Boston South Station Acela Lounge Temporarily Closed
Jun 22, 2018, 2:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: APAC
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, JL JGC
Posts: 143
Boston South Station Acela Lounge Temporarily Closed
As the title says. Apparently there was flooding last week and they are repairing the lounge now. The agent I spoke to indicated it wouldn't be closed for too much longer, but O suppose we'll have to wait and see.
Incidentally, has anybody here has experience working with Amtrak's customer service? I'm a bit annoyed since I planned to work out of the lounge and only realized it was closed when I arrived at the station. Are they willing to issue a partial refund or voucher for things like this?
Incidentally, has anybody here has experience working with Amtrak's customer service? I'm a bit annoyed since I planned to work out of the lounge and only realized it was closed when I arrived at the station. Are they willing to issue a partial refund or voucher for things like this?
Jul 5, 2018, 12:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
As of today July 5th the Club is still closed. No mention of it on the Sputh Station web site or anywhere else. I spoke to a station agent and they were less then helpful as well. Calling Amtrak just got me a "circumstances out of oir control" answer? I wonder what these circumstances are that prevent Amtrak from posting the temporary closure on their web site...
Tip for the time being: If you need to store luggage, use the Red Cap service (they work on a tip basis). Very friendly personnel and they even get you priority boarding. And for hanging out there is a little known Starbucks across the street in the One Financial Center building. Plenty of chairs in the lobby and it is air conditioned (which South Station itself is not).
Tip for the time being: If you need to store luggage, use the Red Cap service (they work on a tip basis). Very friendly personnel and they even get you priority boarding. And for hanging out there is a little known Starbucks across the street in the One Financial Center building. Plenty of chairs in the lobby and it is air conditioned (which South Station itself is not).
Jul 11, 2018, 10:27 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: United Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Club, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz President, Avis President
Posts: 64
As the title says. Apparently there was flooding last week and they are repairing the lounge now. The agent I spoke to indicated it wouldn't be closed for too much longer, but O suppose we'll have to wait and see.
Incidentally, has anybody here has experience working with Amtrak's customer service? I'm a bit annoyed since I planned to work out of the lounge and only realized it was closed when I arrived at the station. Are they willing to issue a partial refund or voucher for things like this?
Incidentally, has anybody here has experience working with Amtrak's customer service? I'm a bit annoyed since I planned to work out of the lounge and only realized it was closed when I arrived at the station. Are they willing to issue a partial refund or voucher for things like this?
Jul 26, 2018, 9:44 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,391
I spoke to one of the Club agents at South Station today. The event happened five weeks ago: a pipe burst in the ceiling of the women's room. The ceiling collapsed. Water poured out for 45 minutes before it could be shut off.
The area is still being dried out. Then everything will be ripped up and replaced -- a complete renovation. They are in the process of design and awarding a contract for the work. It will be at least two to three months before the work is completed.
There's a new, very small Acela waiting area within the Amtrak ticketing office, roped off with chairs and electrical outlets, and the WiFi is working. If you ask, the agent will get you water and a newspaper.
The area is still being dried out. Then everything will be ripped up and replaced -- a complete renovation. They are in the process of design and awarding a contract for the work. It will be at least two to three months before the work is completed.
There's a new, very small Acela waiting area within the Amtrak ticketing office, roped off with chairs and electrical outlets, and the WiFi is working. If you ask, the agent will get you water and a newspaper.
Jul 26, 2018, 3:50 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,095
I spoke to one of the Club agents at South Station today. The event happened five weeks ago: a pipe burst in the ceiling of the women's room. The ceiling collapsed. Water poured out for 45 minutes before it could be shut off.
The area is still being dried out. Then everything will be ripped up and replaced -- a complete renovation. They are in the process of design and awarding a contract for the work. It will be at least two to three months before the work is completed.
There's a new, very small Acela waiting area within the Amtrak ticketing office, roped off with chairs and electrical outlets, and the WiFi is working. If you ask, the agent will get you water and a newspaper.
The area is still being dried out. Then everything will be ripped up and replaced -- a complete renovation. They are in the process of design and awarding a contract for the work. It will be at least two to three months before the work is completed.
There's a new, very small Acela waiting area within the Amtrak ticketing office, roped off with chairs and electrical outlets, and the WiFi is working. If you ask, the agent will get you water and a newspaper.
Nov 13, 2018, 5:57 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Nov 16, 2018, 6:31 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: I-95
Programs: DL, B6, UA, AGR
Posts: 117
Would love to hear about changes, any service improvements, or pictures. I think my biggest complaint was the inability to hear boarding announcements if not siting right at the front. The drinks and snacks could always use an upgrade as well.
Nov 16, 2018, 7:52 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Nov 18, 2018, 9:44 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: PVD
Programs: AA-P, B6, DL, SW, SPG_M-P, AGR-S+
Posts: 289
It's been renamed to Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge instead of Cub Acela. I'd only been in this lounge once before the water break, so my memory of details is a bit fuzzy. I don't think any good/beverage changes have been made, although the water/ice/ice water dispenser may be new. Some, but not all, of the furnishings appear new. Still can't really hear the station calls from the back by the restrooms.
Nov 18, 2018, 12:54 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
It's been renamed to Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge instead of Cub Acela. I'd only been in this lounge once before the water break, so my memory of details is a bit fuzzy. I don't think any good/beverage changes have been made, although the water/ice/ice water dispenser may be new. Some, but not all, of the furnishings appear new. Still can't really hear the station calls from the back by the restrooms.
Nov 18, 2018, 2:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
The name change is interesting. Amtrak lounge access rules permit United Club members to access Club Acela branded lounges. They do not have access to Metropolitan Lounges - previously only in Chicago and Los Angeles. With this name change, will UC members now be barred from the lounge in Boston?
Nov 20, 2018, 6:10 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,391
I stopped by this morning. A decent refresh. It has that "new carpet smell," plus new furniture, redone bathrooms, and a new reception area for the agent. Instead of a soda fountain machine, there is a fridge with cans of soda and juice. The same snack basket and newspaper selection. Of interest are the very nice historic photos of South Station over the years.