Luggage Checking at Chicago Union Station

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Dakota 400

Engineer
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
3,741
I would really appreciate some advice as to the direction I should go after disembarking The Cardinal in Chicago in order to check a piece of luggage for my continuing Amtrak trip on The Southwest Chief and a Pacific Surfliner train.

Thanks!
 
If you are travelling by Sleeper just take them to the Metropolitan Lounge and they will take care of them.
 
I assume that you are boarding the Cardinal at a station that does not offer checked baggage service.

If not, you should be aware that you can check your bag thru from the Cardinal to your ultimate destination in California. It will be automatically transferred for you in both Chicago and California.
 
Go to the ticket counter. "Ticketing" on this map.

http://www.chicagounionstation.com/map_concourse.html

You'll arrive on one of the southern platforms (could be any of them).
The one time I checked baggage at CUS I went to the Ticketing counter. When I got up to the window and said I wanted to check a bag I got yelled at by the helpful Amtrak employee for being at the wrong window. There is a single baggage check only window at the far right (if I remember correctly) of the Ticketing counter, which has its own line. Try to just check baggage at a CUS ticketing window and you will be yelled at.

Yes, she *could* have checked my bag, she had all the facilities for checking bags and did check bags for people who were buying tickets, but you see, I already had my ticket so I was at the wrong window and had to be yelled at and sent away.
 
Go to the ticket counter. "Ticketing" on this map.

http://www.chicagounionstation.com/map_concourse.html

You'll arrive on one of the southern platforms (could be any of them).
The one time I checked baggage at CUS I went to the Ticketing counter. When I got up to the window and said I wanted to check a bag I got yelled at by the helpful Amtrak employee for being at the wrong window. There is a single baggage check only window at the far right (if I remember correctly) of the Ticketing counter, which has its own line. Try to just check baggage at a CUS ticketing window and you will be yelled at.
Yes, she *could* have checked my bag, she had all the facilities for checking bags and did check bags for people who were buying tickets, but you see, I already had my ticket so I was at the wrong window and had to be yelled at and sent away.
Yes. That is the Prime Directive.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Go to the ticket counter. "Ticketing" on this map.

http://www.chicagounionstation.com/map_concourse.html

You'll arrive on one of the southern platforms (could be any of them).
Thank you so very much for the link to the station map! Most helpful!

I see on the map that there is a section labeled "1st Class Gate" adjacent to the Metropolitan Lounge. But, it seems a little distant from the actual gates to the trains. What is this "1st Class Gate" about?
 
Go to the ticket counter. "Ticketing" on this map.

http://www.chicagounionstation.com/map_concourse.html

You'll arrive on one of the southern platforms (could be any of them).
Thank you so very much for the link to the station map! Most helpful!

I see on the map that there is a section labeled "1st Class Gate" adjacent to the Metropolitan Lounge. But, it seems a little distant from the actual gates to the trains. What is this "1st Class Gate" about?
The 1st class Gate is the actual gate within the Metropolitan Lounge through which passengers exit before boarding.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It is a back door out to the platforms directly from the Metropolitan Lounge. When they call the train, they escort you out that door to the appropriate platform. It is close to Track 19 on the north side, which means that for all Amtrak trains except the Empire Builder and the Hiawatha's they walk you back around beside the through track, then to the correct south side platform.
 
Zephyr17 and JayPea,

Your responses to my question about the "1st Class Gate" are really appreciated and helpful.

I am so looking forward to my Amtrak journey--starting two weeks from tonight--and I really appreciate all of the information that this web site has provided.
 
Zephyr17 and JayPea,

Your responses to my question about the "1st Class Gate" are really appreciated and helpful.

I am so looking forward to my Amtrak journey--starting two weeks from tonight--and I really appreciate all of the information that this web site has provided.
So, be sure to come back after the trip and let know how it went.
 
Zephyr17 and JayPea,

Your responses to my question about the "1st Class Gate" are really appreciated and helpful.

I am so looking forward to my Amtrak journey--starting two weeks from tonight--and I really appreciate all of the information that this web site has provided.
So, be sure to come back after the trip and let know how it went.
I plan on doing so.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top