Seat assignments (Acela pilot Feb 2018)

[Triley]

When I made my observation, it wasn't with the intent to insinuate that Anderson had anything to do with it...I'm sure that he doesn't "micro-manage" such trivia.

I just don't see why whomever made the decision to copy the airline practice of skipping some letter's would think passenger's would find that more logical than a simple, "A,B, and C"...

And if they thought otherwise, they should perhaps have used "A, C, and D" since Amtrak does not have anything with more than 4 rows across...

Except it's 4 rows wide in First Class, so you'd need to tack on another letter.
I don't really get what the big deal is, though. Has anyone made a big deal about a 4 seat wide plane not being labeled A/B/C/D (though I have seen a few)?

The Acela is in direct competition with the airlines (first class, luggage bins, etc), so why not continue with that theme and follow the airlines' direction with seat numbers?

 

[MARC Rider]

someone really likes to copy airliner practice, even though no Amtrak cars have six seats across...

As most travelers have flown enough to know most non-widebody planes have A-F seats, Amtrak simply keeps that practice in First Class. I haven't ridden an Acela in so long I don't know if they carried that through to the business class cars.

Or...maybe Mr Anderson has plans on narrowing the seats and moving them closer together????

I spent one winter semi-regularly flying (as a passenger) on MD80s. They had 5 across seating, 2 on one side of the aisle, 3 on the other. I recall that the seat numbers went AB on one side and DEF on the other.

 

[bratkinson]

someone really likes to copy airliner practice, even though no Amtrak cars have six seats across...

As most travelers have flown enough to know most non-widebody planes have A-F seats, Amtrak simply keeps that practice in First Class. I haven't ridden an Acela in so long I don't know if they carried that through to the business class cars.

Or...maybe Mr Anderson has plans on narrowing the seats and moving them closer together????

I spent one winter semi-regularly flying (as a passenger) on MD80s. They had 5 across seating, 2 on one side of the aisle, 3 on the other. I recall that the seat numbers went AB on one side and DEF on the other.

My flying days of yore also recalls the AB-DEF airplane seating. And in Midwest Express DC-9s and later MD-80s, I think it was simply AB-CD. But not having flown anywhere in the past 12 years or so, I really don't care at all WHAT airline seating is.

As for my remark regarding Andersons' possible plans, that was just my way of being laughably facetious. I guess it fizzled.

 

[jis]

So we are spending a page worth of comments (which of course are priceless [emoji57]) for discussing something that no one really cares about? [emoji51]

 

[Acela150]

So we are spending a page worth of comments (which of course are priceless [emoji57]) for discussing something that no one really cares about? [emoji51]

Welcome to AU!

 

[OBS]

someone really likes to copy airliner practice, even though no Amtrak cars have six seats across...

As most travelers have flown enough to know most non-widebody planes have A-F seats, Amtrak simply keeps that practice in First Class. I haven't ridden an Acela in so long I don't know if they carried that through to the business class cars.

Or...maybe Mr Anderson has plans on narrowing the seats and moving them closer together????

I spent one winter semi-regularly flying (as a passenger) on MD80s. They had 5 across seating, 2 on one side of the aisle, 3 on the other. I recall that the seat numbers went AB on one side and DEF on the other.

My flying days of yore also recalls the AB-DEF airplane seating. And in Midwest Express DC-9s and later MD-80s, I think it was simply AB-CD. But not having flown anywhere in the past 12 years or so, I really don't care at all WHAT airline seating is.

As for my remark regarding Andersons' possible plans, that was just my way of being laughably facetious. I guess it fizzled.

Sorry to continue off topic, but used to LOVE Midwest Express Airlines!

 

[bratkinson]

I'm riding Acela 2172 FC from WAS as I write this. It would seem that Amtrak could use a small lesson in 'doing what they say/advertise'. When I boarded, the 'guaranteed forward facing single seats 4F-7F weren't.

i remarked to a backwards facing passenger as I was walking to my seat about it. Somebody must've flipped them in the 20 minutes since we left WAS. I had my head looking at my laptop screen.

PS...As a Milwaukee resident until '95, Midwest Express was practically the only airline I flew. I can still taste the great meals and fresh baked cookies!

 

[cpotisch]

I'm riding Acela 2172 FC from WAS as I write this. It would seem that Amtrak could use a small lesson in 'doing what they say/advertise'. When I boarded, the 'guaranteed forward facing single seats 4F-7F weren't.

i remarked to a backwards facing passenger as I was walking to my seat about it. Somebody must've flipped them in the 20 minutes since we left WAS. I had my head looking at my laptop screen.

