Originally Posted by
Globehopper
Why pipe down? A more rational boarding process can result in...an overall better customer experience.
Agreed. Sometimes I think that Amtrak has no idea that its customers could fly, especially on the Boston-NY-Washington route, and that some of its customers are frequent flyers.
I'm Preferred on US Airways, and I zip through the process at airports, including boarding. (Yes, it's still a hassle, but US Airways has done what it can to make the process easier.)
Conversely, when I went business class on the Carolinian from Washington, I recall being stuck in a mob of people lined up to board. Business class was allowed to board early, but the whole scene was so chaotic that I recall literally climbing over seats in the waiting area, surrounded by mobs of people, and really struggling. Completely unnecessary craziness.
Metro-North at Grand Central Terminal, like European railroads, has it right:
you just look on the departure boards, see what track your train is on, and go to it. No mobs of people to deal with and no lines.