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If a train offers only Coach or Business-Class seating , Amtrak should offer "priority" boarding to its Business Class passengers. After-all, the cost of the ticket is higher.
This is just an extra amenity that would not cost Amtrak anything , yet might please the Business-Class passengers a great deal.
A few months ago I took the Pennsylvanian between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia---Business Class. There was no "priority" boarding either way. It was not so much of a problem in Pittsburgh , where the train originated. But in Philadelphia , there was a line "a mile long" waiting to board. When I approached an Amtrak "rep" by the stair-well related to priority boarding for Business-Class passengers, he rudely replied , "Of course not" !!"---Only first-class." !!
Why NOT Business-Class ?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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There was priority boarding of 88(10) @ WAS; the Gateman simply called "anyone holding Business Class may board now'.
It appears, Mr. Talk, that practices vary with each station; possibly even between the several Gatemen.
JONATHON Member # 2899
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They Did The same thing In San Diego Yesterday, something I've never seen them do
rtabern Member # 4306
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I know in Chicago, the business class people for the Midwest trains are allowed to get on first.
I am a history buff and several times a year I will take the Ann Rutledge between Chicago and Springfield, IL to see the Lincoln Sites or the Route 66 Festival held in September.
For the Ann Rutledge (#303/323) which departs at 8:15 a.m., they will get on the PA around 7:45 a.m. and announce that any business class passengers and seniors should come to the front of the line. Once you do, they take you to a special seating area on the other side of the partition where you wait about 5 minutes and then they let you board. Once the business class people are aboard, they call seniors, then finally around 8:00 a.m. they will let coach passenegers get on the train.
During the winter when I go, I usually just go coach because January-March there are not a lot of people on that route and they use Superliner equipment which is much nicer (I think) than the single-level coaches they use during the rest of the year. But when I go in the summer, I always go business class. It's simply worth $13 more to advoid the long line and people pushing to get on in Chicago, the free soda, and much more comfortable seating.
In Chicago, they give priority boarding also for the trains that go to Michigan (the Wolverine service).
But yeah, I noticed in California there is no advanced boarding for the business class folks. But at least you have the option of getting free wine (instead of just soda) on the Surfliners!
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