Thanks^ You guys are awesome:-:
Originally Posted by
AlanB
I'm sorry, but that is not correct. On the Zephyr, provided that one is not assigned a room in the Trans/Dorm, the sleepers will be on the rear of the train. The 631 sleeper is right next to the dining car, and the 632 sleeper is on the opposite side of the 631 sleeper; meaning one would have to walk through the 631 car to reach the diner. The Sightseer Lounge is on the other side of the dining car.
The 640 sleeper is the Trans/Dorm which is near the front of the train, and would require walking through 2 or 3 coach cars to reach the lounge and then the diner.
On the SW Chief, all sleepers are at the front of the train. Starting from the engines and working your way towards the read, you would find the baggage car, the Trans/Dorm car #340, followed by the 331 sleeper, the 330 sleeper, the dining car, and then the lounge car followed by the coaches.
We have 632 on CZ, 0330 on Chief and finally 1430 on CS. Looks good for the first two. Hopefully also the latter is not too far from the internet car.
Originally Posted by
AlanB
There is no need to check in with anyone in Emeryville. The only reason to interact with anyone in the station would be if you need to check baggage.
The conductor on the train will want to scan the eTicket and will then check in all 4 people at the same time. You don't need one printout for each person, although you might want one per room just in case.
If you don't need to check bags, then frankly you can pretty much show up at any point prior to 5 minutes before departure and still get on the train.
In Chicago, they close the gate at the 5 minute mark, so I'd be a bit earlier there. And frankly, I'd be earlier simply to avoid any worries.
Also you should be aware that in Chicago there is a first class lounge called the Metropolitan lounge that you are entitled to use as sleeping car passengers. Instead of plastic bench seats, this lounge offers nice overstuffed chairs and other amenities. They're not quite up to the standards of FC lounges offered by the airlines, but still by comparison to the regular waiting room it is much nicer.
They'll also take you out the back door directly to the train, bypassing the often long line that forms in the main waiting room.
A similar lounge is also available in LA, and you would be entitled to use that lounge too by showing your ticket to wait in for your run up the coast back to the Bay area.
Thanks a lot here too. Wont check any bags for a 6 night trip. Only carry on, and I believe the allowances are pretty generous, and we can fit it in the roomette.