Boarding for Lincoln Service?

[pianocat]

I'll be taking Business class from CHI to STL on Lincoln Service late in December. I have an upgrade coupon to the Met. lounge already, but question is - will I be notified when it's time to board, or do I just need to go to the head of the line of Coach class at CUS and wait for the announcement that Biz and handicapped are boarding? Having never taken this route...not sure how things happen. TIA.

 

[AG1]

Save your coupon ! Business class can use the Metro lounge in Chicago. You will have to leave the lounge on your own and go to the gate.

 

[pianocat]

thanks!

 

[iggy]

"You will have to leave the lounge on your own and go to the gate."

Not true at all!! For Lincoln Service - Lounge attendant as long as they know passengers for that train are in lounge - will make an announcement. You will be directed to either the back of lounge to make a right turn and walk to gate - or you will be taken out front door of lounge and then escorted to front loading area in main boarding of terminal ( process changes depending who is working and time of year ). Timing can be an issue - at times attendant does wait a bit longer than they should. Only caused me a problem once - issue was just not getting first pick of seat like I normally do.

I base this statement on previous experience and on fact that I boarded business class for Lincoln Service using lounge just last week on way to Milwaukee and coming home.

If you are deboarding at any station other than St Louis - be prepared to walk through one or more cars to deboard. Still horrible hit and miss service in regards to doing more efficient loading unloading of BC passengers at cafe door. Basically you don't get full value of your BC ticket boarding or de-boarding in Joliet Lincoln Normal Springfield and other stops in-between Chicago and St Louis.

"Business class can use the Metro lounge in Chicago."

Only in past couple of years and only after much complaining - writing articles etc - did Amtrak finally give us that privilege in Chicago. Hard fought battle to get it.

First Class lounge in St Louis is still off limits to business class ticket holders. I did an article in relation to this last week on my website.

Unfortunately many business class passengers coming through Chicago still are unaware that lounge access is part of their ticket purchase. I educated several Lincoln Service passengers on this last week.

Keep in mind even if coming off coach to connect with business class portion of trip - you are entitled to lounge access. Reverse is true - coming off BC to board coach you are entitled to wait in lounge for that train.

 

[kbmiflyer]

Personal experience, they will board the business class passengers from the Met Lounge. However, you need to be a little vigilante. My family (8 of us total) was traveling in business in June CHI-BNL, and they forgot to call us. By the time we went up and asked, they were already boarding coach and the door to business class car had been closed, so we had to trudge two cars forward and board with all of the coach passengers, then trudge two cars back. The Amtrak attendant walked us down to the coach line, but did nothing to help us get into business class.

So, around 30 minutes prior to departure, you may want to stop by the desk and verify they will board business class soon, so they don't forget about you.

 

[SubwayNut]

I don't understand why they wouldnt just keep all the doors open when the train is still boarding and just do a quick run-through before departure.

 

[iggy]

Chicago Metropolitan Lounge has had issues. But getting people to their trains and getting into lounge has been improved. Getting in is less painful in almost all cases - friendlier - quicker - for everyone - from what I have seen. I'd venture a guess that at least 1 person in Amtrak management is listening to feedback.

You are clearly told to be ready at a time before your departure by attendants and to listen for announcements - if none are made - it will annoy some lounge desk staff - but yes check on status with them. Yes mistakes do get made and are aggravating - I clearly stated sometimes you are taken to gate a bit late - meaning after business class passengers in main boarding area have been allowed into glass enclosed area further up towards gates.

Attendants have never walked passengers to business class. They will walk you to glass enclosed area or corridor between that room and passenger gates. You then wait for other employee handling boarding to call for BC riders - then you are are on your own - battling it out in race to cafe door and your BC seat. Last part has NOT changed and has been same no matter which location you board from or where you have waited before boarding.

Open doors vary - sometimes both backdoor and cafe car door is open - other times only one in Chicago. Normally these are not shut until train is about to depart. On my recent trip home - outside backdoor was not shut until we were on our way out of station and down the tracks a bit.

In St Louis it has gotten better - but many times no door was open at all for business class - situation has gotten better after much complaining by me - maybe others - I've only seen me being most vocal on that issue. Location of Cafe car varies depending on time of year - in Winter take elevator and business class is right there. In Summer you are forced to do a long hot miserable walk to very end of train. In a station that has no covered boarding - weather during Summer can make BC feel like lowest class passenger. This and other situations needing addressed are being ignored and feedback not taken seriously.

 

[Steve4031]

I emailed IDOT after one conductor told me the one door boarding in Chicago was a state level initiative. IDOT responded back that this was not the case. They stated the issue would be investigated.

I agree lounge experience has improve. Ive even been pre-boarded as select plus in coach from lounge a few times. Two times I skipped lounge and showed select plus card at gate to gain access to pre board area.

 

[pianocat]

MONTH OLD THREAD HERE! But I have another question for Lincoln Service riders. I understand I can use Met Lounge in CUS for my 1 way CHI-STL BC ticket, and that I need to be watchful about boarding screens and/or announcements. How long is this train, and is the BC car a 2-1 arrangement in the Cafe Car ? Will this car be at the back end of the train at CUS, and finally.....will this train be backed into CUS? And to borrow from Columbo...... just one more thing - anyone have a photo of this car, and the seating arrangement?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Donna:The Lincoln Service trains run with Horizon Coaches ( which most folks dont like) and an AmCafe/ Biz Class Car that has 2x1 Seating in half the Car. Biz Class is usually in front behind the engine and the train set is backed into the Station. Sorry I have no pics, did you try to Google this?

As was said in previous posts, you can use the Metro Lounge while waiting but will have to leave and board @ the Coach gate when the train is announced!

Sometimes the desk clerk forgets so:

I suggest you use a Red Cap from the Lounge, they will get you to the Train before the thundering Hurd and you can snag either a window seat on the 2 Seater Side or the Single Seat which most folks that travel alone prefer since you'll have no seat mate!

 

[Eric S]

I believe the number of cars on Lincoln Service trains does vary somewhat, but is usually in the 4-6 car range as I recall. And they aren't always exclusively Horizon coaches - in my experience, they are often Amfleet coaches.

 

[kbmiflyer]

The train is almost always 5 cars, 4 coaches and one cafe / business. Locomotives at each end. The business car is usually the back car CUS-STL, and subsequently the front car STL-CUS. They are 2x1 seating. As they have a locomotive at both ends, the train is not backed into the station.

Every time I have boarded business class from the Met Lounge on lincoln service, you are boarded through the side door and walked down to the train.

Here is the best image of the business seating I could find with quick search on the web. http://s22.postimg.org/w9dtwe3e9/Palmetto.jpg