Select Upgrades
 

Does anyone know if Amtrak has any plans to roll out unlimited select upgrades. On northwest elites get unlimited space available upgrades which is a huge perk. Here the most frequent travelers who blow through their upgrade coupons in a month, are forced to pay for upgrades their after. Also, the airlines have elite lines at the ticket counter does anyone know if amtrak has this as well?

Haven't heard anything about unlimited upgrade like most the airlines are doing, but that would a great addition. Regarding elite lines, if you're select+ you can go into the club acela and have the agents there take care of any ticket changes. Not having to deal with the normal ticket lines saves so much time, plus they announce the gate in the club before doing so in the main terminal.

If you're not select+, for 15K points you add unlimited club access to your select membership -- basically they send you a new card with the "Club Acela" logo in the bottom right-hand corner. For some reason, they don't list this as a redemption option on their site -- I found out about it on flyertalk. I did this last year when I hadn't made select+ yet, but beware it took about 6 weeks for me receive the card...

I was just thinking about this the other day. Just made Select + this yr and received the 3 upgrade coupons. While this is nice they will not last long. Maybe they could at least upgrade Select + on day of departure say 30-45 min before train leaves. That would give them time to fill the seats wityh paying customers.

I think the chance of this unlimited upgrades happening is very small.

Apparently, Amtrak is taking the United/American Airlines approach, not the Northwest/Continental approach. That is, one earns upgrade instruments by taking trips, and pays for the upgrades using those.

at least have something like, 30 min before you can upgrade for $20.

On the elite ticketing lines, it's been a while since I've stopped at the ticket counter at Washington Union Station, but I recall seeing a First Class/Select line there at one point last year. Not sure if it's still there since I do nearly everything at the kiosks or the clubs.

At least in the Northeast Amtrak heavily competes with the airlines. Most business won't pay for premium travel, so when it comes down to regional coach or delta shuttle, they pick delta shuttle. However, if there was a chance they would get upgraded to biz or on the Acela to 1st then they might go with Amtrak.

The unlimited ClubAcela is very interesting because the airlines do not give out club membships, they only discount them for elites.