First coach LD Trip

[Devil's Advocate]

Thought they weren't putting strangers next to you in coach because of Covid...? That it was actually good to travel solo? Where did I get that idea, sounds like I was wrong.

I believe that directive ended several months ago and now they're back to pushing single strangers together while leaving empty seats for groups that may or may not show up later on down the line. There are several ways to improve this situation, such as adding armrest dividers and bendable headrests to coach seats, selling and blocking two adjoining seats for single passengers, and giving every long distance route a business class car with a single seat side. These changes would make seated travel more appealing to me and would give Amtrak more options for up-selling to other travelers across the network.

 

[AFriendly]

I slept in coach on two occasions and don't recall any issues with my seat mates. I think my snoring chased them away.

I don't understand why people are so squeamish about sleeping next to a stranger in coach, maybe its because I am a 46 year old male. I remember a Silver Meteor trip and the guy sitting next to me was part of a group of 3 and he kept asking the attendant if there wasn't some way he couldn't get seats "together" with the rest of his party, he was already right behind them so I knew what he meant. We both slept fine. People do this on planes all the time and there's a lot less space. I've never had a problem sleeping in coach on Amtrak as a solo traveler. I have taken flights, on the other hand, where I end up sitting next to some weirdos. I'll never forget one particular transatlantic flight where I was seated in the middle seat between my wife and another gentleman who had the aisle seat and at one point he started twitching and leaning over into my space, making hand gestures in my face and making strange eye-rolling faces at me when I wasn't looking at him. I could swear he had some kind of health problem except the minute I took out my phone and started taking video he stopped immediately.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I don't understand why people are so squeamish about sleeping next to a stranger in coach, maybe its because I am a 46 year old male. I remember a Silver Meteor trip and the guy sitting next to me was part of a group of 3 and he kept asking the attendant if there wasn't some way he couldn't get seats "together" with the rest of his party, he was already right behind them so I knew what he meant. We both slept fine. People do this on planes all the time and there's a lot less space. I've never had a problem sleeping in coach on Amtrak as a solo traveler. I have taken flights, on the other hand, where I end up sitting next to some weirdos. I'll never forget one particular transatlantic flight where I was seated in the middle seat between my wife and another gentleman who had the aisle seat and at one point he started twitching and leaning over into my space, making hand gestures in my face and making strange eye-rolling faces at me when I wasn't looking at him. I could swear he had some kind of health problem except the minute I took out my phone and started taking video he stopped immediately.

I don't have an issue sleeping in coach next to a stranger. I do have other personal reasons why I now book a roomette for overnight trips.

 

[jis]

Amtrak's uniqueness that separates it from all plane Coach seats is the total lack of an arm rest between the two seats. Many people here have noted that they find that disconcerting.

 

[Exvalley]

Amtrak's uniqueness that separates it from all plane Coach seats is the total lack of an arm rest between the two seats.

That is exactly my issue. I would be much more comfortable if there was an arm rest involved.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I don't understand why people are so squeamish about sleeping next to a stranger in coach, maybe its because I am a 46 year old male.

In many ways Amtrak's coach setup is a product of the 1970's, and presumably back then it was no big deal, but it's the 2020's now and having no divider between strangers can be a problem. On a plane we're generally (1) buckled down with (2) armrests between seats and (3) bendable headrests that help divide my space from yours. It's not perfect but it's practical and I can be reasonably certain I will not end up sleeping against anyone who is unknown to me. On Amtrak there are no dividers and it's not uncommon to slide around ending up who knows where and I find that situation unappealing.

 

[AFriendly]

In many ways Amtrak's coach setup is a product of the 1970's, and presumably back then it was no big deal, but it's the 2020's now and having no divider between strangers can be a problem. On a plane we're generally (1) buckled down with (2) armrests between seats and (3) bendable headrests that help divide my space from yours. It's not perfect but it's practical and I can be reasonably certain I will not end up sleeping against anyone who is unknown to me. On Amtrak there are no dividers and it's not uncommon to slide around ending up who knows where and I find that situation unappealing.

