Chicago Metropolitan Lounge question

[TriumphGuy]

Hi all - new poster here but not new to train trips.

I am taking Empire Builder to Seattle in a couple weeks, booked a roomette. This will be my 4th long haul trip, third to Seattle. Normally my wife accompanies me on these trips but I am going solo on this one.

I live in Chicago's western suburbs and my wife wants to see me off at CUS. We can take the local Metra downtown (two blocks from my house) to Union Station. Since I am the only ticketed passenger, is there any chance she'll be allowed in the Metropolitan Lounge to wait with me or are they very strict about that. If so, no biggie, we can hang out at a restaurant until boarding time.

Also, it's been a number of years since my last train trip. Do they still supply ice in the sleeper cars upon request? I enjoy my 2 evening gin and tonics. Without ice, that would be barbaric and I'm no barbarian!

Thank you,

TriumphGuy

 

[bmjhagen9426]

According to the official policy, I don't think so. But I can be wrong, so check Amtrak dot com website and go to the section that talks about lounge access. Especially at big stations like CUS, it is often enforced, and only the boarders can get to the platform. I would spend time with her at a restaurant and head to the Met Lounge. I can't say as for supplying ice though. If not, you can bring a pack of ice inside a cooler in case.

 

[amtkstn]

You are usual able to bring one guest in the lounge. From what I have read most SCA do not keep ice anymore.

 

[SarahZ]

While ice is not kept readily available in the sleepers, your SCA will get ice for you.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I've seen wildly different ice policies from LSA to LSA. Some still supply it, some will get it for you upon request, and some insist you get your own from Diner or Lounge.

 

[zephyr17]

I've seen wildly different ice policies from LSA to LSA. Some still supply it, some will get it for you upon request, and some insist you get your own from Diner or Lounge.

Haven't had an SCA flat refuse to get ice. When I run into one, there goes their tip.

 

[TriumphGuy]

Thanks for the replies. Guess we'll just see if they let her in, like I said, no big deal.

I wasn't sure about the ice, although I had read they no longer let passengers get their own in the sleeping cars. As long as I can get it somewhere onboard, that will work.

What are people tipping SCAs these days?

 

[Sauve850]

I rode all over the country last summer. Never had trouble getting ice from SCA. Silver Meteor had bag of ice out for passengers to help themselves.

 

[Sauve850]

I usually tip $10 per night but the SCA has to be decent. Help me with bags , be friendly, make beds on time, offer to get juice etc.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Unless you are a Select Plus or Select Executive Member of AGR, or have a Pass to the Lounge, you will NOT be able to take a guest into a Metro Lounge or Club Acela.

Some AUers are willing to share unneeded or unused Lounge Passes and Upgrade Coupons with others on this Forum since they have expiration dates.

Nice trip,hope it's smooth sailing on the Hi-Line!

 

[Manny T]

Was traveling last month WAS-CHI in a roomette, friend was traveling WAS-NYP on Regional in coach. Upon entering Club Acela in DC, I showed my sleeper ticket and we were both accommodated, no problem, no questions asked.

Whether this will translate to Chi Metropolitan lounge, I cannot say. I would try smiling and asking nicely.

 

[SubwayNut]

I was allowed to sit with a friend on his elderly grandfather when they were on a layover in CHI (I came in from South Bend by the South Shore Line and not Amtrak), the staff were fine with letting me in!

 

[Bob Dylan]

The Chicago Dragons are infamous for not doing friendly or being helpful and for making entering the Metro Lounge a hassle.

Hopefully the New Lounge and the New Year along with New Management will help change this!

 

[Steve4031]

The dragon was working today. All she focused on was telling people what they could not do. I told her that wasn't very helpful.

 

[Lonestar648]

I have not been to the new lounge, but this past summer, we had no problem getting my granddaughter's friend and her mother in to sit with us until boarding. Maybe both women liked the two 10 year girls, who were obvious best friends.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I've seen wildly different ice policies from LSA to LSA. Some still supply it, some will get it for you upon request, and some insist you get your own from Diner or Lounge.

I haven't seen any SCA's supplying self service ice in several trips now. Some SCA's will get it for you and some will tell you to go get it yourself from the snack car. Nobody is getting you any ice late at night or early in the morning. Which is why having self service ice was so beneficial prior to the Chicken Little poison ice brigade banning self service for everyone.

Haven't had an SCA flat refuse to get ice. When I run into one, there goes their tip.

I've had SCA's refuse to get ice. I've also seen SCA's pretend to get my ice while quietly pushing the request off to someone else while they sat back and relaxed. In those cases I tipped the person who went and got my ice instead. I don't need help carrying my luggage or making my bed or collecting my trash, but I do need help getting ice and if an SCA can't even do that much I see no reason to tip them.

The Chicago Dragons are infamous for not doing friendly or being helpful and for making entering the Metro Lounge a hassle. Hopefully the New Lounge and the New Year along with New Management will help change this!

I've seen the Metropolitan staff get so caught up in bitching at someone that they inadvertently let other people in without checking them at all. It's not just Amtrak though. Chicago seems to have some of the worst customer service standards in the country. Which is really saying something.

 

[Steve4031]

I agree about the Chicago customer service thing.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I agree about the Chicago customer service thing.

I'll second that.

 

[wwchi]

and I'll third that :-(

 

[Lonestar648]

I think some enjoy an arguing interface with people they don't know, thinking everyone should enjoy the abrasive attitude.

 

[Woodcut60]

I didn't know that you're allowed to bring a guest into the Lounges for Sleeping Car passengers. This is on the Amtrak website:

• ClubAcela customers traveling in First Class or sleeping car accommodations, Single-Day Pass holders, Select Plus and Select Executive members may bring immediate family members traveling together, or one, non-family guest. Unaccompanied guests are not permitted.
• Other than those listed above, access is limited to the person whose name is printed on the Amtrak ticket. A ticket must be displayed each time a customer enters the Club.

There usually was ice on all my trips which I liked very much.

 

[Manny T]

Thank you for posting that Woodcut60. That was exactly my experience at the Acela Lounge in D. C.--I was traveling in a sleeper and was able to bring in one coach guest.

Whether the same policy officially applies in Chicago I don't know, since the lounge there is a Metropolitan Lounge, not an Acela Lounge, and I think there are some differences in operation.