Phager
Train Attendant
Hello AU! After not having taken a trip on Amtrak in 6 years, last year I got a hankering to take a train trip an renewed my guest rewards membership. Unfortunately there aren't a large amount of opportunities to take the train in my new location (SW of Pittsburgh, PA) at least short points runs. So over the last year, I've taken advantage of some non travel offers through AGR and had managed to accrue ~14,000 point. After poking around on the new rules for points redemption I decide to see if I could get a weekend trip somewhere with my eldest daughter, who is a huge fan of trains (I started her early, check my old post for her first trip on Amtrak at 9 months old). I finally settled on a trip in October to DC, since shes seven now and has a huge interest in museums. Since we're from Oregon, we've never seen the nations capital, and it seemed like a fun and educational trip.
Since my folks recently moved here from California, and they have never been to DC, I invited them to come along as well. I decided to go for a roomette, so my daughter could get the free meals and have a place to go if she feels overwhelmed, and since it was points, I figured what the heck why go coach? My parents couldn't justify the $100 difference in cost between coach and sleeper, so they are going coach and will just eat in the dining car. So my question is, is it possible to still have breakfast/dinner with my folks even there coach and we're first class? By that I mean would the sleeping car attendant be able to arrange that if requested or would that be out of line?
My other question is if the observation car is available to both coach and first class? I ask because I remember when we took the Coast Starlight the Pacific Parlor Car was first class only, and wasn't sure if the same held true for the observation car. I'm sure that these are pretty basic questions, but after a few hours of browsing here and searching Google I couldn't find anything definitive, I'm probably not using the right terms in Google.
Finally, any little known, can't miss stops in DC while were there? We're really looking forward to the trip, I can't tell if my daughter is more excited for the Smithsonian or the Capitol Limited
Thanks in advance for any and all help and advice!
Pat
Since my folks recently moved here from California, and they have never been to DC, I invited them to come along as well. I decided to go for a roomette, so my daughter could get the free meals and have a place to go if she feels overwhelmed, and since it was points, I figured what the heck why go coach? My parents couldn't justify the $100 difference in cost between coach and sleeper, so they are going coach and will just eat in the dining car. So my question is, is it possible to still have breakfast/dinner with my folks even there coach and we're first class? By that I mean would the sleeping car attendant be able to arrange that if requested or would that be out of line?
My other question is if the observation car is available to both coach and first class? I ask because I remember when we took the Coast Starlight the Pacific Parlor Car was first class only, and wasn't sure if the same held true for the observation car. I'm sure that these are pretty basic questions, but after a few hours of browsing here and searching Google I couldn't find anything definitive, I'm probably not using the right terms in Google.
Finally, any little known, can't miss stops in DC while were there? We're really looking forward to the trip, I can't tell if my daughter is more excited for the Smithsonian or the Capitol Limited
Thanks in advance for any and all help and advice!
Pat