How can I select seats on Amtrak train?
This is my first Amtrak trip. I am travelling from Pittsburgh, PA to New York City, NY on the Pennsylvanian; and then from New York City, NY to Washington DC on the Acela Express. Both the tickets are in Business Class.
I read somewhere that the ticket checker/collector will assign the seats for Coach Class tickets on the platform. I am not sure whether this is true in the case of Business Class seats. If not, then does Business Class have fixed seats/seat reservations; or is it just like Greyhound where you can sit in any seat?
If Business Class have seat reservations, then how can I reserve/fix a seat on the train? While booking, I did not find a link to do that. Also, I have checked My Trips > Current Reservations page for a link, but there was no such link.
Best Answer
Acela has assigned seats. The other trains do not. You will either
- be assigned a seat by the conductor at boarding, or
- it will be "festival seating"/ public transit style seating, where you just take the first seat that you see that suits you. If there are any difficulties, the conductor will sort it out when he comes along.
Either way, if you go to the cafe car for a snack, make sure to leave your seat "looking occupied" e.g. by leaving a jacket there.
Don't forget to go to the cafe car. It's not an airplane, the train is yours to explore. Sitting in your seat the entire trip is a common newbie mistake.
Lastly I suggest checking your reservations; it doesn't make sense geographically to go from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to NYC, then from NYC to Philadelphia to DC. You might want to ask Amtrak to review your itinerary and see if your 90+ minute Philly-NYC roundtrip is really necessary.
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How do you pick seats on Amtrak?
Your seat will be automatically designated when you complete your reservation. You may change your reserved seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.Can you choose your train seat?
You can easily choose a seat preference for your train ticket. However, keep in mind that not all trains types and rail operators permit this.Are seats assigned in coach on Amtrak?
In almost all cases, Amtrak seats are not assigned. The exception is Acela Express route seats and business class seating on the Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto, and Vermonter. Otherwise, Amtrak has a first-come, first-serve seating policy for coach seats.Is it better to sit on the upper or lower level on Amtrak?
While most passengers ride in the upper level for a panoramic view of the passing scenery, the lower level coach seats provide the convenience of well-appointed restrooms within the car. Advance reservations (by train, not by individual seat) are required. Seating is guaranteed on these reserved services.Amtrak Tips And Tricks | Beginners Guide
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