BC on the CS

I am thinking about a trip on the Coast Starlight, from Seattle, WA to Emeryville,CA. Most likely I will book a roomete. However, I am curious to know if anyone has traveled that far in Business Class, or even all the way to Los Angeles. I am looking for firsthand experiences from recently if possible.

Thanks.

In August I traveled solo in BC from Albany, Or to Oakland in the upper level. As the car was maybe 1/4 full, I did not have a seatmate and there was no one seated in front, behind or across from me. The attendant was helpful and attentive and carried my bag up and placed it in the overhead. He provided two bottles of water, a pillow and the WiFi password. It was very quiet and the car was between the diner and cafe car so not a lot of foot traffic. Restrooms were very clean. I normally travel in a roomette and was very satisfied with BC and would do it again.

Is the BC car a regular Superliner coach car with 2-2 seating, or does it have different, fancier seats?

When I rode the CS on 10/10 from Emeryville to Los Angeles, I walked through the business class car and it was 2 x 2 but sparsely occupied so that everyone had two seats without a seating companion and more room for other passengers. Otherwise, it looked like one of the nicer Supeliner coach cars.

My experience from walking through BC as a sleeper passenger is that BC, even in summer, is lightly used. In the overnight you are very likely to have a pair of seats to yourself, in contrast to coach. If I was traveling solo and didn't need the meal or extra space I would strongly consider BC.

My wife and I did the CS BC LA to SLO several months ago. We sat on the lower level (wife likes to avoid stairs) which was full; upper level less than 50% occupied. Nice alternative to coach without having to book a roomette which I would have done if BC was not available.

Nice trip, made use of the vouchers in the cafe car to purchase lunch. WiFi was not working. The attendant was usually dozing in an upper level seat after he did his initial duties after we boarded.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will try BC for a shorter trip first, to check it out, like Seattle to Portland or even Eugene, and than decide about traveling overnight. Sounds like it is definitely better than regular coach, which I doubt I will ever ride again, and a little cheaper than a Roomete.

When I rode the CS SAC-SEA, I walked through the BC car a few times...they were 2x2 leather or leather-like brown seats. It was very empty at first, with only a few passengers during the LD part of the trip, but got considerably busier once we got onto the portion of the line shared with the Cascades.