. If you could put in a WAS vote, that would be correct.

 

[battalion51]

I voted for Washington since it's the only one I've ever been in. :lol:

 

[Amfleet]

Boston's my pick.

 

[National Limited]

I also have only been in one--Philly--and voted for it. I liked being up above everything and looking out the windows and having private elevator to the tracks. I'll be in NYP this summer so am looking forward to that one. Do all of the lounges have direct access to the tracks like Philly?

 

[Amfleet]

I also have only been in one--Philly--and voted for it. I liked being up above everything and looking out the windows and having private elevator to the tracks. I'll be in NYP this summer so am looking forward to that one. Do all of the lounges have direct access to the tracks like Philly?

Chicago has a boarding door at the back of the lounge that does access all the tracks, but depending on what track your train is on it can be a bit of a hike. Washington has semi direct access where you can bypass the main wating/boarding areas, but everyone goes to track level via the same sets of stairs. New York and Boston require you to walk out of the lounge and to the main boarding area of your train, however pre-boarding is given to bypass Coach or Business class passnegers.

 

[AlanB]

Washington has semi direct access where you can bypass the main wating/boarding areas, but everyone goes to track level via the same sets of stairs.

Well that depends on just what train you're boarding. Based upon your description, I can tell that you've never boarded anything except for long distance trains at DC.

The long distance trains all leave from the lower level platforms, which are a bit of a hike from the lounge and of course down an escalator or elevator.

If one is boarding a Regional, Metroliner, or Acela Express then there are no stairs/escalator/elevator. One simply walks out the door of the lounge, right out to the track platform, and onto the train. In fact they don't even escort you generally.

I usually sit near the correct set of doors (east or west), based upon the track location of the train, then I'll stand up when I hear the call to the lounge on the radio. Once the attendant starts to make the announcement, I'm out the door. 30 seconds later or so, I'm already in my seat and waiting to order my drink.

 

[Windigo]

I've used New York twice and Chicago twice. It was a tough one, but I picked New York. They kept the snacks flowing, the chairs were comfortable and plentiful, and they had a TV going. Chicago was nice though because they actually let you store your bags so you could walk around and explore the station or city without being bogged down at the shoulder.

Nice to hear New Orleans has one as I'll be going through there, Chicago, NY, and Orlando this summer so I'll get to experience at least 3. Orlando's lounge consists of sitting on your suitcase outside near the tracks

 

[jccollins]

Nice to hear New Orleans has one as I'll be going through there, Chicago, NY, and Orlando this summer so I'll get to experience at least 3. Orlando's lounge consists of sitting on your suitcase outside near the tracks

Don't be looking for the red carpet to be rolled out for you in New Orleans. They do have a "first class" lounge, but Amtrak does not check the tickets of those using it and it is quite small. There is seating for about ten to fifteen people, a coffee pot and water, and a 25 inch tv and that's about it. It is, however, a comfy little retreat from the masses in the station and wasn't overcrowded when I was there. Also, it was nice when Amtrak personnel arrived and allowed os to preboard when reboarding the Sunset.

 

[AlanB]

Chicago was nice though because they actually let you store your bags so you could walk around and explore the station or city without being bogged down at the shoulder.

NY has a place to leave your bags within the lounge, however the area is much smaller than Chicago's. DC also has a nice area to store bags in. Philly, Boston, and NOL don't have areas. NOL however will allow first class passengers to day check their bags at the ticket/baggage counter for free. Coach pax have to pay two bucks to day check.

 

[AlanB]

Nice to hear New Orleans has one as I'll be going through there, Chicago, NY, and Orlando this summer so I'll get to experience at least 3.  Orlando's lounge consists of sitting on your suitcase outside near the tracks

Don't be looking for the red carpet to be rolled out for you in New Orleans. They do have a "first class" lounge, but Amtrak does not check the tickets of those using it and it is quite small. There is seating for about ten to fifteen people, a coffee pot and water, and a 25 inch tv and that's about it. It is, however, a comfy little retreat from the masses in the station and wasn't overcrowded when I was there. Also, it was nice when Amtrak personnel arrived and allowed os to preboard when reboarding the Sunset.

Well I didn't get escorted to the track by Amtrak personel, however they still did let us board the City ahead of the rest of the passengers. My treat however for that lounge, was having the engineer for the first leg of our trip come into the lounge to talk to the passengers.

He gave a nice little talk about the engine and a few of the things he does up front, then proceeded to take questions and hand out candy to the pax.

That was really cool! B)

Don't expect all the engineers to do this, I got the impression that he's the only one who does this.

