Presguy

I've got a pretty simple question, but haven't had any luck getting someone on the phone at Amtrak to ask.

I made a single reservation, one way, Business Class, for my dad and I on the Coast Starlight, from Emeryville CA to Oxnard CA.

A couple places on Amtrak's site say Biz class seats are assigned, but nothing says how they're assigned, and I don't see any seat numbers.

I just want to make sure my dad and I are sitting together for the trip.

Any thoughts/advice?

Thanks.

One other side question.. my dad likes to complain about being "claustrophobic" (not a diagnosed medical issue). Am I right in assuming that two biz seats would give him more breathing room and space than a roomette?

FrensicPic

You are not assigned a seat by number (at least last year when I did BC on the Starlight). You are just guaranteed a seat.

As far as claustrophobia goes, seating is similar to regular coach, perhaps a little nicer. We sat on the lower level. I don't really know if its any better or worse than a roomette other than cost and meals included in your fare. In BC you do get a voucher which may be used in the cafe car or diner and, IIRC, the cost of wine tasting in the PPC. A roomette will give you a bit of privacy that business class won't.

John

Presguy

Cool, thanks very much.

We're travelling over Father's Day weekend, in the Summer, so I suspect it might be a bit busier than usual. Just the same, I haven't been on Amtrak in a while and have heard West Coast passenger loads are light.

Hopefully we'll just end up with adjacent seats. If not, I'll try to cajole ($$) someone into switching.

More than a decade ago, we took a trip in a roomette, and he found it confining. Privacy wasn't an issue, esp on such a short trip.

As far as dining, you can still opt to go to the "nice" dining car provided you pay out of pocket, right?

Thanks for all the help.

KBMIFlyer

It is pretty likely you will get two seats together. Like you said, you can probably ask somebody to move if it becomes an issue. Emeryville is a pretty busy station and it is likely some business class passengers will be de-boarding there so a few seats will likely be opening up.

I do think business class would be a little less claustrophobic than a roomette.

Yes, you will be able to eat in the nice dining car out of pocket (note that it is a big pocket, food is expensive). I do not know if business class passenger have the option to eat out of the Pacific Parlor Car (which I usually find better), I am guessing they do not.

RogerD408

The last "assigned seating" trip I was on, the conductor had a list of "open seats" and told us which ones to use as we boarded. However, once in car we found those seats occupied and told to go find other seats, which we did and were never challenged. I suspect BC will be similar. As for offering $s to swap, I wouldn't think that's necessary. Just explain traveling with your parent and I'd bet someone will switch with you (almost always works on planes).

Enjoy the trip.

FrensicPic

I believe the PPC is only open to BC for the wine tasting. General use and meals in the PPC is still only for sleeper passengers.

Presguy

FrensicPic, RogerD408, KBMIFlyer -

Thanks very much. I'm glad to hear that, one way or another, we likely won't have to worry about getting seats together.

Since the trip lasts about 0800 to 1900, I'm not too worried about breakfast and lunch - I can't recall what Amtrak calls the "snack" car, but I'm sure that would be fine for a light breakfast and early lunch.

I would like to enjoy a nice dinner in Dining Car towards the end of the day. Since our trip ends at 1900 (and my dad tends to be an early eater anyway), I'll talk to someone about hopefully getting an earlier dinner seating.

I wasn't aware of the PPC issue, but I doubt it would be a concern. A bar isn't a big deal one way or another to my dad or I, and I suspect a movie on a train would lead to him being "motion sick"

Again - thanks to all who helped - I'm sure this'll be a great little weekend.

jackal

It's in the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge car. It's nothing to write home about. Here's a sample menu:

https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/522/899...-Menu-0816.pdf

Anything hot will be microwaved.

dhammer53

jackal. I had the pretzel last month WAS/NRO. I was hungry. I was very hungry. This is packaged 'stuff' low quality food. Maybe the OP should bring food with him.

On my trip CHI/WAS in coach, the Conductor handed everyone a numbered chit as they boarded listing a seat number. Simple.

Presguy

To all those who replied, just a quick note of thanks.

I ended up booking Biz class based on the comments above. A few minutes after checking in at Emeryville, I got a phone call from Amtrak offering an upgrade to the roomette for $26.

On a whim, I went for it. We easily "ate" the cost difference with meals in the dining car. My dad did indeed find the roomette "clautrophopic", but spent much of the time in PPC, which he very much enjoyed.

Dianne47

That upgrade to a roomette certainly was a no-brainer for $26. For sure you ate more than $26 worth of food. How did your dad like the train? I think you said it was for Father's Day, you're a good son!

fairviewroad

Bear in mind that, as BC passengers, they each would have gotten a $6 voucher to use in the diner. So effectively they would have had to have eaten more than $38 worth of food to break even (if you just measure based on food consumption).

But of course there are other benefits that come with being in a roomette, and $38 to upgrade from Emeryville to Oxnard was probably a good deal anyhow.