!).
That’s some nice fine print you got there, Thirdrail.
As far as I can tell, you can still head down and board early at NYP without a Red Cap, so long as you know the tracks. Just take the stairs down to the platform from the lower level, instead of the main Amtrak concourse from which access to the tracks is restricted.
You can - I did it the last time I was there and was planning on doing that today until they said my red cap was there.
CHI and WAS (LD-Don't know about NEC) not so much. CHI, you're likely to get run over by coach pax as soon as they see one petson head through the boarding door. Nearly impossible for two people to hold back the tide. I plan on getting a red cap in LA for the San Diego run, not sure about CHI on the SWC. We'll see how my calf holds up. 3 days to go!
I have been with people from the NY Club Acela that were escorted to the platform early without asking for such assistance. The Red Cap acted as a guide and did not carry bags or overtly solicit a tip. The Red Caps are reportedly well paid union employees of Amtrak and are there to help all customers, not just the affluent tippers.
I agree, and would add hotel housekeeping staff to this list. I leave a tip each day for them, instead of at the end of a stay, because it could be a different person each day.
Excellent points. I also tip housekeeping, but tipping daily is a good idea as different staff may be involved day-to-day. Never thought of it that way but you're right. When you check out, just leaving $$$ on a desk is all you need to do. But if staying multiple nights, how do you handle it one day at a time so the right people get it? If it was me working, I'd be hesitant to take $$$ on a desk left there by guests who hadn't checked out for fear I'd be accused of theft...
Amtrak OBS enjoy both a higher wage and better benefits than the vast majority of front line service staff. I'm glad they have it this good and I see no reason to take any of it away from them. That being said, I also see no reason for passengers who are worse off (wage and/or benefit wise) to feel obligated to tip their financial superiors.
Back before mass shootings were "resolved" by the unilateral dissolution of hotel room privacy, I used to place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door and hope the staff got home a little sooner by not having to bother with my room that day.
That is what I do as well. If I am in a hotel on Christmas Day, I leave a more generous gratuity than I normally do. I appreciate the person sacrificing their holiday with family and friends to make provide me with a clean and properly cared for room.
Today we went down to the platform (track 12) and boarded with no issue, well before they actually nnounced it and started the full boarding process. The only benefit of a Red Cap in this regard is that they’ll know for sure which track the train is on. But it also isn’t the worst thing in the world to go down to the wrong platform, see the train on another track, go back up, and then back down to the correct ones. It cost me maybe 30 seconds today, and I’d much rather waste 30 seconds of my own time going up and down stairs, than to have an employee take the time to bring me and my bags down.
Point well taken re: passengers who are worse off financially.
I was worse off in my early days of traveling in a roomette. I was able to travel in the roomettes using points from the credit cards. I’m doing better financially now but still use points for roomettes.
Same here, in the '70s and early '80s. Back then, the venerable, affordable Slumbercoach saved the day on some routes. Gee, those are missed! But to keep this on-topic, even then I did tip those who did their jobs well enough to earn it -- just not that much because of my own situation. Usually a buck or two for a single overnight.
Wander around platforms at CUS even if you do make it past the locked doors and you'll have an encounter with Amtrak police.
