All about the Autotrain

[sirpengy]

Amtrak is holding their annual "Black Friday" flash sale through Nov 27. Coach seats start at $39 one way. Details at the Amtrak site.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I searched this thread but didn't see an answer so I'm sorry if this question has been asked and answered but here goes:

It looks like seat assignments are done at check-in. Correct?
How can I make sure I get a forward-facing seat (looking in the direction of travel)?

 

[erionm]

I searched this thread but didn't see an answer so I'm sorry if this question has been asked and answered but here goes:

It looks like seat assignments are done at check-in. Correct?
How can I make sure I get a forward-facing seat (looking in the direction of travel)?

AFAIK, all coach seats face forward.

 

[pwdebbie]

Amtrak is holding their annual "Black Friday" flash sale through Nov 27. Coach seats start at $39 one way. Details at the Amtrak site.

I just checked and I am actually paying less for the roomette than they have on this page. Not going to ask any questions, just accept what I have and be grateful!

 

[bdcp]

Thank you for the info about the windows being down. Never thought that would be something they would do. Now, do you carry an extra set of keys with you just in case they lose your keys?

Yes. My husband leaves his fob in the car and I have mine in my carryon. Not just for the train, but for the entire trip. Just makes sense to have an extra.

 

[bdcp]

AFAIK, all coach seats face forward.

Yes, all coach seats do face forward. I ride backwards sometimes in a bedroom depending on the room. I always sit on the bench seat and he sits in the chair.

 

[pwdebbie]

The station in Lorton -- Will I be waiting outside for my vehicle to unload or is there indoor seating, hopefully with heat?

 

[PrincessGenie]

The station in Lorton -- Will I be waiting outside for my vehicle to unload or is there indoor seating, hopefully with heat?

There is indoor seating with heat. It is also air conditioned in summer.

 

[dromio42]

We do use the showers, it's great to arrive fresh and clean. To sleep we have 'lounge wear' - sweats or yoga gear and such.
To create extra room, we hang up our clothes (if you bring any). Just ask your attendant for a hanger. Then our bags are less full and easy to tuck away. Under the hook for hanging, there is a slot that we use for bags - so having bags that can squish into a 6" slot is helpful. They provide water bottles for your room and the showers have towels.
Have a great trip!

 

[bdcp]

We do use the showers, it's great to arrive fresh and clean. To sleep we have 'lounge wear' - sweats or yoga gear and such.
To create extra room, we hang up our clothes (if you bring any). Just ask your attendant for a hanger. Then our bags are less full and easy to tuck away. Under the hook for hanging, there is a slot that we use for bags - so having bags that can squish into a 6" slot is helpful. They provide water bottles for your room and the showers have towels.
Have a great trip!

Closet is about 6 inches wide so you can't hang much up. We use it for our snack bag and jackets if we have them (we usually travel in Nov). The shelf over the seat holds a backpack or small weekend bag. I carry our clothes in a weekend bag that has no structure so it can be put under the seat/bed.

 

[lovin'fl]

Anyone taking it Christmas day from Lor to San? We are.

 

[dromio42]

We have never had a closet in a roomette on the autotrain, just the hook and slot where the closet would be on other trains. We did have the closet on the SWC (such a great trip!).

 

[bdcp]

We have never had a closet in a roomette on the autotrain, just the hook and slot where the closet would be on other trains. We did have the closet on the SWC (such a great trip!).

Roomette on the AT (Superliner cars) doesn't have a closet. The bedrooms do.

 

[pwdebbie]

I received an email with my correct reservation information and an offer to "bid up" from my roomette to a room. Has anyone else gotten this kind of email? I'm just not sure it is legit.

 

[lovin'fl]

I received an email with my correct reservation information and an offer to "bid up" from my roomette to a room. Has anyone else gotten this kind of email? I'm just not sure it is legit.

I bid up this time. We have roomette and usually have a bedroom so I bid up. They are legit.

 

[pwdebbie]

I decided to put in a bid. I'll see what happens.

ETA: I received a notification at 3:00 am today that I am now in a bedroom on the train tomorrow.

 

[pwdebbie]

The train pulled out at 3:45. Dinner was excellent (I chose the steak and chocolate mousse cake for dessert). The bathroom is small; I am not.

 

[lovin'fl]

The train pulled out at 3:45. Dinner was excellent (I chose the steak and chocolate mousse cake for dessert). The bathroom is small; I am not.

Nice and good to see you got your up bid. Hoping we get ours.

 

[KSL]

Hi everyone!

For those of you who have bid up from roomette to bedroom, would you share (in relative terms or percentages, if you don't want to post exact dollar amounts) how much you paid for the upgrade?

Has anyone who bid to upgrade NOT had it accepted?

Trying to collect data points for my trip this summer where my 3 early-20's DDs will be in 2 roomettes and whether they might want to bid to upgrade. Downside is that we then almost certainly wouldn't all be in the same car, but it might be worth it.

Also, I read something recently about people putting locks on roomettes from the outside. Is this a thing!? We've taken the AT probably 8 times and I've never seen that. Though, I wasn't looking for it, either. But I do always feel slightly anxious going to dinner with my stuff in the bedroom/roomette. I know all about not bringing valuables on board, taking wallet/phone/etc. with me, closing the curtains, etc. but I still would prefer if I could actually lock it. So this intrigues me, and I wanted to ask if any here have done it. Then again, I'm not sure it's allowed, and I can see why in terms of safety hazard (what if someone gets locked inside accidentally? What if the key gets lost or the combination glitches? Amtrak isn't going to have bolt-cutters....). Anyone care to comment??

 

[easyas123]

I’ve never heard anything on locking from outside, but I have had a roomette twice and they are tight. I’m only 5’ tall and not at all claustrophobic but I’ll get a larger room next time! So if your girls are tall (or plan on bringing anything beyond the very bare minimum w/ them) then I’d go for bidding on the larger rooms!
Have a good trip-