Who travels with kids

[Casinocim]

I'm to lazy to search to see if there are answers to this, sorry.

In December I will be traveling with my son. Since this will be right before Christmas, I am assuming the train will be full.

We will take the bus to Raton and board the train there. Miss worry wort here started thinking, surely they will have two seats together for my son and I. What if they don't?

I usually take the train by myself. And this is truely one time I am not spending money on a roomette. I have to save it for the rest of the trip.

I'm sure two seats together are not guaranteed. But have you ever seen kids split from their parents? Who would want to sit with someone else's kid anyway?

 

[Everydaymatters]

I've never seen kids split from their parents on a train. The attendant will probably have people move to other seats so you can be together.

 

[Tim_Metra]

I've never seen kids split from their parents on a train. The attendant will probably have people move to other seats so you can be together.

I travel with my kids on the train and we have never not been able to sit together. Also the train has people getting on and off the train during the trip. If you are split apart you should be able to sit together again within 1 or 2 stops. Lastly both of you could just sit in the Lounge Car until 2 seats together become available.

 

[DesertRat]

You don't say how old your son is. If he's young, I would guess that Amtrak would keep you together if only to reduce liability of separating young children from their legal guardians especially these days. If he's a teen, it may be more likely, IF they felt they had to, that you may be separated. The Lounge Car would be your best option.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

And most people on the train would volunteer to change seats before having a youngster separated from Mom.

 

[DivMiler]

And most people on the train would volunteer to change seats before having a youngster separated from Mom.

(Ahem) or Dad.

 

[Trainmans daughter]

My husband and I will be traveling with our 7 year old granddaughter in the spring and will board the Coast Starlight in Chico at 4 in the morning. I called Amtrak to ask what the possibility would be that we might be seated separately and was told that children are NEVER seated separate from their adult.

 

[Casinocim]

My husband and I will be traveling with our 7 year old granddaughter in the spring and will board the Coast Starlight in Chico at 4 in the morning. I called Amtrak to ask what the possibility would be that we might be seated separately and was told that children are NEVER seated separate from their adult.

Thanks everyone.

My son is 10.

 

[RailFanLNK]

Other folks kids and get on my nerves in a NY minute. This is what they did for my girlfriends two teenaged daughters and their mother and I: They ended up seating us in the handicap seating in the lower level. I was less than pleased but grateful we were all sitting together. But as the trip wore on, I got to really liking the handicap seating. So much more quieter than the rest of coach.

 

[Tony]

I called Amtrak to ask what the possibility would be that we might be seated separately and was told that children are NEVER seated separate from their adult.

Well, I would like to declare that is NOT TRUE. Though, I bet Amtrak has a definition of "separated" that's different from you and others here. Do you envision only two seats side-by-side? Or do you include the seat just one row forward or behind too? Or two seats across the isle from each other?

However, as already mentioned, people come and go as the train progresses to different stops, and seats together do eventually open up.

 

[Trainmans daughter]

Hmmm....Now you've got me worried, Tony. When I called Amtrak, I specifically asked about "side-by'side" seating and was told that the child would definitely be in the seat next to either my husband or myself. She WILL NOT sit next to a stranger on a dark train.

 

[DesertRat]

I called Amtrak to ask what the possibility would be that we might be seated separately and was told that children are NEVER seated separate from their adult.

Well, I would like to declare that is NOT TRUE. Though, I bet Amtrak has a definition of "separated" that's different from you and others here. Do you envision only two seats side-by-side? Or do you include the seat just one row forward or behind too? Or two seats across the isle from each other?

However, as already mentioned, people come and go as the train progresses to different stops, and seats together do eventually open up.

Care to explain how you come to know this though?

 

[AlanB]

Hmmm....Now you've got me worried, Tony. When I called Amtrak, I specifically asked about "side-by'side" seating and was told that the child would definitely be in the seat next to either my husband or myself. She WILL NOT sit next to a stranger on a dark train.

If all three of you ar traveling together, then unless you choose to sit next to your husband, your daughter would not be sitting next to a stranger.

However, it's just you and your daughter, then there is a slight chance that could happen. Some crews are more proactive than others at having people move so that it doesn't happen, others not so much. Also the age of the child seems to help determine just how hard the crew tries. Under 7, most try very hard not to seperate. Under 10-11, a little less so. Over 10-11, many crews don't make people move. And of course that's also subjective based upon how old the child actually looks.

Where you board the train also has a lot to do with just how the seating arrangements are handled. Board at the trains origination point and you'll likely have no problems at all. Board at a station with a heavy turnover and you have a very good chance of being together, board at an intermediate station on a train that is basically sold out and you could find yourselves being seperated by a row or two.

 

[Tony]

Care to explain how you come to know this though?

I have been a long time Amtrak passenger, and I have a kid that I always travel with.

Is that good enough for you?

