There was a post for this many years ago, but I was wondering if anyone has recent experience with Amtrak overbooking, specifically in coach. What about the 1/2 BC cars used on Midwest, Empire, Downeaster, etc?. I am taking a trip next weekend (Columbus Day) and am boarding “up the line” and expecting fully packed trains.
Does Amtrak overbook?
- Thread starter JoeRids
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No, they do not overbook. That said equipment may not be available as planned.
However seat assignments are not available other than Acela. So find a seat can be issue.
However seat assignments are not available other than Acela. So find a seat can be issue.
No, they do not overbook. Especially in BC.
Mailliw
OBS Chief
Seat assignments are available in Business Class on the Northeast Regional and the Carolinian too.
blueman271
OBS Chief
Amtrak doesn’t overbook in the same way the airlines do, if a train has 100
seats Amtrak will only sell 100 tickets. Of course most Amtrak trains do not allow you to select your seat so while you are guaranteed a seat you are not guaranteed a window or aisle or the ability to sit next to any traveling companions.
seats Amtrak will only sell 100 tickets. Of course most Amtrak trains do not allow you to select your seat so while you are guaranteed a seat you are not guaranteed a window or aisle or the ability to sit next to any traveling companions.
Maverickstation
Lead Service Attendant
I've been on Northeast Regionals where the coach sections were packed to the point where Conductors had to make room in the Cafe Car so that no one had to stand.
In the case of Sleeping Car pax, if there were less sleepers than planned, that will in most cases cause pax to be bumped to coach.
Ken
In the case of Sleeping Car pax, if there were less sleepers than planned, that will in most cases cause pax to be bumped to coach.
Ken
Or, more likely, cancel and get a refund if there is any reasonable notice.
I am confused by this. Your post would indicate that Amtrak does indeed sell more tickets than seats, unless they consider the cafe car a seat.
They absolutely do for NEC trains in coach.
There are still some regional "unreserved" trains where you don't buy a ticket for a specific train, just for a route. These can have more riders than seats.
In the past, Amtrak definitely would overbook coach. Not by a ton, but maybe a few percent. During the early COVID days, I understand that was stopped simply because they had to cut back to ~50% or so of seated capacity. Now that they no longer have those restrictions, I don’t know if they have returned to slight overbooking, or if they cap it at 100%. If those who say Amtrak doesn’t overbook have current info, then fine. But if they’re speaking from the basis of guesses/assumptions, I’d be wary of that.
I can’t say that every train would get overbooked, and premium accommodations definitely would be sold to the limit of planned capacity. It would actually surprise me if (COVID changes notwithstanding) they didn’t get more effective at overbooking, since they should have a better idea these days of how many no-shows there are on which segments of which routes, on which days of the week; how many late cancels/last minute changes they get, etc.
Selling only 100 tickets on a 100-seat train leaves a lot of potential revenue on the table when you know, for example, that 2% of passengers miss their train, and another 3% will rebook for a different train a few hours from departure.
I can’t say that every train would get overbooked, and premium accommodations definitely would be sold to the limit of planned capacity. It would actually surprise me if (COVID changes notwithstanding) they didn’t get more effective at overbooking, since they should have a better idea these days of how many no-shows there are on which segments of which routes, on which days of the week; how many late cancels/last minute changes they get, etc.
Selling only 100 tickets on a 100-seat train leaves a lot of potential revenue on the table when you know, for example, that 2% of passengers miss their train, and another 3% will rebook for a different train a few hours from departure.
west point
Engineer
So, my ten leg train is booked over for legs 4-5 and 5-6 by maybe 20 .what does
Amtrak do? It is not an easy question to answer. Does it eliminate 20 passengers for the whole trip?
Amtrak do? It is not an easy question to answer. Does it eliminate 20 passengers for the whole trip?
RebelRider
Service Attendant
On the Corridor, it’s also much more likely a passenger will buy a ticket for train A and end up taking train B. So even if a train isn’t overbooked it could end up short seats. When you’ve got a full Regional train with 600+ passengers, conductors don’t always have time to stop and rebook every wrong ticket to the correct train. Quicker to accept the fare and keep it moving. Don’t try to bring a Regional ticket to Acela, though. 
In 52 years of riding Amtrak, I've been on an overbooked train once, and that was on what is now the Cascades route, but in unreserved coaches.
I thought that is Amtrak policy for no-shows. Of course, it doesn't apply to missed connections, and Flex tickets can be canceled right up until departure.
Absolutely. I once was booked on a Sunday evening regional NYP->BOS, then just before the trip discovered I had reasons to stay a little longer in New York and modified my reservation to coach in the 66. However, I messed up and didn't check the date. It turn out I was on the early Sunday morning (3AM) 66, not on the late Sunday night/early Monday morning 66! When I showed up at NYP at about 11 PM, I discovered I had missed my train by 20 hours. No refund, the only tickets available on the 66 were Business Class (a lot more than coach, but still cheaper than an NYC hotel and coach the next morning.)
No refunds or credits if you miss your train, unless it was a guaranteed connection or you cancel early enough.
EchoSierra
Train Attendant
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2017
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Amtrak will overbook the Northeast Regional. Unreserved trains can also end up in an overbooking situation due to the tickets being open to be used on any train.
Other than Surfliner and Capital Corridor, is anything left that is unreserved coach? But unreserved isn't really overbooking, since there is no guarantee of seating on a specific train.
Lucky you, but then you don't live on the NEC,or ride Surfliners South of LAX. ( especially during the Racing Season and Comcon in SAN)
I've ridden several jam packed Empire Service Trains between between NYP and Albany back in the day.
Even sat on my suitcase in the vestibule once!
There are specific periods of time that the Surfliner turns into reserved coach: Memorial Day weekend, opening weekend of Del Mar, Comic-Con, Labor Day weekend, and Thanksgiving weekend. You might be able to use those tickets up to a year later on unreserved coach trains, but you may need to exchange the ticket before your original train leaves.
