Sleeping in coach - how bad?

[Deb5redwoods]

Hi everyone,

I am new to posting and WAS hoping to figure out some sort of sleeper arrangement that would allow my family of 7 to travel from San Francisco to Chicago in splendid comfort. Alas, the agent told me that even if I booked 2 family rooms, or a deluxe room and a family room, they would not be near each other on the train - and that since my eldest children are only 13, I can't put them in two of those sleeper rooms that are next to the family room - which sounded like a great idea to me! Bummed! My question then is --- how bad is it to take a long trip in coach? how hard is it to sleep in coach? Our kids are 13, 13, 11, 9, and 7, if that makes any difference.

Thanks,

Deb

Dreaming of taking the train...

 

[TinCan782]

In a Superliner sleeper (lower level), there are 2 roomettes next to the family room and two more next to them. There is only one family room per sleeper car. If the rooms are available, the agent should work with you to get that booked.

 

[Acela150]

I personally feel that as of late the agents have been doing half assed work. This is just another example. This agent pretty much gave the OP really bad info.

I had called a few weeks ago to inquire about why a eVoucher wasn't refundable. I looked at the Amtrak website and my fare was fully refundable. She didn't even try to give me a reasonable answer.

 

[priller]

or a deluxe room and a family room, they would not be near each other on the train -

If that was the exact terminology you were using, there may have been a miscommunication. The "deluxe room" is the old term for what is now a "bedroom". They are all on the upper level and not near the family bedroom. As already noted, the accommodations adjacent the the family room are referred to as roomettes (previously a "standard").

 

[zephyr17]

Each Superliner car has 5 (deluxe) bedrooms in 1/2 of the upper level, a 9 roomettes for sale (one is reserved for the attendant). Downstairs, there is the single Family Bedroom and 4 roomettes right next to it. You can reserve those accomodations in any variation you choose, respecting the occupancy limits of the room.

Two of the berths in the Family room are for very small children. The 9 year old might be pushing it. If you can fit it, your best option would probably be to book the Family Room for yourselves, the 7 year-old and the 9 year-old, Book the 2 roomettes that are literally right outside the family room for the 13 year olds and the 11 year old. Your family would basically own the little downstairs dead-end hall with the 4 roomettes and the family bedroom.

It is a shame that the agent would not work with you. Unfortunately, many agents do not even understand the car layouts and have never seen them, so they don't even have the information to make sensible suggestions.

 

[RalphCT]

To answer the Original Question, "Sleeping in Coach — How Bad?" I'd say this:

It can be done and you'd survive. And how well you survive might depend on how full the coach car is.

When the coach has many passengers people sit side by side and you might have to sleep that way. Try to imagine sitting on a two seat couch with another individual and then trying to sleep there. I've sat next to my wife on one trip and had a stranger next to me on another. Got by with my wife, didn't like the stranger because every time I got up he moved my stuff so he could sit next to the window.

If the coach has plenty of room you might have the two seats to yourself. This is better but you certainly can't lay down.

Then again there are the other benefits with a sleeper. Coffee and juice available in the morning. Showers for anyone who wants. Meals in the dining car included with your fare. Bathroom used by far fewer people. To me the sleeper is a no brainer.

 

[CelticWhisper]

I maintain that it depends a lot on how your body is proportioned. Too short and your feet won't hit the footrest bar. Too tall and you have to contort yourself to fit. Your best bet is to bring your own pillow (biggest, fluffiest feather pillow you can set your hands on) and try for a window seat. Wrap the pillow around your head and lean against the side of the car.

What irritates the carp out of me is the fact that Superliners are used for overnight trips, yet the seatback recline is maybe half as deep (or less) as that of an Amfleet. I remember going from CHI<-->PHL and I slept better during my daytime nap on the Pennsylvanian than I did overnight on the Cap, because the seat reclined that much farther.

Is there some trick to getting a deeper recline on Superliner seats? I mean, I plan to stick with sleepers as best I can, but if it comes down to it...?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

To those who are saying she should be able to do a family room and the nearby roomettes. Don't kids have to have an adult in their room? So how can they split 2 adults between 3 rooms? I'm assuming the 13 year olds would be required to have an adult in their room, at least during booking.

 

[Sis]

When we had 2 rooms we had an adult in each room. The 13yo should be able to be in a sleeper without an adult since the can travel alone. ??

As for sleeping in coach - I have the same question as we'll be travelling from DC to Seattle and cannot afford a sleeper. On a shorter commute I found that some people abandon their seats and stay in the observation car the whole time, especially to sleep. That allowed me to lay down, rather uncomfortably because I didn't have a pillow that softened the seat edges. This time I will try to take a pillow and a light blanket. The smaller kids won't have as much difficulty as bigger people.

Since you will be taking up 7-8(?) seats it's conceivable that you could take turns stretching out a bit. Part of the family can visit the observation car while the others stretch out.

