Sorry this seat reserved.

[texline]

Going over the Sierra's. People want to sit in SSL. This lady keeping many people from sitting "sorry this seat reserved". A few of them in here today, never fails.

 

[PVD]

Sit down, and politely say "if the person comes back soon, I'll gladly move, otherwise too bad."

 

[TinCan782]

I was just on CZ #5(23) several weeks ago and periodic announcements were made by the conductor that you may not "hold" or reserve a seat in the SSL; he was pretty adamant about it.

 

[Lonestar648]

The conductors on the CZ the beginning of July repeatedly were reminding Coach passengers that EVERY coach was sold, no seat saving. They also repeatedly reminded everyone on the train that the SSL is to be shared by everyone on the train, all 400 plus passengers according to them. Well, at least 1/3, maybe more of the seats we occupied by "seat hogs" who had EVERYTHING they brought on the train at their SSL seat. When they got up they pulled their things over the seat. One woman was gone over an hour, when another woman started to move the things on the unoccupied seat just as the seat hog returned. The seat hog woman screamed at this woman that she was trying to steal her things by touching them. The conductor was hastily called. The seat hog demanded that the conductor call the police to have the woman arrested for attempted stealing. The Conductor tried to calm things down, but when he told the seat hog she was not allowed to bring everything to the SSL, that she was to leave her bags etc. at her coach seat she started a tirade of entitlement to the SSL seat as long as she was on the train. Now two conductors tried to sooth the situation, but now soon other seat hogs joined in the entitlement rant. In the end, the conductors got the seat hogs to agree they couldn't leave their seat unoccupied for more than a couple minutes. This defused the flare up, but in the end the Hogs won. I am not sure the Conductors felt they were 100% backed up by Amtrak. Maybe Amtrak needs to release specific rules for the SSL (seems ridiculous, but maybe today is necessary). In the DC there was discussion that Amtrak needs a PPC in the summer on the CZ due to almost never getting to see the Colorado scenery except from your room or in the DC. People were really upset about the SSL. I asked several to write Amtrak about this hoping something might be done.

 

[Bob Dylan]

What about adopting the VIA method on the Canadian where the Premium Passengers get exclusive use of the Park Car at certain times. ( Of course these trains have multiple Dome Cars in the consist even for the Coach passengers)

This system could be adopted for the Sightseer Lounges on the Zephyr Route whereby Sleeper Passengers would get exclusive use of the Lounge say from Denver to Grand Junction and from Reno to Sacramento through the Sierras.

An alternate would be to run 2 SSLs on the Zephy( and Empire Builder) with one for Coach pax and the other reserved for Sleeper passengers.In a pinch Coach pax could use a CCC which Amtrak has a surplus of!

Works for the Starlight with the PPC and SSL also.

 

[texline]

Adding to the trouble is America by Rail. 90% of the people in the CZ SSL today are wearing placards. We gave our seats up and went back to our room. The SSL did suddenly have free seats at 11:45. They all shifted to the dining car.

 

[texline]

And it just keeps getting better!

 

[Lonestar648]

We had that on the SL with the 422 Coach being stopped up. The Coach attendants sent the sold out Coach car to the 422 Sleeper 2130 to use the bathrooms instead of the adjoining SL Coach car. After our SCA found Coach passengers using the shower and leaving a mess in every bathroom, he posted a big sign on the door to our car. "Ticketed 2230 Sleeping Car Passengers ONLY - No Exceptions!!!" That stopped most, but some still entered the car looking in all the rooms claiming to searching for a bathroom.

 

[chakk]

All of these problems are typical of sold-out trains, which are a common occurence on most of the LD trains in summer.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Adding to the trouble is America by Rail. 90% of the people in the CZ SSL today are wearing placards. We gave our seats up and went back to our room. The SSL did suddenly have free seats at 11:45. They all shifted to the dining car.

TERROR TOURISTS! The worst kind by all means.

 

[Ngotwalt]

I don't know what it is, but I have never seen toilets go out any train like they do on the Zephyr, it think they don't like the high altitude.

Nick

 

[Skyline]

Adding to the trouble is America by Rail. 90% of the people in the CZ SSL today are wearing placards. We gave our seats up and went back to our room. The SSL did suddenly have free seats at 11:45. They all shifted to the dining car.

So, people join a tour group and cop a 'tude that they are more entitled to SSL seats than passengers who are not part of a tour? Don't these tour groups have guides (hosts) accompanying them who should inform them otherwise before and during the trip?

 

[Lonestar648]

From I can tell, the tour companies encourage that thinking that they have the run of the train, like the SSL or staying in the DC to talk over coffee.

 

[lyke99]

When there was still unlimited bottled water (usually set out near the coffee station) in sleeping cars, I once witnessed a tour guide telling his charges to each grab as many bottles as they could carry "since sometimes they run out." Sure enough, once each of the tour-goers grabbed 6-8 of them, the bottled water WAS in short supply.

 

[Asher]

I think you just have to remain in the seat after someone tells you its reserved and about the second time they try to tell you its reserved,

Inform the whiner that their seat will also be taken if they get up to complain.

 

[Lonestar648]

The problem I find is that these people appear to be looking for a fight. They don't seem to be happy people,

 

[Bob Dylan]

Entitlement has become an epidemic in this country as people either never were taught manners and common courtesy, or just plain dont care about others!

 

[KmH]

Entitlement has become an epidemic in this country as people either never were taught manners and common courtesy, or just plain dont care about others!

Yep. The Me! Me! Me! mentality precludes common courtesy.

 

[railiner]

Wow...what an "ugly" atmosphere for what is supposed to be "pleasure travel"....people acting liked spoiled children...what a nightmare for the crew... hboy:

 

[Blackwolf]

"Sorry, this seat is reserved."

"Yes, it certainly is. By ME." *PLOP*

 

[Triley]

Entitlement has become an epidemic in this country as people either never were taught manners and common courtesy, or just plain dont care about others!

Or common sense...? Warning, this video contains foul language:

https://www.facebook.com/ADaveJournalist/videos/10155601825719264/?hc_ref=ART31Ow1JHp5KHguFOOSar4JVvvaDeUKd5E3w2Tv4SD6zBywCPALku3warFtfvqlu1g

Let me contact mother nature and get the water to recede so they can get back on the move!

 

[PVD]

Sorry he didn't get booted off the train. But nobody would have the crew's back if they did it. that's a big part of the problem.

 

[Lonestar648]

Amtrak is more concerned about the lawyers and the PR than the employees.

 

[Ryan]

The crew's job isn't to enforce made up rules and act like a babysitter for a bunch of over entitled babies that can't figure out how to get along.

 

[PVD]

The dog rule is legit. Think mgt would have backed the crew?