Amtrak Business Class

[Old MM]

I see this has become a separate thread. So I do want be clear my comment was specific to Wolverine BC. It sounds as if the particulars of BC services can vary quite a bit depending on region.

 

[mermaidofthenorth]

Business Class on the Pennsylvanian:
Hello,
in early April I plan to travel from Cleveland to Philly and hopefully I won’t be delayed so I’ll be able to make the connection in Pittsburgh. Whenever BC is available I usually opt for it (wish they’d bring it back on the LSL!) because I like the seating as well as the relative calm of the car as opposed to swarms of people in Coach, and the price difference isn’t too bad. But the other day, I saw a short youtube clip comparing BC and Coach on this line and the reviewer had measured space between the seats and found there was actually more room in Coach. Plus, there is no 2x1 seating in Business, nor is there a divider between the seats, which would be an enticement for me.
Have any of you rode Business on this train, and if so, did you find a difference? The deal breaker for me would be a more low key type of passenger. I don’t care about a free beverage.

 

[MARC Rider]

Hello,
in early April I plan to travel from Cleveland to Philly and hopefully I won’t be delayed so I’ll be able to make the connection in Pittsburgh. Whenever BC is available I usually opt for it (wish they’d bring it back on the LSL!) because I like the seating as well as the relative calm of the car as opposed to swarms of people in Coach, and the price difference isn’t too bad. But the other day, I saw a short youtube clip comparing BC and Coach on this line and the reviewer had measured space between the seats and found there was actually more room in Coach. Plus, there is no 2x1 seating in Business, nor is there a divider between the seats, which would be an enticement for me.
Have any of you rode Business on this train, and if so, did you find a difference? The deal breaker for me would be a more low key type of passenger. I don’t care about a free beverage.

It's true that the Amfleet 2 cars used in Pennsylvanian coach are more or less equivalent to the Amfleet 1 business class cars. But be aware that the Pennsylvanian also has at least one Amfleet 1 coach, which does not have as much legroom. I presume you will be boarding at Pittsburgh, so you will probably be able to find seating in the Amfleet 2 coaches, but you never know. This trainset is similar to that of the Palmetto, and I have usually paid for business class on the Palmetto because the car never fills up, and the passengers tend to be more sedate than in coach. And you do get your free Coke or coffee.

 

[Trollopian]

Hello,
in early April I plan to travel from Cleveland to Philly and hopefully I won’t be delayed so I’ll be able to make the connection in Pittsburgh. Whenever BC is available I usually opt for it (wish they’d bring it back on the LSL!) because I like the seating as well as the relative calm of the car as opposed to swarms of people in Coach, and the price difference isn’t too bad. But the other day, I saw a short youtube clip comparing BC and Coach on this line and the reviewer had measured space between the seats and found there was actually more room in Coach. Plus, there is no 2x1 seating in Business, nor is there a divider between the seats, which would be an enticement for me.
Have any of you rode Business on this train, and if so, did you find a difference? The deal breaker for me would be a more low key type of passenger. I don’t care about a free beverage.

Hi, "Mermaid"...you might want to check out the long thread at Pennsylvanian (Coach vs Business Class)?. Personally I don't often take that train but when I do, I spring for business class for the extra quiet.

 

[daybeers]

IMO paying for business class on the Pennsylvanian is silly because the Amfleet Is are less luxurious than the Amfleet IIs. Save the cash for a nice meal in Philly.

 

[PaTrainFan]

I always take BC on the Pennsylvanian. Granted, seats are the same as in coach (2+2) but it is generally less crowded and frequently (not always) I have two seats to myself.

 

[mermaidofthenorth]

Thanks to all who have responded with such useful information. A more sedate, less crowded atmosphere is what I’m looking for so i think a few extra dollars for BC is what I’ll go for. I also hadn’t realized there was a longer thread on this topic which I will check out —- thanks, Trollopian!

 

[Sidney]

I always get both seats on The Pennsylvanian due to there being four Coaches. Only difference in BC is you get one free non alcoholic beverage. To me,not worth the price difference.

