So my friend to Amtrak from Chicago to Portage on her return trip home. She said that the Amtrak attendant was very rude to her. Also she paid for priority boarding and she said that no one ever came and got her. Is there a special person with whom she should complain about this. This is totally unacceptable. She is one of the nicest persons ever and doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. Thank You.
rude Amtrak employees to my friend
- Thread starter blackpup
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Your friend should write a letter to Amtrak customer relations, and state all the details of her complaint....train, date, time, names (if known), and an account of what took place. She should express her disappointment, and what her expectations were...
Everydaymatters
Engineer
I was not aware that one could pay for priority boarding. Is this something new?
My guess is that is a reference to boarding from the Legacy Club.
Not sure if new or not, but isn't there a lounge in Chicago where you pay $20 to sit without the chaos if you are riding coach. Maybe it's just a lounge and doesn't include priority boarding. Maybe my friend thought that included priority boarding, I have no clue if it does or not.
Yes, you get priority boarding from the Legacy Lounge. They announce your train when it's time to board.
Do they announce it over a loudspeaker or does someone actually come to the room to get you
The couple times I've boarded from the Legacy Club it was staffed by one or two Amtrak personnel. An announcement was made asking passengers for Train X to head to the front of the lounge and one of the staff guided people toward their track.
Hard to guess precisely what happened in this situation - seems that there probably would have been other passengers boarding Train 7/27.
Hard to guess precisely what happened in this situation - seems that there probably would have been other passengers boarding Train 7/27.
So they do this the same way in the Metro Lounge in Chicago, they announce over loud speaker and someone gets you. LOL, in the Dells, it's a free for all, two people come out of the train and say I will check your ticket and let you know where to go.
Nobody here has stated an Amtrak attendant comes face-to-face with each passenger at their boarding time and personally notifies each one it's time to board. If that's what your friend was expecting to happen, then methinks it may be time for your friend to have a travel companion.
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The trains are announced over the PA systems. It is the passengers in the lounge responsibility to go to the front of the lounge to be guided as part of the group to the proper track.
that's not what I meant, I meant does someone come meet you at the lounge , I mean everyone boarding the CL, and show you the way to the tracks that the CL is leaving from.
Tennessee Traveler
Conductor
No, from the new Metropolitan Lounge they make announcements and direct you to a side exit door into the main concourse. There are Amtrak employees that POINT out the direction you are to go, but they no longer do the so call kindergarten walk to the the train side on the track. They also announce that you can report to the front of the lounge to meet redcaps who will assist you to the train side.
I have not use the Legacy Lounge but I know that is the only PAID way to get priority boarding. Senior adults, handicap and similar wait and board the trains from the former regular waiting rooms adjacent to the concourse and board before the general boarding group which boards from the Great Hall by group letter and number.
I have not use the Legacy Lounge but I know that is the only PAID way to get priority boarding. Senior adults, handicap and similar wait and board the trains from the former regular waiting rooms adjacent to the concourse and board before the general boarding group which boards from the Great Hall by group letter and number.
Thank you, as I will be waiting in the Metro Lounge in Chicago and then the Acela Lounge in DC. First time sleeper
Seaboard92
Engineer
I always use a red cap or as my family calls them Red Tip (from a flub many years ago my mother called them) we have a lot of the red tip bushes that were cutting down so it made sense. Especially in Penn Station it's a big benefit. Even with a little bit of luggage those guys know all the back corridor methods that avoid the crowds. For the ease its worth the five dollar tip.
Philly has some really interesting red tips as well. We talked about some of the VIPs he has met there. So even on the walk get to know them a bit you'll hear interesting things.
Philly has some really interesting red tips as well. We talked about some of the VIPs he has met there. So even on the walk get to know them a bit you'll hear interesting things.
I am really sorry to hear about blackpup's friend's experience. It is totally different than my experiences with the Legacy Lounge.
I have been using the Legacy Lounge since my first LD train trip in March of 2016. Since then I've had layovers in CUS/CHI 4-5 more times, always choosing to pay the $20 to enjoy my long layovers there.
The reason it is worth it to me is because of the far superior customer service. I have heard the announcements for priority coach and BC boardings. There is also an electronic screen to see the status of the trains near the front of the lounge. I have also noticed Amtrak personnel walk up to people who seem not to be responding. Then it appears that passengers are being walked out by Amtrak agents. I assumed that they were escorting them to their train. Maybe that's changed. I haven't been through there in a couple of months.
Overall, I love the Legacy for the attentive personal service, the selection of snacks, the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, the Happy Hour, and much more. My next trip through CHI is in two weeks. I only hope blackpup's friend's experience was an anomaly, not an indication that Metropolitan Lounge personnel have transferred to the Legacy, bringing their attitudes with them!
I have been using the Legacy Lounge since my first LD train trip in March of 2016. Since then I've had layovers in CUS/CHI 4-5 more times, always choosing to pay the $20 to enjoy my long layovers there.
The reason it is worth it to me is because of the far superior customer service. I have heard the announcements for priority coach and BC boardings. There is also an electronic screen to see the status of the trains near the front of the lounge. I have also noticed Amtrak personnel walk up to people who seem not to be responding. Then it appears that passengers are being walked out by Amtrak agents. I assumed that they were escorting them to their train. Maybe that's changed. I haven't been through there in a couple of months.
Overall, I love the Legacy for the attentive personal service, the selection of snacks, the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, the Happy Hour, and much more. My next trip through CHI is in two weeks. I only hope blackpup's friend's experience was an anomaly, not an indication that Metropolitan Lounge personnel have transferred to the Legacy, bringing their attitudes with them!
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tim49424
Engineer
I have utilized the Legacy Lounge twice....once in January and then one last month. The attendant who was there most of the time's name is George, a very pleasant, talkative and just plain nice guy. When it was time to board my train, he made the announcement and led us on the "kindergarten walk" to the priority boarding area where we got our early board.
In the metropolitan lounge, which I was in yesterday, on my way back from a trip from Michigan to Oklahoma City, the boarding procedure was pretty much do it yourself. The attendant calls your train, then as you exit the lounge she directed us down the little hall to the concourse while telling us what track number our train is on.
Both situations, no fuss, no muss. Not a rude or mean word said at all.
In the metropolitan lounge, which I was in yesterday, on my way back from a trip from Michigan to Oklahoma City, the boarding procedure was pretty much do it yourself. The attendant calls your train, then as you exit the lounge she directed us down the little hall to the concourse while telling us what track number our train is on.
Both situations, no fuss, no muss. Not a rude or mean word said at all.
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Oh, I should have said, I always travel in sleeper cars. The Red Caps take me to the Legacy Lounge, and generally the same RC returns to take me to my connection. (The Red Cap staff always make it clear to me, as they should, that I can go to the Metropolitan Lounge at no charge.)
I'm a 61 year young, very sociable, easy going woman who travels alone. However I have health issues that require the assistance of understanding, helpful -not patronizing or pitying- customer service that I am more than happy to tip well to receive.
I'm a 61 year young, very sociable, easy going woman who travels alone. However I have health issues that require the assistance of understanding, helpful -not patronizing or pitying- customer service that I am more than happy to tip well to receive.
Cho Cho Charlie
Engineer
I guess this is the exception, but all the times I have used the ClubAcela at the 30th Street Station in Philly, to wait for my sleeper train, the attendant does indeed come to get me (us), and escorts me (us) over to the proper elevator that takes me directly down to the platform for my train.