 

[BoulderCO]

If it were just one night, I'd say go for the coach. Kids that age would probably see it as an adventure rather than a hardship. I use coach for all my one night trips.

But SF to CHI is two nights. You and the older kids would no doubt be really craving a shower by then. I certainly would be ;>)

 

[SarahZ]

I can't lean against the window in coach. The outlet bar digs into my arm, and my head bangs against the window every time the train rocks. Plus, it puts my neck in a bad position. I brought my huge, comfy pillow, and that still didn't help.

I suppose it depends on your height and whatnot, but between the crappy seat recline and the space between the seat and window, I barely manage to get more than a catnap in coach. That, and people are always up and about, whispering, snoring, and eating snacks, not to mention the security lights plus lights from laptops. Earplugs aren't enough to keep me asleep.

I'm always extremely cranky after a night in coach. I can't imagine spending two nights in coach, especially since the most I could do is take a sponge bath in the bathroom.

If I can't afford a roomette, I fly.

Some people LOVE traveling in coach, though, so it really depends on your personality and how light of a sleeper you are. I know plenty of people who have taken coach between Chicago and Emeryville, and they loved every second of it.

 

[Acela150]

To those who are saying she should be able to do a family room and the nearby roomettes. Don't kids have to have an adult in their room? So how can they split 2 adults between 3 rooms? I'm assuming the 13 year olds would be required to have an adult in their room, at least during booking.

No. As long as their is an adult ticketed and traveling.

 

[niemi24s]

If you decide to try booking sleeping accommodations, have a copy of this.. https://www.google.com/search?q=superliner+sleeper+floor+plan&rlz=1C1GGGE_en&espv=2&biw=1665&bih=925&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1hcrF_7nLAhUmvYMKHSABCwsQsAQIIg#imgrc=m6fHjto3kc0W0M%3A ..when talking to any agent, just in case they're not too familiar with the layout. With this, you can specify what you want by room number as well as the proper name for each of the different types of rooms. Also be advised that Bedroom pairs B & C and D & E can have the partition between removed or folded up to make either pair a double bedroom that sleeps four adults.

 

[the_traveler]

You could try to book the Family Room plus rooms 13 & 14 (the 2 roomettes right next to it). Be aware that even though the F-Room has 4 berths (beds), only 2 are adult size. The other 2 are less than 5 feet long!

The other 2 roomettes on the lower level are numbered 11 & 12.

 

[Deb5redwoods]

Wow, so Acela150, I can request the family bedroom and the next door roomettes? That would be cool!

 

[the_traveler]

Yes, as long as rooms 13, 14 and the Family Room (aka room 15) are all still available in the same car!

 

[p&sr]

Some people LOVE traveling in coach... I know plenty of people who have taken coach between Chicago and Emeryville, and they loved every second of it.

Or between Montreal and Emeryville... via Portland!

 

[StriderGDM]

I find one night in coach to be tolerable. My biggest complaint is that the chair is just "not quite comfortable enough". It's so close to being perfect I could sleep like a baby, but it's not. So I'm actually more frustrated than if it were even less comfortable where I had no hope of finding the right position.

I find 1 small travel pillow and then a sweatshirt helps. Put one under head, the other in the small of my back. Bring a blanket.

Also, since you'll have family members sharing the seats, you can possibly be a bit less concerned about personal space.

Two nights.. would be a bit much for me. But if I was with family, it would be doable I think.

 

[neroden]

(Assuming you can afford the price) I strongly advise attempting to reserve rooms 13, 14, and 15 (Family Bedroom) in the same sleeper. Unless the 7-year-old is really tall.

You could also reserve four adjacent roomettes.

You should be permitted to do this even though some of the rooms will only have kids in them, since the adults will be accompanying them. Unfortunately, Amtrak agents don't always understand Amtrak's rules, so sometimes they'll say that they can't do things. Call back and get another agent.

 

[fillyjonk]

Can you sleep in coach?

Can you sleep sitting in a recliner with people talking in the next room over, or sometimes someone in the same room snoring? Can you sleep with people getting up and walking around in the same room as you?

I am a terrible sleeper at the best of times and cannot sleep in coach. Luckier people who can sleep half sitting up and with noise around them will do fine. It's probably also a lot easier with family around you rather than strangers. I travel alone so if I'm in coach and it's full, I will be next to a stranger. And some strangers are "stranger" than others....

 

[dlagrua]

Sleeping in coach is hard for some easy for others. On our yearly LD trip we opt for the bedroom. Middle age people as ourselves like to sleep horizontal in a bed , take a bathroom break in the middle of the night and enjoy the privacy of the bedroom. We just can't sleep in chairs so we could not imagine doing 2 overnights in coach. I would not suggest trying overnights in coach with a family of 7 that include children. .