In a situation as described by the OP and the dining car is indeed closed, I think Amtrak should at least offer a decent meal from the lounge / cafe to a sleeper pax free of charge. The sleeper pax should at least be offered a premium sandwich, a couple of sides/snacks and drink.
Excellent idea! Instead of creating ill-will with a tired or hungry pax dealing with circumstances not
under their control and then sparring with staff of a recently closed diner over a FC benefit paid for,
or due to the fact the train is running very late, it should be SOP to at least offer the option you point out -
not to mention an excellent PR gesture!
Along the lines of a meal from the lounge I've wondered for years about the feasibility of giving sleeper
folks an option for a voucher to get a lighter fare there instead of in the diner. Afterall they do it now - it is
the only option on the EB SPK-PDX segment for breakfast, and PDX-SPK for dinner.
There have been times I was hungry, but not hungry enough to deal with crowds and waiting lists. I
simply wanted something quick or light. On occasion my hunger level didn't coincide with the diner fare, or
have been just plain bummed out on facing their predictable menu.
The menu issue bared itself on a 5-day sleeper loophole trip taken. All I wanted was something very light
for lunch - like the grilled cheese sandwich off the kid's menu at the same time being something 'different.'
Few were in the diner on the NOL-ATL leg:
DINER: Not allowed.
ME: I'm not that hungry.
DINER: Sorry.
ME: I'm in sleeper. My meal is free, so what difference does it make?
(I could understand it from their revenue-generating potential if paying for the item).
DINER: We can't even order it for a meal (Thinking to self: Picked the wrong pax to snow -
like the times when not on the pax menu, diner crew tied into hash browns and eggs made to order).
ME: Asking about Amtrak's cost-effective logic since the item is free to me:
2 pieces of thin bread and cheese vs. the burger with thick buns, a meat patty, lettuce-tomato-onion
and condiments.
DINER: (Unable to explain).
ME: (Eyes glazing over - brain wave going flat over senseless rigidty, but in fairness to her she is just
a peon following rules) .
The answer is likely they don't want to offer it and fill up the diner with folks just wanting a measly little
sandwich or bowl of soup, especially when it comes to revenue potential.
So again, why not offer FC the lounge option for variety or lighter fare? How about the elderly who eat light?