PS...As a Milwaukee resident until '95, Midwest Express was practically the only airline I flew. I can still taste the great meals and fresh baked cookies!

I guess they just forgot to flip them. Typical of Amtrak to go out of their way to guarantee something and specifically forget to do that thing.

 

[Anderson]

Given that I've heard a rumbling that Amtrak is looking at trying to charge for single seats in Acela First (probably alongside reducing the "base" fare while raising revenue by a bit), if they can't guarantee a seat direction they're /begging/ for chargeback fights.

Actually, as it stands they're sort-of begging for partial chargebacks as things stand...but this actually tells me why they put seat selection after purchase: If they put seat selection before purchase, you could say "I purchased seat X, which was supposed to be a forward-facing single and it wasn't!" An intermediate-boarding passenger who got wind of the train being "backwards" (e.g. boarding at BAL) could conceivably attempt to "force" their way onto the next train without paying an upfare. You could also get a fight if someone boarded and their seat were taken (e.g. if I paid an extra $20 for a single and got plopped in an opposing-side window with a seatmate, I would not be a happy camper). Resolving such disputes would be at the mercy of the credit card company, and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least a few cases go against Amtrak if you can make a case that the seat guarantee was part of the "accommodation" you paid for.

However, with seat selection/assignment /after/ purchase, it is probably harder to argue that it is part of the contract (you're guaranteed /a/ seat, not /that/ seat; your guarantee of /a/ seat just "happens" to correspond to /that/ seat).

As to the use of A through F, my guess is that they wanted to keep the door open to 3-2 seating if they ever wound up with an appropriate commuter contract (remember, MNRR and the LIRR use 3-2 seating) so there was no reason to change the system.

 

[Heading North]

I could be wrong, but I recall the seat lettering starting with the Acela and crossing over into the Northeast Regional and Amfleet trains (or Acela Regional as they were briefly called) as a marketing pitch to compete with airlines and show that there are no middle seats. Whenever Ive traveled on a Superliner or a long-distance Amfleet (II) the seats have always been numbered sequentially with no letters, seat 1 to 59 or whatever.

 

[KnightRail]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

 

[PVD]

Flew Midwest Exp to the Frozen Four the year it was in Milwaukee (also caught an amazing exhibit of Vatican Art that was in the US at the time) 717 with 88 nice leather seats and baked on board choc chip coolies, going home was a more conventional 5 across md-80.

 

[Acela150]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what you’re seeing?

 

[KnightRail]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what youre seeing?

That is correct about the Thanksgiving period, those should already be turned on in availability. November 19th is the day the launch of the Acela First class program should be completed and in full force.

 

[Acela150]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what youre seeing?

That is correct about the Thanksgiving period, those should already be turned on in availability. November 19th is the day the launch of the Acela First class program should be completed and in full force.

Roger that. And thank you for your info.

 

[PRR 60]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what youre seeing?

That is correct about the Thanksgiving period, those should already be turned on in availability. November 19th is the day the launch of the Acela First class program should be completed and in full force.

Roger that. And thank you for your info.

When you say "all Acela trains," do you mean Business and First Class?

 

[cpotisch]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what youre seeing?

That is correct about the Thanksgiving period, those should already be turned on in availability. November 19th is the day the launch of the Acela First class program should be completed and in full force.

Roger that. And thank you for your info.

When you say "all Acela trains," do you mean Business and First Class?

I'm pretty sure he's saying that all Acela trains will have assigned seating in First Class starting 11/19.

 

[Acela150]

November 19th should be the first day where 100% of Acela trains will have assigned first class seating.

I have been informed by someone that all Acela Trains during the Thanksgiving period will have assigned seating. Perhaps this is what youre seeing?

That is correct about the Thanksgiving period, those should already be turned on in availability. November 19th is the day the launch of the Acela First class program should be completed and in full force.

Roger that. And thank you for your info.

When you say "all Acela trains," do you mean Business and First Class?

I'm pretty sure he's saying that all Acela trains will have assigned seating in First Class starting 11/19.

Correct. First Class is getting the assigned seating for now. I believe that the entire train will come out with the new trainsets. And IMO this makes things more of a challenge if one wants to sit in the quiet car. Unless they make booking for the Quiet Car an option.

The only way that booking for BC seats will be made easy is if cars are given a number like Sleeping Cars. So for instance Car 1-6. And then make those car numbers permanent. Since the train turns in station. But I can honestly see that slowing boarding. But time will tell.

 

[Acela150]

Post Updated on 10/30/18 to reflect new trains with Assigned Seating. New trains in RED.

