Seat assignments (Acela pilot Feb 2018)

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Well, and if someone booked a seat before a given train got assigned seats and Amtrak isn't cluing them in about it, I can totally see that being a problem. Then again, IIRC this happened the first time they tried this...
This was exactly my question. I booked my trip some time ago and havent received any notice from Amtrak that I've been assigned a seat. If they're assigning seats to walk-ups today without informing us, that's a pretty messed up rollout of the system.
Oh well, I guess I'll check at the Club Acela this morning when I get into DC.
When I checked with the agent at the Club Acela this morning, he checked and said that there was no assigned seating in tonight's 2124.
 
Well, and if someone booked a seat before a given train got assigned seats and Amtrak isn't cluing them in about it, I can totally see that being a problem. Then again, IIRC this happened the first time they tried this...
This was exactly my question. I booked my trip some time ago and havent received any notice from Amtrak that I've been assigned a seat. If they're assigning seats to walk-ups today without informing us, that's a pretty messed up rollout of the system.
Oh well, I guess I'll check at the Club Acela this morning when I get into DC.
When I checked with the agent at the Club Acela this morning, he checked and said that there was no assigned seating in tonight's 2124.
I did a test booking for today's 2124 (by the way, the 1st class fare one way is $450), and there was no seat assignment. I did one for next week's 2124 (Oct 4), and seats were being assigned. But you cant see what seat you're getting untill you fork over the $$$ for the ticket.
 
Well, and if someone booked a seat before a given train got assigned seats and Amtrak isn't cluing them in about it, I can totally see that being a problem. Then again, IIRC this happened the first time they tried this...
This was exactly my question. I booked my trip some time ago and havent received any notice from Amtrak that I've been assigned a seat. If they're assigning seats to walk-ups today without informing us, that's a pretty messed up rollout of the system.
Oh well, I guess I'll check at the Club Acela this morning when I get into DC.
When I checked with the agent at the Club Acela this morning, he checked and said that there was no assigned seating in tonight's 2124.
I did a test booking for today's 2124 (by the way, the 1st class fare one way is $450), and there was no seat assignment. I did one for next week's 2124 (Oct 4), and seats were being assigned. But you cant see what seat you're getting untill you fork over the $$$ for the ticket.
That's what I think is the stupid part. What if you only want to pay for FC if you're going to get a seat by yourself instead of next to another one?
 
But if a customer is paying as much as an FC ticket is, they shouldn't have to call to make a seat reservation.
 
Folks remember that you can choose your seat after your purchase your First Class ticket.
But you don't know the availability beforehand though. Say you're traveling with someone else, and you want to be seated next to each other. There's only one FC car in the whole train, so you'd like to know if you can sit together before dropping a bunch of money on tickets, because what if you would want to save the money if you couldn't sit next to each other? Same situation if you are traveling alone and only want to pay for FC if you get a single.
 
Make the reservation. If the available seats are unacceptable, go back in and modify your trip to a different train, or just cancel. First class is fully refundable, to a voucher or back to your credit card.

I would to see the availability beforehand, too. I'm just suggesting a way around this issue.

Mike
 
agree you should be able to see seat availability FIRST...if I am looking at flying I want to see what seats are available - if only middle seats are available I might choose a different flight. Also agree with the person who wants to book 2 seats together - should be able to know that first!
 
Since a few feel that the seat display should be before your purchase. I would talk to Amtrak about such a thing. If they get enough comments about it they might change it.
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As Jim Hudson say's YMMV.
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Post Updated on 10/3/18 to reflect new trains with Assigned Seating. New trains in RED.

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

WAS-NYP

2100

2103

2104

2110

2117

2122

2124

2126

2128

2203

2205

2208

2213

2215

2220

2222

2224

2228

WAS-BOS

2150

2160

2164 NEW

2166 NEW

2168 NEW

2170 NEW

2172 NEW

2249

2251

2255

2256

2258

2259

2260

2261

2275

NYP-BOS

2190

2290

I'll try my best to keep this up to date.
Bumping this back up.
 
In assuring my 'gonna make it' target range to get to Select Executive for the first time ever, I changed my reservation from tomorrows' 148 NYP-WNL to 2172/412, choosing first class for the extra 50% points (regular and TQPs). After discovering that the 'change reservation' routine 'enter payment' screen, (why couldn't they simply have a 'use same credit card as original reservation option?), finding it very frustrating having to 'next' my way through all the CC billing info, I was surprised there was NOT a 'choose your seat' popup!! Maybe doing it on my Android phone is a problem? I even went back to the changed reservation, clicked on the 'modify' for train 2172 and it only took me to 'change departure', etc. No thanks! I'm not going to risk getting charged an extra $141 for the upgrade from 148 business class.

Maybe it'll let me choose a seat tomorrow....
 
In assuring my 'gonna make it' target range to get to Select Executive for the first time ever, I changed my reservation from tomorrows' 148 NYP-WNL to 2172/412, choosing first class for the extra 50% points (regular and TQPs). After discovering that the 'change reservation' routine 'enter payment' screen, (why couldn't they simply have a 'use same credit card as original reservation option?), finding it very frustrating having to 'next' my way through all the CC billing info, I was surprised there was NOT a 'choose your seat' popup!! Maybe doing it on my Android phone is a problem? I even went back to the changed reservation, clicked on the 'modify' for train 2172 and it only took me to 'change departure', etc. No thanks! I'm not going to risk getting charged an extra $141 for the upgrade from 148 business class.

Maybe it'll let me choose a seat tomorrow....
2172 and the other four new additions are visible now for travel after October 15th.
 
Post Updated on 10/19/18 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.

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

WAS-NYP

2100

2103

2104

2110

2117

2122

2124

2126

2128

2203

2205

2208

2213

2215

2220

2222

2224

2228

WAS-BOS

2150

2154 NEW

2158 NEW

2160

2163 NEW

2164

2165 NEW

2166

2167 NEW

2168

2170

2171 NEW

2172

2248 NEW

2249

2250 NEW

2251

2253 NEW

2254 NEW

2255

2256

2258

2259

2260

2261

2275

NYP-BOS

2190

2290

I'll try my best to keep this up to date.
Bumping it back up.
 
At least Amtrak has finally posted the Acela FC seating chart on their website https://www.amtrak.com/first-class-seat I got a reminder email about my assigned seat in this coming Monday's 2172 which had a link to their seating chart.
Interesting....two and one seating, with them designated 'A, C, and F'.... someone really likes to copy airliner practice, even though no Amtrak cars have six seats across...
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someone really likes to copy airliner practice, even though no Amtrak cars have six seats across...
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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????
 
Or...maybe Mr Anderson has plans on narrowing the seats and moving them closer together????
Oh definitely. I'm "sure" that seats being lettered A, C, and F must mean that Anderson is about to cram twice the seats into each row of Acela First Class.
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You know, I'm definitely not a fan of Anderson, but it frustrates me that it seems like so many people are so prune to assume that every little anything is a sign that he's about to do something terrible just to destroy Amtrak. Making these kinds of assumptions can pretty easily delegitimize the real issues we have to discuss and communicate. I think it's best to focus on the big problems we know are there and focus on trying to make those better, not to come up with random theories about how the Amtrak-pocalypse is coming.
 
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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...
 
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