Maple Leaf seating question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Silver, VIPorter, VIA Preference: Privilège, Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 369
Maple Leaf seating question
In a few weeks I'm taking the Maple Leaf from NYC to Toronto, traveling in Business Class, which is just half a car on this train.
An option has sprung up for the three of us to join the train at Croton-Harmon, but I am concerned that by this point there might not be 3 seats together (either 2 plus one across the aisle or 2 with one behind). Last time I took the Maple Leaf, further along the route, Business class seemed to be 100% full.
What do you think? Would we be better off boarding at Penn?
An option has sprung up for the three of us to join the train at Croton-Harmon, but I am concerned that by this point there might not be 3 seats together (either 2 plus one across the aisle or 2 with one behind). Last time I took the Maple Leaf, further along the route, Business class seemed to be 100% full.
What do you think? Would we be better off boarding at Penn?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Tough call. You definitely could get shutout, Croton is a pretty popular stop, I would strongly recommend getting on at least at Yonkers (which the Maple Leaf does stop at as of this writing).
#3
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Another factor is what day of week are you leaving and/or what the loads are looking like. I would probably book NY-Toronto and board at Yonkers or Croton if the loads are looking light.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
#6
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Yeah this is a tough one. I myself personally will go to the originating station just so that my group can sit together. For example, on the San Joaquin, I've Ubered to Jack London Station vs taking the Amtrak Thruway to Emeryville which is much cheaper, just so we could get group seating. Generally, if I'm up in SF on the San Joaquin, it is during a long holiday weekend so getting on sooner is important to grab the seat that we want.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Yeah I'm showing 4 empty seats in Business, the BC on the Maple Leaf has a capacity of 12, so you might have issues, but you can always ask when on board if others will switch with you...
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, Amtrak Exec
Posts: 3,262
#10
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Silver, VIPorter, VIA Preference: Privilège, Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 369
Thanks everyone.
I think we've decided to get on at Penn. Of course if Amtrak offered assigned seating, in line with basically any other long-distance train the world, then this wouldn't have been an issue...
I think we've decided to get on at Penn. Of course if Amtrak offered assigned seating, in line with basically any other long-distance train the world, then this wouldn't have been an issue...
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
#14
In Memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, Amtrak Exec
Posts: 3,262