 

[Chatter163]

I believe the room in New Orleans, like the similar one in Miami, is not called a lounge or club of any sort, but simply a "separate waiting area," to distinguish their minimal amenities from those found in the lounges. :unsure:

 

[AlanB]

I believe the room in New Orleans, like the similar one in Miami, is not called a lounge or club of any sort, but simply a "separate waiting area," to distinguish their minimal amenities from those found in the lounges. :unsure:

Well it's official name is the Magnolia Room. Amtrak does not however consider it to be a Metropolitan lounge, it is only considered to be a seperate first class waiting area. There are also seperate areas, which to my knowledge are are not enclosed rooms like the Magnolia room, in Raliegh, Miami, and St. Paul.

 

[jccollins]

Well I didn't get escorted to the track by Amtrak personel, however they still did let us board the City ahead of the rest of the passengers.  My treat however for that lounge, was having the engineer for the first leg of our trip come into the lounge to talk to the passengers.

The staff escort might be a summer thing since the station's regular waiting room was mobbed with Sunset Ltd' Bound passengers that day (don't forget it was the middle of July). People were sitting all over on the floor and standing since there wasn't enough seating in the main waiting room. The Magnolia Room was a nice retreat, but I doubt we would have been able to push through the mob to get to the boarding gate if the staff wasn't there to help us. Also, this is when they checked we had first class tickets (before they escorted us to the boarding gate).

Hey, that little talk sounds pretty neat. I guess it's another example of real southern hospitality! :lol:

 

[battalion51]

Also generally when trains are delayed out of the block they will take care of passengers in the First Class waiting area. I know when the Silver Star was about 5 hours late leaving from Miami (due to a lack of equipment since 97 arrived 15 hours late at noon), they brought in pizza and drinks for the customers in the first class lounge, coach wasn't as fortunate.

 

[AlanB]

Also generally when trains are delayed out of the block they will take care of passengers in the First Class waiting area. I know when the Silver Star was about 5 hours late leaving from Miami (due to a lack of equipment since 97 arrived 15 hours late at noon), they brought in pizza and drinks for the customers in the first class lounge, coach wasn't as fortunate.

Well that's simply due to the fact that those FC pax would have gotten a free meal onboard. The coach pax wouldn't have received a free meal onboard, so they don't get one in the station either.

 

[battalion51]

But ocasionally they will distribute boxed meals for the incovienence, which they might've done on board for coach passengers.

 

[AlanB]

But ocasionally they will distribute boxed meals for the incovienence, which they might've done on board for coach passengers.

On board is a total different animal. There you are a captive audience, since you can't get off the train. So Amtrak should provide meals to all pax, boxed or otherwise, when a train is horribly delayed enroute.

However in the case of delay starting out from the home terminal, one can simply go into the station and buy food from the local vendors.

 

[Amfleet]

I remember in January of 2000, we were on the Auto Train departing Sanford 7 hours late. This meant passengers would miss dinner in the Dining Car. To compinsate, complementary sandwhich platters were set out in both the coach and sleeper Lounges. A nice touch and it certainly made everyone happy.

 

[amtrakmichigan]

Well I didn't get escorted to the track by Amtrak personel, however they still did let us board the City ahead of the rest of the passengers. My treat however for that lounge, was having the engineer for the first leg of our trip come into the lounge to talk to the passengers.
He gave a nice little talk about the engine and a few of the things he does up front, then proceeded to take questions and hand out candy to the pax.

That was really cool! B)

Don't expect all the engineers to do this, I got the impression that he's the only one who does this.

Alan,

This engineer is named C.J. I beleave his last name is Hudson. He did the same thing to us while we were there the day after Thanksgiving. My 8 year old thought he "was it". Very nice guy ! Just think how popular Amtrak would be to the general public if ALL employees treated passengers this same way. He is a true role model for all Amtrak employees in how to treat customers. This guy needs to be promoted to customer service management or better.

 

[AlanB]

Well I didn't get escorted to the track by Amtrak personel, however they still did let us board the City ahead of the rest of the passengers.  My treat however for that lounge, was having the engineer for the first leg of our trip come into the lounge to talk to the passengers.

He gave a nice little talk about the engine and a few of the things he does up front, then proceeded to take questions and hand out candy to the pax.

That was really cool!   B)

Don't expect all the engineers to do this, I got the impression that he's the only one who does this.

Alan,

This engineer is named C.J. I beleave his last name is Hudson. He did the same thing to us while we were there the day after Thanksgiving. My 8 year old thought he "was it". Very nice guy ! Just think how popular Amtrak would be to the general public if ALL employees treated passengers this same way. He is a true role model for all Amtrak employees in how to treat customers. This guy needs to be promoted to customer service management or better.

Jamie,

You are quite correct, he does indeed go by the name of CJ. You can read all my encounter with him here.

 

[Guest_GG-1]

Aloha

I am at work on a different computer, Just droped in to see how the poll was going.

I voted "other" as on all of my trips the either there wasn't a lounge or it was closed.

Maybe on the next trip i can try the Chicago one if finished and the NOL one if open when I get there. Emmeryville is closed between my arrival and departure.

Well back to work

Aloha

Eric