I book my trips on the Northeast Regional so I have an assigned sea and a more comfortable ride. Over the years, it appears the joke is on me.
Different from Amtrak’s media, the cars appear virtually the same to coach. Most of the times the environment in the car is unpleasant. Worse, the seats are cramped.
I select my trains based on travel patterns. This used to provide a comfortable business class trip when I had a seat to myself. During my last four trips, I noted that most rows had one person on each side up until late in the evening before departure. At that point, the car is 90% to 100% full. I think that this is a result of BidUp. Amtrak appears to want to cram as many people as possible into Business Class despite the fact that some passengers paid the full premium price to avoid the experience of coach class. Now, business class feels like a cattle car. I have seen this scenario on multiple trips.
Amtrak should be honest that customers are paying $100+ to have an assigned seat at the rear of the train which makes boarding stressful.
The hike to board at the back of the train and walking half the length of the train, during rough rides, to the cafe car are not perks. Amtrak should include that in the advertisements for business class.
I started using business class several years ago when it was a more comfortable way to travel. Comfort is out. Crowding is in. Attentive service is out. Long walks to the rear of the train to board are in. Difficult ventures to the cafe car is the norm. The business class equipment is both old and shows its age. The windows and curtains are filthy. Many of the cars I have ridden feel grungy. Amtrak should confess that the cars are the same as coach and just as run down.
Amtrak does not have to make business class a quiet car. However, it is business class and not a children’s nursery or a party bus. Perhaps, Amtrak should have specialty cars for these demographics.
In conclusion, Amtrak is showing its disregard for its full fare business class passengers. Amtrak’s portrayal of the added value beyond an assigned seat is false advertising maybe even a bait and switch. Amtrak lures premium passengers by promising an upgraded experience and then switches it to coach. (Cramped, inconvenient, dirty, old equipment) This is rude, dishonest, and bad business.