I don't know if the reservation system would support this, but even if it did, on a long trip, a downline conductor or the car attendant is likely to seat someone in the next seat if the train if full. Don't know for sure, but do not think it will work.
Agreed, especially when you consider that Amtrak's coach is a million times more comfortable than an airline's version of coach (and is arguably competitive with an airline's first class in terms of comfort). Thanks to all for the quick replies.
I don't think it's strictly forbidden. I'm sure Amtrak would gladly sell you 2 tickets, if one was for "Sue" and one was for "Jane".
I did this once on a flight from New York to Tokyo and had the middle and window seat on the plane--far less expensive than buying business class. It provided me the extra leg room to somehow sleep fitfully, and it allowed both myself, and the lucky freeloader in the aisle seat, a spare seat and tray table to pile things on.I don't think it's strictly forbidden. I'm sure Amtrak would gladly sell you 2 tickets, if one was for "Sue" and one was for "Jane".
But as said, if there was an unoccupied seat next to her, and they needed that seat (especially for someone boarding in the middle of the night), there is nothing to stop them from seating someone there! (I have gone to sleep with an empty seat next to me, and woke up the following morning to find it occupied by somebody who boarded during the night. I have also been on the other side.)
As noted, no one in coach has a specific assigned seat. When you buy a "reserved" coach ticket, you are simply buying somewhere seat sit, somewhere on the train.
What possible reason would Amtrak have for selling the same customer two seats to the same destination in two completely different areas of the train if nobody has been promised any specific coach seat in advance? So long as the seats are paid for and are active for the same travel segment they should be together. There may be extremely rare situations where this somehow isn't possible, but under standard operating procedure this should be fairly easy to accommodate, even for Amtrak.
:giggle:
Maybe it's cheaper just not to shower for a week before the trip, wear clothes that haven't been washed for a month, and then dare anyone to sit next to you!
While that is true, if a family boards (say a mother and her 3 year old daughter), and all other seats are full but there are 2 seats occupied by single travelers in seats #56 and #12, would you rather split the family up, or move the single traveler so the mother and her daughter can sit together?
Why? My kid and I have been split up, because there are no two seats next to each other when we first boarded. Seems a lot of single travelers like to grab a "window seat", leaving many isle seats empty.While that is true, if a family boards (say a mother and her 3 year old daughter), and all other seats are full but there are 2 seats occupied by single travelers in seats #56 and #12, would you rather split the family up, or move the single traveler so the mother and her daughter can sit together?Especially if they are boarding at 1 AM!
I've been asked many time if I would mind moving so a family could sit together. And I've had others asked if they would mind moving too.Why? My kid and I have been split up, because there are no two seats next to each other when we first boarded. Seems a lot of single travelers like to grab a "window seat", leaving many isle seats empty.While that is true, if a family boards (say a mother and her 3 year old daughter), and all other seats are full but there are 2 seats occupied by single travelers in seats #56 and #12, would you rather split the family up, or move the single traveler so the mother and her daughter can sit together?Especially if they are boarding at 1 AM!
And I have never seen the car attendant or conductor come thru the car and force 1/2 the single travelers move to an isle seat. Possibly, these single travelers are "regulars" who they don't want to upset?
Why would all other seats be full? I haven't seen Amtrak overselling the trains I ride, but even if they did why wouldn't they simply follow the traditional model where whoever arrives first gets their seats as purchased and whoever arrives last gets to deal with the consequences? In general I don't think most (LD) trains are going out with every single seat taken but if they are there is still plenty of precedent for how to deal with it objectively and without arbitrarily penalizing single travelers.
If neither you or anyone else you saw moved had purchased two seats for one individual then your examples do not apply to the situation we're presently discussing. I'm tempted to go buy two tickets on the next train out just to see what would happen but I've never been on a train that left SAS completely full to the very last seat. Sometimes we don't need to fully define every possible situation before we can give out general advice.
At every station, they do not always open every door, so they try to seat people by destination whenever possible. A family could board, a certain car, and find that ever row has 1 person only in each row at the window seat. But there are rows of 2 available 3 cars back. Should they lug all their luggage thru 3 cars just so they can sit together?
Why do I get the feeling that something similar has happened to the_traveler even when he wasn't on a train?I don't think it's strictly forbidden. I'm sure Amtrak would gladly sell you 2 tickets, if one was for "Sue" and one was for "Jane".
But as said, if there was an unoccupied seat next to her, and they needed that seat (especially for someone boarding in the middle of the night), there is nothing to stop them from seating someone there! (I have gone to sleep with an empty seat next to me, and woke up the following morning to find it occupied by somebody who boarded during the night. I have also been on the other side.)
