Amtrak Guest Rewards - Will business class help get seats together in NEC?

We're traveling in the NEC around the holidays, which I understand is pretty busy travel time on Amtrak. We'll be boarding one of our segments in PVD, so I expect the inbound from BOS to be pretty full.

I understand that business class on non-Acela northeast service is seldom worth an extra payment, but I'm wondering if the configuration will make it easier for us to find seats together -- just two of us traveling.

We're traveling in the NEC around the holidays, which I understand is pretty busy travel time on Amtrak. We'll be boarding one of our segments in PVD, so I expect the inbound from BOS to be pretty full.

I understand that business class on non-Acela northeast service is seldom worth an extra payment, but I'm wondering if the configuration will make it easier for us to find seats together -- just two of us traveling.

My suggestion buy coach upgrade onboard if necessary.

From Amtrak website; "You can purchase upgrades from Coach Class to First Class and Business Class seats on board your train if unsold space is available. To purchase a seat upgrade, please speak to the Conductor."

My suggestion buy coach upgrade onboard if necessary.

From Amtrak website; "You can purchase upgrades from Coach Class to First Class and Business Class seats on board your train if unsold space is available. To purchase a seat upgrade, please speak to the Conductor."

I think the bolded part may be the issue. These NEC trains on 12/23 and 12/24 are all reserved and I think sell out or close to it, right?

Last year I didn't get around till booking my Sunday after Thanksgiving trip from NYC back to DC until pretty late, and since all the reasonably timed acelas were already over $200 I went for a NEC with a paid business class upgrade hoping I'd be able to not have to sit next to anyone.

I was, indeed, able to get a seat to myself and it looked like there were a few open rows in business class.

There aren't any guarantees, but based on my experience last year I'd say you have a decent shot of it working out. At the very least, you should be able to get two seats directly across from one another, which is probably better than you'll do in the main cars. If I was in your situation, I'd almost certainly do it.

That said, I've only got one data point so if anyone else has contradictory experiences you should ratchet down your chances accordingly.

My suggestion buy coach upgrade onboard if necessary.

From Amtrak website; "You can purchase upgrades from Coach Class to First Class and Business Class seats on board your train if unsold space is available. To purchase a seat upgrade, please speak to the Conductor."
I don't mean to be too snarky, but the idea of upgrading to BC on the NEC in PVD is laughable. It will be busy and the conductor won't want to deal with it. He will jsut tell you "I'm sorry, it's sold out."

If you are going to be traveling on a busy day, it is unlikely that you will be able to find seats together upon boarding in PVD. I always recommend trying to board in BOS if at all possible if you really want to travel together on a busy day.

The reason is that all single travelers will take an empty seat pair before joining a seat pair with only one person in it. However, you might be able to find two seats that are just separated by an aisle, for example, or one seat in front of another.

I don't mean to be too snarky, but the idea of upgrading to BC on the NEC in PVD is laughable. It will be busy and the conductor won't want to deal with it. He will jsut tell you "I'm sorry, it's sold out."How about checking on your phone/laptop in PVD for inventory, say, try to make a BC reservation for 8 people, and starting the conversation with "I see there's half-a-dozen or so seats in BC still available..."

How about checking on your phone/laptop in PVD for inventory, say, try to make a BC reservation for 8 people, and starting the conversation with "I see there's half-a-dozen or so seats in BC still available..."
Arguing with Amtrak conductors is about as fruitful as arguing with a wall. Either the conductor does it or he doesn't. To me, if you are stuck on a Regional, the UG to BC is well worth it. If you want some comfort, shell out for the Acela and Business Class (which is the base level on Acela) is just fine. A nicer crowd too and more than likely someone will move for you if they aren't going to have 2 seats to themselves.

What happens with families travelling with children? Just up to them to try to convince someone to move, or do conductors help?

I don't mean to be too snarky, but the idea of upgrading to BC on the NEC in PVD is laughable. It will be busy and the conductor won't want to deal with it. He will jsut tell you "I'm sorry, it's sold out."

If you are going to be traveling on a busy day, it is unlikely that you will be able to find seats together upon boarding in PVD. I always recommend trying to board in BOS if at all possible if you really want to travel together on a busy day.

The reason is that all single travelers will take an empty seat pair before joining a seat pair with only one person in it. However, you might be able to find two seats that are just separated by an aisle, for example, or one seat in front of another.

Indeed. I've sometimes seen onboard upgrades sold based entirely on whim/mood. On a recent trip, the conductor told someone business was sold out and then sold an upgrade to someone else who asked fifteen minutes later. Business was nowhere near full for the entire route.

I'm going to unconditionally recommend BC if traveling from PVD and seeking seats together. It's possible that you might get 2 coach seats together if the quiet car isn't popular that day, or if the crew keeps the trailing coaches closed until PVD, or if you're willing to hang out in the cafe/lounge.

But why stress over it? Your odds are significantly better in Biz.

As for families on the NEC...this is one of Amtrak's weak points. They rarely have the "these (facing) seats reserved for groups of 3 or more" anymore, most conductors are reluctant to ask folks to move, and most passengers won't move even if they see a family approaching. Only once the family disperses and people find themselves sitting next to a young child might folks voluntarily move. Worst case, ask the conductor if any pairs are opening up at the next stop; they're generally willing to point you to seats that will open up soon.

If you have a family and aren't boarding at a major station where lots of seats turn over, consider trains with attendant-assigned seating like the Carolinian and Palmetto. At a major station, a Red Cap can get you ahead of the crowds.

Ok, thanks. I'll go with biz. It's me and my son. PVD is the only option and there's no acela. If nobody will move, we'll just sit apart for a bit. I'm guessing that someone will move if seated next to a child, but we'll see. As long as I can see him, it's not a big deal.

Ok, thanks. I'll go with biz. It's me and my son. PVD is the only option and there's no acela. If nobody will move, we'll just sit apart for a bit. I'm guessing that someone will move if seated next to a child, but we'll see. As long as I can see him, it's not a big deal.

tell him to fidget a lot to speed up the process

What happens with families travelling with children? Just up to them to try to convince someone to move, or do conductors help?

As others have mentioned, this is definitely a hole with NEC travel. Some people will get up and move when the option is to sit next to a squirmy child.