I absolutely understand that, but putting a divider between the two seats can be a double-edged sword: if the seat next to you is unoccupied, then it is nice to be able to stretch out. Kids and smaller adults can even lie down comfortably across two seats, which is nice (it wouldn't work for me). I suppose a folding armrest would be the best option. There's no reason why long distance coaches can't be retrofitted with "sleeper style" seats with dividers at the sides like business class airline seats either, they just wouldn't be able to recline quite as far as a lie-flat seat can. The only issue then is that the dividers obstruct the view out the window for aisle passengers, which matters a lot more on a train than an airliner, but I bet some clever design could address it. If it were up to me this would be the standard long-distance coach product (why not as long as you could get the same amount of seats in a car).

 

[Exvalley]

putting a divider between the two seats can be a double-edged sword: if the seat next to you is unoccupied, then it is nice to be able to stretch out.

Most airlines have armrests that fold up and out of the way.

 

[jis]

I absolutely understand that, but putting a divider between the two seats can be a double-edged sword: if the seat next to you is unoccupied, then it is nice to be able to stretch out. Kids and smaller adults can even lie down comfortably across two seats, which is nice (it wouldn't work for me).

One has been able to do so in airline seats at least dating back to my first flight in 1966.

I suppose a folding armrest would be the best option.

Indeed. those may even be easy to install, though hard to tell without knowing more about the seat frame structure of the current seats. They were present in the very comfortable Sleeping Hollow seats used in many pre-Amtrak Coaches. Amtrak took a giant leap back in getting rid of them in their new seat design.

There's no reason why long distance coaches can't be retrofitted with "sleeper style" seats with dividers at the sides like business class airline seats either, they just wouldn't be able to recline quite as far as a lie-flat seat can. The only issue then is that the dividers obstruct the view out the window for aisle passengers, which matters a lot more on a train than an airliner, but I bet some clever design could address it. If it were up to me this would be the standard long-distance coach product (why not as long as you could get the same amount of seats in a car).

That is addressing many other issues. You don't need all that additional paraphernalia to solve the immediate issue, though of course it would possibly be nice.

I doubt that you can get the same number of typical airline BC pods into the floor space available as the current number of Amtrak Coach seats. Even getting something like the pre-pod Diamond Lie Flats would be tough. Maybe the exceedingly uncomfortable diagonal sloping seats that preceded them might work, but IMHO they were terrible and I avoided them like the plague.It was like trying to sleep on a playground slide.

 

[UserNameRequired]

For those who dislike the coach seats not being divided, have you given any thought to designing some kind of divider accessory? For example, for airlines the Create-a-space type thing:



I have actually had an unknown lady ride beside me on a commercial flight, invade space with arms and legs, watched me play smartphone games and kept talking to me. I think she took too many anti-anxiety pills or something, she was not a comfortable flyer, she wasn’t even sure which town she was flying to.

Edit another airline design here: Soarigami - Portable Armrest Divider

 

[flitcraft]

My last LD trip in coach I had a handsy seatmate who didn't want to take 'buzz off' for an answer. Which is why it was my last LD trip in coach...

 

[BalmyZephyr]

I don't understand why people are so squeamish about sleeping next to a stranger in coach,

Covid

 

[toddinde]

I slept in coach on two occasions and don't recall any issues with my seat mates. I think my snoring chased them away.

I’ve never had any problems, but a female friend of mine did. Very creepy.

 

[Sidney]

Covid

Yes,Covid and the fact it is uncomfortable and awkward sharing a seat with a stranger overnight in very tight quarters.88 I've had my share of overweight people and people with body odor. Twice I woke up to find my seatmate with his head on my shoulder. On the flip side I have sat next to a lovely woman and we began seeing each other. Of course that scenario is rare. In addition if you are in a window seat,and nature calls,unless you are extremely careful you have to wake up your neighbor.

When I boarded in Albuquerque going to Chicago in Coach on a rail pass last August I was assigned a seat next to an overweight guy sprawled over both seats who was also going to Chicago. I told my attendant to find me another seat. He complied. During the day I have no problem sharing a seat. On the Western trains I spend my time in the Sightseer car. It's those dreaded overnights. I normally book a roomette for long distance travel from Chicago.It's getting there on the Capitol Ltd,Lake Shore or the Cardinal.The price of a roomette even for overnight is just too much.

Different than flying. Many flights are six hours or less. On a train it could be three days.

 

[cassie225]

Only do coach sometimes from New Orleans to Atlanta or New Orleans to Meridian or Memphis, overnight I have to lay this body down flat and finding I’m not really a roomette person,that is also kinda tight for me.