Booked Coach ticket on Wolverine... Should I bid for upgrade?

[MIrailfan]

Wou ld be nice to travel business class.

 

[OBS]

Absolutely not!

 

[20th Century Rider]

Business class varies on Amtrak... and the benefits are very scant. Extra points, a cold drink, and on certain cars there is 2 and 1 seating... which makes those the best value... believe you find these on the LSL, Cardinal, Downeaster, and others. [See below or Amtrak site.] These cars tend to be quieter and less crowded - but not always. You also get extra points and cancellation options.

Business class is not a strong option... but I prefer it as it can be quieter // sometimes.

https://www.amtrak.com/business-class

 

[Josh M]

Personally, I prefer business class on the Wolverine. The 2x1 seating means I can sit by myself (I get on before the stops at Detroit, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor when the remaining BC seats usually fill up), and I enjoy the extra leg room and free coffee. Plus, as 20th Century Rider says, it tends to be quieter as well.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Personally, I prefer business class on the Wolverine. The 2x1 seating means I can sit by myself (I get on before the stops at Detroit, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor when the remaining BC seats usually fill up), and I enjoy the extra leg room and free coffee. Plus, as 20th Century Rider says, it tends to be quieter as well.

Oh my... looking forward to that train and didn't know they had that 2X1 seating. Thank you for the info! Here's my upcoming bucket list grand tour... CONO is not yet able to get into NOL... and the variants are swirling around... should be quite an adventure!

Bucket List Grand Tour for 20th Century Rider

Oct 5 CS EUG - LAX
Oct 6 TE LAX - Springfield ILL
Oct 10 Illinois / Missouri State Supported - Springfield ILL - Jefferson City MO*
Oct 11 Missouri / Illinois State Supported - Jefferson City MO - Bloomington ILL*
Oct 12 TE Bloomington Ill - CHI*
Oct 12 Cardinal - CHI - Charlottesville
Oct 14 NEC Regional - Charlottesville - NYP
Oct 15 Empire Service - NPY - ALB*
Oct 16 Empire Service - ALB - NYP*
Oct 16 Crescent - NYP - NOL*
Oct 18 CONO - NOL - CHI*
Oct 19 Wolverine - CHI - Kalamazoo*
Oct 20 Blue Water - Kalamazoo - CHI*
Oct 20 EB CHI - PDX
Oct 22 PDX - EUG Bus

*Haven't yet been on these trains / segments.

I'm open to suggestions and advice from anyone on the forum who would like to share their expertise!

 

[Triley]

Oh my... looking forward to that train and didn't know they had that 2X1 seating. Thank you for the info! Here's my upcoming bucket list grand tour... CONO is not yet able to get into NOL... and the variants are swirling around... should be quite an adventure!

Bucket List Grand Tour for 20th Century Rider

Oct 5 CS EUG - LAX
Oct 6 TE LAX - Springfield ILL
Oct 10 Illinois / Missouri State Supported - Springfield ILL - Jefferson City MO*
Oct 11 Missouri / Illinois State Supported - Jefferson City MO - Bloomington ILL*
Oct 12 TE Bloomington Ill - CHI*
Oct 12 Cardinal - CHI - Charlottesville
Oct 14 NEC Regional - Charlottesville - NYP
Oct 15 Empire Service - NPY - ALB*
Oct 16 Empire Service - ALB - NYP*
Oct 16 Crescent - NYP - NOL*
Oct 18 CONO - NOL - CHI*
Oct 19 Wolverine - CHI - Kalamazoo*
Oct 20 Blue Water - Kalamazoo - CHI*
Oct 20 EB CHI - PDX
Oct 22 PDX - EUG Bus

*Haven't yet been on these trains / segments.

I'm open to suggestions and advice from anyone on the forum who would like to share their expertise!

Being in Eugene, I'm sure you know the Cascades well enough. If the Builder is on time/early, you could go in to the station and get the bus swapped out for 503. 27 is scheduled to arrive at 10:10am, 503 is schedule to depart PDX at 11:10am (arrive EUG at 1:50pm), your bus is scheduled out at 12pm (arrive at 2:50pm).

Because of the damage caused to the Jefferson by my 505 trip the other day (vehicle strike/partial derailment), the equipment rotation is expecting 503 to only be operated by the other Talgo set we have left, if that helps you plan ahead.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Being in Eugene, I'm sure you know the Cascades well enough. If the Builder is on time/early, you could go in to the station and get the bus swapped out for 503. 27 is scheduled to arrive at 10:10am, 503 is schedule to depart PDX at 11:10am (arrive EUG at 1:50pm), your bus is scheduled out at 12pm (arrive at 2:50pm).

