posted
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your feelings about the matter, dress seems to be extremely casual, regardless of coach or sleeper accommodations. You might not be the only one dressed in business casual, but you will be in the minority!
Posts: 406 | From: La Grange, CA | Registered: Sep 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Scott, just don't wear a wife-beater undershirt and jailhouse baggies, and you will fit in just fine.
Train dress is always Tourist Informal, whether in sleeper or in coach. My normal attire while traveling is clean jeans and knit shirt (in summer) or sweatshirt (in winter). My wife dresses a little better, but she's still well within the Traveler Casual range.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
Just as people no longer get dressed up to fly they no longer get dressed up for the train. You will certainly be fine with "business casual". What you really want to be is comfortable.
I'm old enough to remember when going on a plane or train meant "Sunday" clothes. I can also remember my first plane trips as a "non-rev" (pass rider). Coat and tie were mandatory for males and dress or skirt and blouse (no pants) with hose and "nice" shoes for females. The rules changed with the times when management realized the "non-revs" were starting to stick out in the crowd.
Frank in sunny SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
SBALAX, I know what you mean about non rev. I have benefits of non rev with an airline who shall be left nameless but is red white and blue based in DFW. We get to dress business casual and I always dress business casual for a flight when I am in first class as a revenue passenger.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dress is casual and the sleeper and coach passengers are mixed together although not too many coach passengers eat in the diner. It is expensive, especially for what you get.
And yes, they will run out of food. My pet peeve.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ny first sleeper ride, I got on wearing a suit. When I got off, I was back to my standard college years dress of slacks and buttoned shirt. This was before pig sty sloppy became a standard campus dress.
Posts: 2810 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am thinking of doing the return trip (LAX-NOL) Labor Day Weekend. Any comments on that weekend leaving LAX on Friday?
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
im trying to work on a one day coast trip from either end, and cant seem to get the fare under 400 dollars.
Posts: 54 | From: Saint Louis | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm reading with interest the above regarding proper dress aboard the train.
Many times I have proven that if you are dressed properly you get more repsect and attention and that goes for train travel too.
The wife an I made a trip recently via Amtrak. We were in the sleeper section. Got on in Philly in time for supper and as usual I dressed in a blazer with pinstripped shirt. I did not wear a tie which is rare for me. My wife was dressed in a very sharpe blouse and slacks. I realize that it was easier for us to dress in the sleeper than those in coach, but just the dress alone is enough to make a huge difference in being waited on. Even in the lounge car you could tell that you did get a bit more attention if you were dressed neatly.
Breakfast and lunch we both dressed very neatly and watching others in baggy pants and wrinkled sweat shirts did not get the same kind of service. Maybe the staff looked at us as potential big tippers though.
It does make a difference no matter where you are, so if you can, dress sharpe. It does pay off in the end. That's my take on it.
Joe
Posts: 85 | From: Finger Lakes Region of NY | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Good idea on principle, Joe -- but my typical AMTRAK-riding garb is shorts and a T-shirt, deck shoes with no socks. I have never felt like I was getting "worse service" than others -- there may be some other reasons why certain people seem to get "better service" than others as well (like maybe their attitudes in general.......)
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am just getting all excited about my trip now. Only 51 more days until I hop on the train and settle into my living quarters for the next 44 hours or so.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