 

[daybeers]

I always take BC on the Pennsylvanian. Granted, seats are the same as in coach (2+2) but it is generally less crowded and frequently (not always) I have two seats to myself.

The Amfleet IIs provide more legroom

 

[Trollopian]

The Amfleet IIs provide more legroom

Not a factor for 5'0" me, but important to some! (Any crowd wisdom about what height and/or Body Mass Index [BMI] that legroom makes the difference? It's certainly a big deal in the bedroom-vs-roomette thread.)

 

[UserNameRequired]

The more legroom and larger windows made the choice not to get BC the right choice for us.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I like the 2 + 1 seating of the old BC / Cafe cars and the Talgos - those are the only BC service I think is worth it on Amtrak unless you feel like you are paying to be with better clientele which is always a roll of the dice on transit.

 

[Amtrak25]

On the NEC, I prefer the Quiet car which costs nothing over business class. I also noticed they shut off the overhead lights in the luggage racks in such cars. Nothing irritates me more than incessant cellphone yacking.

 

[Acela150]

I always get both seats on The Pennsylvanian due to there being four Coaches. Only difference in BC is you get one free non alcoholic beverage. To me,not worth the price difference.

One? Are you sure?

I'll add that Business Class on 42/43 is a much much different clientele then in coach.

 

[Amtrak25]

On the NEC that I experienced two years ago, you get ONE, and that is like applying for a car loan at the cafe counter to get that.

 

[Acela150]

On the NEC that I eperienced two years ago, you get ONE, and that is like applying for a car loan at the cafe counter to get that.

That's not the policy. Whoever the LSA was, was wrong. The LSA's that are the main LSA's these days on 42/43 are very good, except one.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

One? Are you sure?

On Michigan and Illinois service that has certainly been the case for me over the years.

On the NEC that I experienced two years ago, you get ONE, and that is like applying for a car loan at the cafe counter to get that.

You're telling me... one of the Michigan LSA's is like the Soup man from seinfeld. I was scolded for ordering my free drink wrong and then I had to sign that I ordered and received my free drink and THEN he scolded me for putting the cap back on his pen "I still need to write with that you know!" - can't make it up. haha.

 

[mermaidofthenorth]

On the NEC, I prefer the Quiet car which costs nothing over business class. I also noticed they shut off the overhead lights in the luggage racks in such cars. Nothing irritates me more than incessant cellphone yacking.

Agree with you 1000%. When I lived in the Northeast, I took this train quite a bit and always opted for the Quiet Car when available. I wish more train lines had it.

 

[tomokra]

Hey all! Is there any way to find an nyc to DC train that has a two and one business class layout? In other words I’m trying to find a way to ride to DC without anyone sitting next to me. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Acela150]

Hey all! Is there any way to find an nyc to DC train that has a two and one business class layout? In other words I’m trying to find a way to ride to DC without anyone sitting next to me. Any help would be appreciated.

Trains 65/67, 151, and 55 have the 2x1.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Trains 65/67, 151, and 55 have the 2x1.

That's great info. I assumed all NEC's were 2x2, which are hardly worth it, even with the allegedly free non-alcoholic drink.

 

[Sidney]

If only BC was still on the Lake Shore,Five single seats and I always managed to snag one out of Chicago. If only all overnight trains had BC. Unfortunately none do. It was a nice bridge between overcrowded Coach and pricy sleepers.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

That's great info. I assumed all NEC's were 2x2, which are hardly worth it, even with the allegedly free non-alcoholic drink.

On the NEC I don't understand why anyone spends the money - there is no value that I can see.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Is there assigned seating on the NEC 2/2 BC cars? And if you are lucky, you might get a curtain!

 

[Bonser]

On the NEC, I prefer the Quiet car which costs nothing over business class. I also noticed they shut off the overhead lights in the luggage racks in such cars. Nothing irritates me more than incessant cellphone yacking.

The last time I took BC from Pittsburgh to Newark it was both full and loud with the woman behind me conducting business over the phone the entire trip.