Rode in F on the Acela this AM (WAS-PHL) and was really impressed by their service. Given a beverage immediately after departure, breakfast soon followed, more beverage service (between BAL & WIL) and a warm towel right before PHL.

If the fare wasn't so high ($205 o/w ), I'd go F all the time!

I rarely travel south of NYC, but compared to the USAir and Delta shuttles from BOS to LGA round trip FC on Acela is less than a 1-way coach ticket on the shuttles with the usual few days notice I typically have.

I'm not supposed to expense FC travel, but I can hide it in my expense report and not feel guilty cause frankly I'm still saving the company money.

I have also found the cabin attendants have gotten better (for a while half would be asleep on the morning trains) and the food is quite acceptable.

Did I miss the warm towel?

Well it's supposed to be given out at the end of the main runs, meaning arrival into DC, Boston, or NY. It's a tradition that dates back to the Metroliner's, but not every crew seems to remember to do it. Either that or they are just too lazy to do it.

Yes, JT, and they miss you!

Two weeks ago I came over from England to NYC for a few days, and whilst I was there I made a day trip to Washington DC by Acela. I splashed out on First Class both ways and I enjoyed the service on both trips (even though I never got any hot towels!)

I've got a question regarding boarding the train at Union Station in DC. At NY Penn I was very early for the train so I used the Acela Club Lounge, and when the train was called for boarding everyone made their own way to the platform down the steps along with Business Class passengers. However at Union Station I only arrived 25 minutes before the train was due to depart so I just joined the line at the gate (there were about 30 or so people in front of me) and I waited for it to open. However when I got to the First Class car it was already 75% full! Presumably there's priority boarding from the Club Lounge there, is that correct? How does it work?

Indeed. Of all the Acela travels I've done, I think I got the warm towel once.

New York's lounge is the exception to the rule, in part because of the shear volume of people and in part because of size of the station and the lounges location in relation to the tracks.

At all other lounges, DC, Philly, and Boston, pre-boarding is a perk that one gets if one is in the lounge. So unless you are within 10 minutes of the train's departure, you should always go into the lounge and avoid the long lines at the gate.

Wow, not an impressive record!

I can't count how many times I've seen the towels over the years and I probably average about 10 to 15 round trips on Acela per year. But like I said, it can be hit or miss. I just took a jaunt up to Boston last weekend. No towels on the way up, but I did get one on the way back. And interestingly enough one of the two crew members did both trips with me. So either she forgot about them going east or perhaps more likely Amtrak didn't provide them for her, as she's usually very good about taking care of the passengers in her care.

I have noticed that more crews seem to do them for dinner, as opposed to either breakfast or lunch. But they are supposed to be offered no matter what meal is being served, as the train approaches an end point station or NY Penn.

Even in NY they make an announcement before the general announcement so you can line up in advance of the business passengers, or make your way down the back way (if you know how), or a Red Cap will take you down to the platform in advance of everyone else if you'd like an escort.

Well they are supposed to make that announcement in advance of the general boarding call outside the lounge, but it doesn't always work out that way. There are times when the attendant is either busy dealing with a ticketing issue, or sometimes simply not paying attention, so the track number goes up on the main board at the same time that they make the announcement in the lounge.

But, yes, assuming that they do things timely in the lounge, it is possible to get out in time to be at the head of the line.

Re: NYP and preboarding. When I check in at the Acela lounge at NY Penn, I always note to the agent my train number and destination, and ask if s/he will announce it on the public address system in the lounge. Works like a charm. I then board via the central stairs, which allows time savings and a bypass of the escalator crowd.

Not sure how i's done in DC, but in Philly, there is a private elevator that they take you in that goes directly down to the platform......

Actually there are 4 elevators, which one you use depends on which track the train is going to arrive on. And they aren't exactly private, they are also used by redcaps taking passengers and luggage down from the main station level to the platforms.

In DC, the lounge is situated such that the side doors lead directly to the platforms bypassing the gates where the rest of the passengers are waiting.

My wife and I did a roundtrip NYP-WAS last weekend in Acela F. No hot towels in either direction.