Because of the damage caused to the Jefferson by my 505 trip the other day (vehicle strike/partial derailment), the equipment rotation is expecting 503 to only be operated by the other Talgo set we have left, if that helps you plan ahead.

I do know about this better connection however Amtrak won't allow me to schedule because they consider it too close... but if I can... I certainly will... much better than a bus!!!

BTW I loved the Talgos but they're now gone.

 

[Triley]

I do know about this better connection however Amtrak won't allow me to schedule because they consider it too close... but if I can... I certainly will... much better than a bus!!!

BTW I loved the Talgos but they're now gone.

I figured you knew about the connection to the Cascades, but thought I'd mention it, just in case.

We still have the two Talgo Series 8s (Jefferson and Bachelor), and the Jefferson is going to be sidelined for some time...the cab car isn't in bad shape, but is going to need a little bit of work after we hit a pickup truck on Sunday. Some of the coaches may need work done to the undercarriage as well. So while the Jefferson is out of service, the Bachelor will be exclusively running 503/508, all day every day.

As much as I hated them when I transferred to Seattle, I definitely grew to love the Series 6s, and I miss them already. Trying to look forward to the next chapter in the Cascades equipment. I'm hoping within 2 years we'll have at least one of the brand new sets in service, but we'll see!

 

[zephyr17]

The seating was much more comfortable in the 6s than the 8s.

Sorry to hear "Mater" got hurt

 

[yyy]

Personally, I will bid it, but only for the minimum. From Chicago to Ann Arbor, usually the minimum is 15 dollars. I think it worth the price to be able to sit alone and have the access to the lounge in Chicago.

 

[MIrailfan]

Rigt now it reccomends $25

 

[MIrailfan]

should I bid for the jxnto chicago r chicGO TO JXN

 

[dwebarts]

Business class is not a strong option... but I prefer it as it can be quieter // sometimes.

It can be quieter // sometimes, indeed.

Pre-covid, I booked a business class ticket between WAS and CVS that was cheaper than the coach fare for some reason (timing, I know). It was a 2 and 1 that was great until a couple of Salesforce employees decided to take multiple meetings and make client calls for a solid 2 hours.

I get that people work where they can. I've worked remotely for years.

I don't get how they think other people can't hear them potentially revealing confidential business information. As a long-time public transportation advocate, I'm amazed at the amount of corporate espionage I could engage in if I wanted to.

 

[daybeers]

It can be quieter // sometimes, indeed.

Pre-covid, I booked a business class ticket between WAS and CVS that was cheaper than the coach fare for some reason (timing, I know). It was a 2 and 1 that was great until a couple of Salesforce employees decided to take multiple meetings and make client calls for a solid 2 hours.

I get that people work where they can. I've worked remotely for years.

I don't get how they think other people can't hear them potentially revealing confidential business information. As a long-time public transportation advocate, I'm amazed at the amount of corporate espionage I could engage in if I wanted to.

This is why I never book BC on regionals, it's just so not worth it. Theoretically fewer people but much higher likelyhood you'll have a seatmate since it's one car vs six. I'd rather have a screaming baby that I might get a chance to play hide-and-seek with in coach than a businessperson yapping away the whole ride about share price. Guess I need better wireless headphones I've also seen some of the priority boarding lines disappear when covid arrived. Only thing thing it's good for is point bonuses (meh at best) and entrance to the Chicago Metropolitan Lounge, but that BC is worth it since it's the 2x1 leather seats.

 

[dwebarts]

This is why I never book BC on regionals, it's just so not worth it.

The really odd thing was that this was on the Cardinal. The timing was better than the NEC since I wanted to arrive no later than mid-afternoon. It's also likely the reason I found a business fare cheaper than a coach one.

I'd expect the chatter on the NER.

 

[20th Century Rider]

It can be quieter // sometimes, indeed.

Pre-covid, I booked a business class ticket between WAS and CVS that was cheaper than the coach fare for some reason (timing, I know). It was a 2 and 1 that was great until a couple of Salesforce employees decided to take multiple meetings and make client calls for a solid 2 hours.

I get that people work where they can. I've worked remotely for years.

I don't get how they think other people can't hear them potentially revealing confidential business information. As a long-time public transportation advocate, I'm amazed at the amount of corporate espionage I could engage in if I wanted to.

I agree... loud talkers can bring much unpleasantness to a trip... whether it be a loud group or business people blaring loudly on their cell phones. Oh those cell phones! Yup... people talk on them at high decibel levels with total disregard to all around. Especially unpleasant in the business car. At some point it may help to flag some help from the conductor!