Business class on the Illini/Saluki is a ripoff

[MARC Rider]

To be politically incorrect but at the same time realistic the minimal charge of a business class ticket with no amenities at least keeps the Greyhound type clientele away. Anyone whose traveled semi regularly on Amtrak especially long distance has seen the conductor have to call a local sheriff/law enforcement to deal with a troublemaker or pot head. It’s not superiority it’s just a case of it is what it is.

This is not so much of a problem on the Northeast Regional, where the fares only seem cheap in comparison with the Acela. Thus, even the coach riff-raff on the Northeast Regional are suit-wearing business types who usually are quite well behaved. Northeast Regional business class does have the advantage that is fills up more slowly than coach, so you have a better chance of a seat to yourself, there is lots more legroom, the seats recline farther, and there are curtains on the windows. And I always make it my business to get at least one cup of the comped coffee. Still, I wouldn't mind if they put 2x1 seating in the full-length cars (which they appear to9 be doing for the Siemens Venture cars).

 

[MARC Rider]

Rode parlor cars many times on the Merchants Limited parlor cars between Boston and GCT. Great ride, and the surcharge to do so was only $2,67 back in the 60s.

Was that a $2.67 surcharge over the regular coach fare or over a higher first class fare?
I recently looked at PRR fares on the NEC South in a circa 1967 timetable and the basic coach fare, PHL-NYP was $4.30, but a parlor car was $6.74 for the rail fare and $1.40 for the parlor car seat, making a total of $8.14 for the entire fare. Thus, the parlor car was almost twice the regular coach fare.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

This is not so much of a problem on the Northeast Regional, where the fares only seem cheap in comparison with the Acela. Thus, even the coach riff-raff on the Northeast Regional are suit-wearing business types who usually are quite well behaved.

Agreee. I don’t pay extra for BC on the regionals but I do on the Illinois and Michigan trains just because of the clientele. Plus I do like the 2+1 seating.

In California I’ll pay extra for a reserved seat since I have been on a packed Surfliner where I was scolded for not giving up my seat for a lady who sss having to stand in the aisle.

 

[Palmetto]

$2.67 over the coach fare, IIRC.

 

[SubwayNut]

Pacific Surfliner Buissiness class (especially leaving from LAX with lounge access) is such a good value. Just before the pandemic my partner and I on a longer trip needed to go from LAX to Oceanside, such a good use of a $50 travel voucher for me (lost a dollar, because tickets were $49) after chicago forgot to load our luggage on a trip home to South Bend (on $25 ticket) and diving into my AGR points for her ticket.

It's the only route I'll pay for buissiness class on.

 

[Larry H.]

The attendant can make all the difference as well as the condition of the car. On the Saluki Chicago to Carbondale at peak times its filled with college kids who are somewhat rowdy at times. Some of them use the Business car as well. The last trip I had on it the Business Class car was a remodeled one in nice shape, the attendant who is probably gone by now was one of the finest I have run into on that route. He was overly helpful, asking if you needed anything and offering the drinks that come with the ticket. He didn't just hide in the cafe counter and snarl at passengers as sometimes happens. He told me that he was relatively new and wanted to give the best service he could under the circumstances, and that they were being trained to do just that. He also commented that if the employees didn't do that they might be removed from the passenger cars. That was a couple years ago by now, I wonder what its like today?

 

[Cal]

I didn’t know Amtrak still had superliner coach with cafe underneath. I remember riding when those were on the Texas Eagle when I was a kid. Trip down memory lane!

I know those are in regular use on the Heartland Flyer. They will be on an Illinois Service if they are using superliners I believe. And I'm pretty sure one will be on the Cascades when they use superliners.

 

[Crowbar_k]

Update. Now the business class uses the refreshed superliner coaches. Here are a couple pictures I took.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Update. Now the business class uses the refreshed superliner coaches. Here are a couple pictures I took.
View attachment 27152View attachment 27153

Yup... I know as do many others... frequently and on some services business class is actually a downgrade when the pre assign seats... you are stuck next to a perhaps unpleasant traveler... sometimes in the aisle... and can't change... and on top of all that... the seats are no different than coach.

The two - one seating arrangement found on some trains is much better... but Amtrak is famous for it's inconsistency so one needs to be very careful when spending extra cash for something that may be inferior to the regular coach seating that costs less. Nope... it doesn't make any sense at all!

 

[BlackDiamond]

RE the "riffraff" factor - sometimes in BC you get the guy who spends the entire trip conducting business in a loud voice over his cell phone. Not sure that is any better.

 

[CaptPete 43]

Business Class should be universally 2 plus 1 seating. Further to that, passengers wishing to use a mobile phone should move to the vestibule like in Japan.

 

[Crowbar_k]

This guy made a video about the same thing.

 

[Peter Sexton]

Business class should be 2 +1 and a beverage including alcoholic selections should be available.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Business class should be 2 +1 and a beverage including alcoholic selections should be available.

I imagine that once the Illini/Saluki get the new Venture cars that would restore the traditional 2+1 business layout.

 

[railiner]

Was that a $2.67 surcharge over the regular coach fare or over a higher first class fare?
I recently looked at PRR fares on the NEC South in a circa 1967 timetable and the basic coach fare, PHL-NYP was $4.30, but a parlor car was $6.74 for the rail fare and $1.40 for the parlor car seat, making a total of $8.14 for the entire fare. Thus, the parlor car was almost twice the regular coach fare.

And well worth it!
You got to sit in a reserved “1 and 1”, revolving, reclining, winged back, Heywood-Wakefield “Sleepy Hollow” parlor car seat, with a wall mounted drop down table. And drink service from the porter was just the push of a call button away…

 

[zephyr17]

Was that a $2.67 surcharge over the regular coach fare or over a higher first class fare?
I recently looked at PRR fares on the NEC South in a circa 1967 timetable and the basic coach fare, PHL-NYP was $4.30, but a parlor car was $6.74 for the rail fare and $1.40 for the parlor car seat, making a total of $8.14 for the entire fare. Thus, the parlor car was almost twice the regular coach fare.

Parlor cars passengers were always, or almost always, charged First Class rail fares.