Typically, when we board a coach car, I find at least every window seat taken. That leaves just a few isle seats. So, I first try to get two isle seats directly across from each other. If that isn't possible, I try to get two isle seats in consecutive rows. Either way, my kid ends up sitting next to a stranger.

As I mentioned (and others too), eventually someone in a window seat will depart, and we can move to adjoining seats.

I don't remember the conductor ever being in the coach car we board, at the time we board. And when the conductor comes around to collect tickets, I have never one tell a passenger comfortably seated at a window to move, so my kid and I can sit next to each other. That's just my experience, like it or not.

 

[DET63]

If a train is crowded, kids may well end up being separated from parents, though I would guess the amount of separation would depend on age. It may be good to have a policy of not separating them (especially the younger ones), but if there are other families with children traveling (frequently the case), someone may have to give up the right to have a seat next to their child. Also, if the total party is an odd number, somebody may have to sit next to a stranger.

If boarding at a stop that the train reaches in the middle of the night, I can't imagine the train attendants being willing to wake up sleeping passengers and telling them to move themselves and their belongings just in order to allow a family to stay together.

I suppose all of this is another reason to travel in a sleeping car, though.

 

[Casinocim]

I'll keep my fingers crossed we will be able to sit together.

While my son is not a baby, I'm sure he would not be comfortable sitting next to a stranger, even if it would be in just in front or in back of me. And he looks older than 10.

Usually he flies with my parents and we meet at the final destination, since I don't fly.

For this trip I thought it would be fun for him to ride one way with me. If we are separated, bummer, and not as fun. Oh da** it, I say :angry: . I'm going to feel really sorry for my son if he has to sit by someone else.

There are roomettes still available which I was surprised, I just don't think I can dig up an extra $269. I know I will want that money for spending on our trip.

Maybe I should just cancel him and get a plane ticket. Hmm hmm hmm.

I think I will call Amtrak, just to see what they say.

 

[DesertRat]

Care to explain how you come to know this though?

I have been a long time Amtrak passenger, and I have a kid that I always travel with.

Is that good enough for you?

Typically, when we board a coach car, I find at least every window seat taken. That leaves just a few isle seats. So, I first try to get two isle seats directly across from each other. If that isn't possible, I try to get two isle seats in consecutive rows. Either way, my kid ends up sitting next to a stranger.

As I mentioned (and others too), eventually someone in a window seat will depart, and we can move to adjoining seats.

I don't remember the conductor ever being in the coach car we board, at the time we board. And when the conductor comes around to collect tickets, I have never one tell a passenger comfortably seated at a window to move, so my kid and I can sit next to each other. That's just my experience, like it or not.

Fair enough.

 

[AlanB]

I don't remember the conductor ever being in the coach car we board, at the time we board. And when the conductor comes around to collect tickets, I have never one tell a passenger comfortably seated at a window to move, so my kid and I can sit next to each other. That's just my experience, like it or not.

If you don't raise the issue, with either the conductor or the car attendant, then they usually won't go looking for trouble by trying to get people to move for you.

And if you're on a corridor or state sponsored train, it's also less likely that they will bother to do anything. On LD's is when the crews tend to be more receptive to asking people to move, assuming that the crew wasn't smart enough in the first place to assign seats and ensure that people actually sit in those assigned seats.

 

[AlanB]

I think I will call Amtrak, just to see what they say.

Unfortunately a phone agent is just going to read you the policy in the computer, which may or may not be enforced by the crew onboard the train. What you may want to do though while calling Amtrak, is to have the agent note in the reservation that you are traveling with a child and want to be kept together. If you get a good car attendant, then he/she will actually read the manifest and plan for your arrival ahead of time, which would help to ensure you get two seats together.

Personally, since IIRC you're boarding in Raton, I suspect that you'll be ok and assigned two seats together.

 

[Everydaymatters]

One of the nicest trips I've taken was the one to Albuquerque from Chicago with my then 10years old grandson. There were 3 or 4 other parents/grandparents traveling with kids in that same age group. We all watched out for eachothers' children.

If you do end up having to split up, try to sit around another parent/child pair. There's that something special that happens with parents. They automatically watch out for other children as well as their own.

Personally, I wouldn't cancel the opportunity of a train ride for him because there's a remote possibility something might happen. Have a talk with him and tell him if anything seems wrong, let the whole world know. 10 year olds have astounding lung capacity and most of them aren't afraid to use it.

 

[Casinocim]

I called Amtrak yesterday and asked what their guarantee is for children being seated with parents. There was a long pause on the other end. All the gal would tell me is, the conductor and attendants are really good about those things and not to worry. She did not say it was guaranteed.

I think I will keep the plans for my son to ride with me. I do remember one of my trips or a couple, in coach, they assigned seats. So hopefully they will be on the ball or my son and I may have to start crying, maybe sobbing would be better.

Thanks for all the posts.

Everyone have a great week!