Originally Posted by
NYCommuter
As a frequent flyer, I see airlines increasingly offering individual extra services, for a fee, many of which can paid for when you buy your ticket or check in. Why doesn't Amtrak offer these things, which would probably be at least a small addition to its revenues?
* Prepaid meals
* Extra AGR points (US Airways allows you to double, triple, etc. your points if you pay a small fee)
* Personalized assistance at a station (at Penn Station, this could be helpful)
* Priority boarding (why not let coach passengers pay a few dollars to be able to board along first class passengers at Penn Station)
* Etc..
The only service mentioned here that I would be willing to pay for is priority boarding, but again, they already offer this to sleeper/FC pax at originating stations. It would be impossible to offer at midpoint stations along the NEC. How would it be administrated in a place like PVD or PHL where the train just pulls up to the platform and pax are already waiting there? There is no dwell time to speak of in those cities.
And at Penn Station, FC/Sleeper pax don't board ahead of coach pax unless they have a redcap. If you are waiting in the club acela, they just announce your platform. Now about 80% of the time the announcement comes before the track is announced outside, but you still have to go over to the escalator and wait in line with the coach pax. Generally you are at the front of the line, but its not priority boarding unless you have engaged a redcap.