Superliner seats - ease of access from window seat to aisle?

[rs9]

Over the holidays, I will be traveling on a Superliner overnight for the first time, ABQ to CHI. As a solo traveler, my preference would be a window seat, but I am likely going to need to use the bathroom at least once overnight. I haven't been on a Superliner in some time, so I'm curious to know how easy it might be to pass by/over a seat mate in the aisle seat who is reclined/sleeping.

Would there be any advantage to occupying the row that faces the wall of the staircase? Is there a little more navigable room there without a reclined seat back to get out of the space?

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Plenty of space between your seat and seat in front of you. However your seat mate might be using it all up too.

Biggest problem is the lack of seat divider.

If you have a know problem and or a requirement to get up in the middle of night. Might just get a outside seat, whole lot of stress to avoid that way. The views are pretty good out the windows even three feet away from it.

 

[Amtrak25]

Request lower level when you reserve. Then you a right near the bathrooms. One pair of seats has a huge amount of space in front of it as well.

 

[railiner]

Being behind a bulkhead may may it a bit easier to slide out from a window seat, but the downside is a more limited view except for the windows in your row...
And being all the way forward at the end, yields a slightly rougher ride, than being mid-car. As well as noise from end doors opening and closing...

 

[trimetbusfan]

Being behind a bulkhead may may it a bit easier to slide out from a window seat, but the downside is a more limited view except for the windows in your row...
And being all the way forward at the end, yields a slightly rougher ride, than being mid-car. As well as noise from end doors opening and closing...

And no tray table. (If that’s something you want).

 

[TinCan782]

And no tray table. (If that’s something you want).

And now I'm thinking the good old folding TV dinner table!

 

[Jack Davis]

Being behind a bulkhead may may it a bit easier to slide out from a window seat, but the downside is a more limited view except for the windows in your row...
And being all the way forward at the end, yields a slightly rougher ride, than being mid-car. As well as noise from end doors opening and closing...

All true.

 

[railiner]

And now I'm thinking the good old folding TV dinner table!

Amtrak could have specified the type of bulkhead seats that airliners have—the tray tables fold out from the armrests…but those are really expensive and require more maintenance. And I am not sure if that is an option from Amtrak’s current seat vendor’s.
Or simply mount tray tables on the bulkheads?

 

[Aqeela]

Over the holidays, I will be traveling on a Superliner overnight for the first time, ABQ to CHI. As a solo traveler, my preference would be a window seat, but I am likely going to need to use the bathroom at least once overnight. I haven't been on a Superliner in some time, so I'm curious to know how easy it might be to pass by/over a seat mate in the aisle seat who is reclined/sleeping.

Would there be any advantage to occupying the row that faces the wall of the staircase? Is there a little more navigable room there without a reclined seat back to get out of the space?

Just relax and enjoy your journey..
Having to use the restroom is no big deal.
That’s why they invented the words “excuse me “.
Enjoy

 

[marcoloco]

Over the holidays, I will be traveling on a Superliner overnight for the first time, ABQ to CHI. As a solo traveler, my preference would be a window seat, but I am likely going to need to use the bathroom at least once overnight. I haven't been on a Superliner in some time, so I'm curious to know how easy it might be to pass by/over a seat mate in the aisle seat who is reclined/sleeping.

Would there be any advantage to occupying the row that faces the wall of the staircase? Is there a little more navigable room there without a reclined seat back to get out of the space?

There is plenty of leg space in these Superliner cars, unlike buses or airplanes, so it's very easy to step over your seat mate's legs and get out to the aisle

 

[joelkfla]

There is plenty of leg space in these Superliner cars, unlike buses or airplanes, so it's very easy to step over your seat mate's legs and get out to the aisle

Unless your seatmate happens to be an NBA player.

 

[GAT]

Unless your seatmate happens to be an NBA player.

An NBA player riding coach? The horror! The horror! (for him)

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

An NBA player riding coach? The horror! The horror! (for him)

It could be a college basketball player heading home for a break (without the rest of the team).

 

[AmtrakBlue]

There is plenty of leg space in these Superliner cars, unlike buses or airplanes, so it's very easy to step over your seat mate's legs and get out to the aisle

Even when they're fully reclined with the leg rest extended?

 

[railiner]

Even when they're fully reclined with the leg rest extended?

You might still have to step over the legs of a person sleeping in the aisle seat, however the reclined seatbacks in front of you would not overlap over those legs, like in bus or most airline seats, so you would not have to be a contortionist to accomplish the move...

 

[BlackDiamond]

Since you are on the SWC you also have the option of the sightseer lounge for looking at scenery so an aisle seat might not be a bad choice.