Link to a seating chart on Amtrak.com thanks to Bratkinson.

https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/onboard-accommodations-for-all-your-needs/seating-accommodations/first-class.html

As of 10/19/18 All weekday Northbound trains have assigned seating.

As of 10/30/18 7 trains remain to get the assigned seating. 6 weekday and 1 weekend.

I've done a check of trains that have assigned seating.

WAS-NYP

2100

2103

2104

2107 NEW

2109 NEW

2110

2117

2119 NEW

2121 NEW

2122

2124

2126

2128

2203

2205

2208

2213

2215

2220

2222

2224

2228

WAS-BOS

2150

2154

2158

2160

2163

2164

2165

2166

2167

2168

2170

2171

2172

2248

2249

2250

2251

2252 NEW

2253

2254

2255

2256

2258

2259

2260

2261

2275

NYP-BOS

2190

2290

I'll try my best to keep this up to date.

Bump, Bump, Bump, Bump it up!

 

[Acela150]

Post Updated on 11/7/18 to reflect new trains with Assigned Seating. New trains in RED.

Link to a seating chart on Amtrak.com thanks to Bratkinson.

https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/onboard-accommodations-for-all-your-needs/seating-accommodations/first-class.html

As of 10/19/18 All weekday Northbound trains have assigned seating.

As of 11/7/18 the roll out is complete effective 11/12/18 

I've done a check of trains that have assigned seating.

WAS-NYP

2100

2103

2104

2107 

2109 

2110

2117

2119 

2121 

2122

2124

2126

2128

2203

2205

2208

2213

2215

2220

2222

2224

2228

WAS-BOS

2150

2151 NEW

2153 NEW

2154

2155 NEW

2158

2159 NEW

2160

2163

2164

2165

2166

2167

2168

2170

2171

2172

2173 NEW

2175 NEW

2248

2249

2250
2251

2252

2253

2254

2255

2256

2257 NEW

2258

2259

2260

2261

2275

NYP-BOS

2190

2290

I'll try my best to keep this up to date.

As of 11/7/17 ALL Acela trains now have assigned seating in First Class.  

I will be riding 2154 next Friday and hope that my Upgrade Coupons can be used and will give a report on the Assigned Seating. 

 

[bratkinson]

As of 11/7/17 ALL Acela trains now have assigned seating in First Class.  

I will be riding 2154 next Friday and hope that my Upgrade Coupons can be used and will give a report on the Assigned Seating. 

When I upgraded Sunday afternoon for todays' trains (AGR Select Plus gets 48 hour upgrade coupons, vs 12 hr for AGR Select and BofA credit card anniversary upgrade coupons), I was completely surprised to find that #2153 was NOT assigned seats.  Not being reserved, I couldn't 'see' online (modify seat assignment screen) how many seats were taken.   Upon boarding, ALL the single seats were filled as were all forward facing double seats.  Now I know why it 'appears' to many that the Acela makes money! (above the rail).  So I settled for seat 16F against the front bulkhead and had it all to myself all the way to WAS.

And #2172?  There were maybe 20 seats available Sunday afternoon when I upgraded.  All the single-seat choices were taken, both front- and rear-facing, so I became the first one at a 4-person table that I could face forward.  While waiting in the WAS ClubAcela, I decided to see 'how full is it?', and there was only ONE seat available!  And most of the seats that were vacated at any stop were immediately refillled by boarding passengers.  After NYP, the BC was maybe 30% full.

 

[Acela150]

I'm taking a guess that most of the First Class seats are open until the 48 hour upgrades are available to be used. Simply cause First Class is very pricey. 

 

[Triley]

I'm taking a guess that most of the First Class seats are open until the 48 hour upgrades are available to be used. Simply cause First Class is very pricey. 

If you only knew how many regulars had tickets paid for (even if only the business class portion) paid for by their employer...

 

[bratkinson]

I'm taking a guess that most of the First Class seats are open until the 48 hour upgrades are available to be used. Simply cause First Class is very pricey. 

I have to agree.  Seeing how in less than 48 hours, almost all the available seats got taken, I'd have to say the 'upgraders' got the seats.  Those with 12 hour upgrade coupons probably got some of those seats, simply because there are fewer Select Plus/Executive riders than Select only.  Could be some of those 12-hour coupons for BofA card anniversaries got used as well.

 

[Acela150]

I'm taking a guess that most of the First Class seats are open until the 48 hour upgrades are available to be used. Simply cause First Class is very pricey. 

If you only knew how many regulars had tickets paid for (even if only the business class portion) paid for by their employer...

Actually having worked in the Call Center in Philly I have quite a good idea.