How many people prefer the quiet car instead of first class?
Aug 13, 2022, 7:37 am
#1
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How many people prefer the quiet car instead of first class?
Does anyone else get so annoyed with loud cell phone calls onboard that you book a ticket in the quiet car instead of upgrading to first class?
If there were a first class car (or portion of a first class car) that was a quiet car or quiet zone, I'd book first-class tickets much more often than I do.
Curious as to others' thoughts, and how much more revenue Amtrak might gain if the new Acelas and new Northeast Regional trains had first class (or business class on Northeast Regional trains) that was also a quiet area.
Thanks.
If there were a first class car (or portion of a first class car) that was a quiet car or quiet zone, I'd book first-class tickets much more often than I do.
Curious as to others' thoughts, and how much more revenue Amtrak might gain if the new Acelas and new Northeast Regional trains had first class (or business class on Northeast Regional trains) that was also a quiet area.
Thanks.
Aug 13, 2022, 6:50 pm
#2
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Does anyone else get so annoyed with loud cell phone calls onboard that you book a ticket in the quiet car instead of upgrading to first class?
If there were a first class car (or portion of a first class car) that was a quiet car or quiet zone, I'd book first-class tickets much more often than I do.
Curious as to others' thoughts, and how much more revenue Amtrak might gain if the new Acelas and new Northeast Regional trains had first class (or business class on Northeast Regional trains) that was also a quiet area.
Thanks.
If there were a first class car (or portion of a first class car) that was a quiet car or quiet zone, I'd book first-class tickets much more often than I do.
Curious as to others' thoughts, and how much more revenue Amtrak might gain if the new Acelas and new Northeast Regional trains had first class (or business class on Northeast Regional trains) that was also a quiet area.
Thanks.
That being said, there's at least one FC crew that announces no speaker calls, and to keep phone conversations at a low level.
Sometimes it's the well-imbibed business group on PM trains talking and laughing so loudly they can be heard in the quiet car
Aug 14, 2022, 6:46 pm
#4
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I am probably not the typical Amtrak rider.
I either travel in Acela F or NER coach.
If i am going to want to have a few drinks I'll book Acela F.
Otherwise, I just slum it on the regional trains.
First step on either train is to put on a pair of noise canceling headphones.
I either travel in Acela F or NER coach.
If i am going to want to have a few drinks I'll book Acela F.
Otherwise, I just slum it on the regional trains.
First step on either train is to put on a pair of noise canceling headphones.
Apr 4, 2023, 12:47 pm
#6
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Not a QC vs. F question so much, but is the Acela Quiet car really that undesirable or do many people just not know they can change their reserved seating? Have an upcoming Acela trip where the 3 regular cars are almost completely full (2 seats at a table) and the QC is only half full. I wonder if the algorithm would assign seats to the QC upon purchase once that's all that's left. And then how do you handle pax who refuse to be quiet because they didn't want the QC but it was the only choice? 
Apr 4, 2023, 7:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
This is indeed how it goes. All other cars (other than FC) are assigned before the QC. On not completely full trains you get the desired "only people who want to be in the QC are in the QC" effect. On completely/almost completely full trains some people who don't want to be there are forced to be there, I guess, but I always sit in the QC and even on 90-100% full trains, it's decently quiet.
Apr 7, 2023, 7:44 pm
#8
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This is indeed how it goes. All other cars (other than FC) are assigned before the QC. On not completely full trains you get the desired "only people who want to be in the QC are in the QC" effect. On completely/almost completely full trains some people who don't want to be there are forced to be there, I guess, but I always sit in the QC and even on 90-100% full trains, it's decently quiet.
To the OP’s question, my answer is “sometimes”. If I am trying to take a nap or get serious work done I prefer the QC. If I want a couple cocktails and/or I am putting the Bose headset on anyway, I prefer First (unless I get stuck at a table, but that’s a different topic). I therefore pick when to upgrade accordingly.
May 2, 2023, 7:04 am
#11
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Seriously though, if you are a solo traveler valuing privacy, the single seats in FC are the best IMO. But the problem is with the new assigned seating system is you can't know if any are available until after ticket purchase. It was one advantage of the old "first come first served" seating system.
Jun 18, 2023, 7:01 pm
#13
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Jun 21, 2023, 9:12 pm
#14
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Seriously though, if you are a solo traveler valuing privacy, the single seats in FC are the best IMO. But the problem is with the new assigned seating system is you can't know if any are available until after ticket purchase. It was one advantage of the old "first come first served" seating system.