Pacific Surfliner Business Class Questions

[Dakota 400]

I will be traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego.

I assume only one Business Class car per train. Correct?

Is the seating in the car two seats on each side or a 1-2 seating configuration?

Business Class is Reserved, but I do not see that actual seats are assigned. Correct?

How full is the car likely to be? Do you think the odds would be good that I could have 2 seats to myself?

If I would choose to offer the Attendant a gratuity, I am thinking that a $5 gratuity would be generous.

My up-coming trip will be my first on the Pacific Surfliner and any information that anyone would be willing to provide will be most gratefully appreciated. Thanks!

 

[the_traveler]

Correct, only one BC car per train, although a reservation is needed for BC, the specific seats are not assigned or reserved. It means that only the number of available seats for BC on that train are sold, so you will have a seat. (The reservation is only for that specific train,) in coach, the seating is unreserved and you can board any Surfliner - which means you may not get a seat and have to stand.

It may or may not be the case on your train, but I have heard that when offered a tip some attendants will not accept them.

 

[seat38a]

I take the Pacific Surfliner once a week in Business Class. It has one car that is located right behind the engine. There are two versions of Pacific Business Class seats:

Version 1:


IMG_0431 by seat38a, on Flickr

Version 2:

IMG_0348 by seat38a, on Flickr

the arrangement is 2x2. Also, not all trains have an attendant, but when there is one, I generally tip $2.00.

Here is what you get in the morning train.

IMG_0326 by seat38a, on Flickr

And afternoon train. (YES the wine is included on the Pacific Surfliner Business Class)

IMG_0357 by seat38a, on Flickr




If there is no attendant on your train, here is the instructions on what to do:


IMG_0079 by seat38a, on Flickr

 

[Acela150]

Which is the more comfortable seating??

 

[sportbiker]

If you're on a 500-series train in business class, you have a decent chance of being able to find adjacent seats empty; if you're on a 700-series train, all bets are off.

I think the Acela-style seats (lower pic) are more comfortable and more adjustable than the fixed-frame seats in the upper pic. There are very few coaches with the fixed-frame design.

 

[seat38a]

Which is the more comfortable seating??

The second one. The first one the seats recline by the bottom sliding out into your own space. The second one does the traditional recline.

 

[amtkstn]

Is the wifi working? When i rode it in 2011 it had no wifi.

 

[seat38a]

Is the wifi working? When i rode it in 2011 it had no wifi.

Sure does. Its works really well! Also, they block ALL videos!

 

[Dakota 400]

seat38a,

Many thanks for your response and photos. The information that you have provided is of much use for me.

After disembarking from the Southwest Chief, hopefully on time, I am booked on Train #572 which spans the prior to Noon and the post Noon time period for its trip. I wonder what kind of food and beverage service will be available on #572. I think it is a bit late for a continental breakfast. But, is it too early for a service that would include a bottle of wine?

 

[seat38a]

seat38a,

Many thanks for your response and photos. The information that you have provided is of much use for me.

After disembarking from the Southwest Chief, hopefully on time, I am booked on Train #572 which spans the prior to Noon and the post Noon time period for its trip. I wonder what kind of food and beverage service will be available on #572. I think it is a bit late for a continental breakfast. But, is it too early for a service that would include a bottle of wine?

If there is an attendant, I think they will do a switch over and serve the afternoon snacks. I have never taken a train that straddles morning and noon.

 

[roadman3313]

I've only been on the 700-series trains and generally what they did was serve the Breakfast items north of LAX and then pass out the snack packs south of LAX. There were two attendents passing out packs so it went rather fast as the conductor was lifting tickets. They then gave out packs and drinks to people as they sat if they boarded down the line. The second attendent got off in San Juan Capistrano so I'm not sure if he was just helping on his way home or short turning to a NB train that arrived shortly after we left.

I'd assume on the 500 they would just do the snack packs and beverage but it depends on the time the train leaves LAX and when the majority of travel time is. Looking at 572 it should be snack packs as the majority is after noon and they usually stock up at LAX. Noon isnt an exact cut-off, rather a rough guideline.