We've taken a couple trips on Amtrak so far. We take the Empire Builder from Fargo, ND to Williston, ND. The first time we travelled, we had normal coach reservations, but the boarding assistant (is that what they're called?) put us in the lower level seating - we didn't know why. But we really liked it! We have a two year old boy and he had a bit of room to play in there without being able to run the full length of the car because it is closed off. Nice for us.
So ever since then, we have reserved lower level reserved seating without any problems. One time there was even another family down there with a little girl and our kids played and it was great.
On this last trip this weekend, on the way to Williston we got a roomette since we hoped to sleep most of the trip and it was fabulous! We boarded at 4 am and slept until 10 am and got off at 11 am. It was great.
However, on the way back we reserved lower level reserved seating since we would be awake for a lot of the trip and our toddler would need room to move around. When we went to board, the boarding assistant refused to put us in the lower level seating because "They are for handicapped only - not for people with kids." (Yes, she was a bit rude about it). So we went up to regular coach but soon I sought her out and said that we reserved lower level seating and we paid extra for lower level seating so we'd like to be down there as it is more convenient with a toddler. She didn't believe that we could reserve lower level because we were not handicaped. We booked online and on Amtrak's website there is nothing about the lower level being for handicapped - not that I could find anyway. She also didn't believe that I paid extra for lower level but it was, in fact, about $70 extra.
She called in her supervisor, or at least he appeared to be her supervisor as he set her straight and said that we reserved lower level so she had to put us in there (although he didn't seem very happy about it either).
The lower level did have only elderly handicapped people in it. But there was room for us (we DID reserve it after all). Since the other passengers were elderly we spent 95% of the trip in the lounge and observation car so that our toddler wouldn't disturb anyone - even though we boarded at 7 pm and got off at 3 am. The people in the lower level seating were very friendly and talked to our toddler and seemed to enjoy having a child in there, but we were cautious about being "disruptive" since the Amtrak employees were so reluctant to put us in there. In short - we felt bad about being in there!
Amtrak employees have never before made me feel unwelcome, but on this trip I felt like I wanted to just get off the train ASAP.
I am confused for the future whether or not I should reserve lower level seating. As I said, the website says nothing about this seating being only for handicapped. It is so nice to ride down there with a child.
The roomettes are too small for anything but sleeping (but they are great for sleeping!) and the family bedroom is so expensive, I really don't want to spend that much.
Any suggestions as to what I should reserve in the future? Would it be worth a call to Amtrak to see what they think or would I most likely not get any answers there?
TIA
Here are a few pictures from our trip:
http://grantandlatha.hopto.org/Latha/05.03/amtrak.html
So ever since then, we have reserved lower level reserved seating without any problems. One time there was even another family down there with a little girl and our kids played and it was great.
On this last trip this weekend, on the way to Williston we got a roomette since we hoped to sleep most of the trip and it was fabulous! We boarded at 4 am and slept until 10 am and got off at 11 am. It was great.
However, on the way back we reserved lower level reserved seating since we would be awake for a lot of the trip and our toddler would need room to move around. When we went to board, the boarding assistant refused to put us in the lower level seating because "They are for handicapped only - not for people with kids." (Yes, she was a bit rude about it). So we went up to regular coach but soon I sought her out and said that we reserved lower level seating and we paid extra for lower level seating so we'd like to be down there as it is more convenient with a toddler. She didn't believe that we could reserve lower level because we were not handicaped. We booked online and on Amtrak's website there is nothing about the lower level being for handicapped - not that I could find anyway. She also didn't believe that I paid extra for lower level but it was, in fact, about $70 extra.
She called in her supervisor, or at least he appeared to be her supervisor as he set her straight and said that we reserved lower level so she had to put us in there (although he didn't seem very happy about it either).
The lower level did have only elderly handicapped people in it. But there was room for us (we DID reserve it after all). Since the other passengers were elderly we spent 95% of the trip in the lounge and observation car so that our toddler wouldn't disturb anyone - even though we boarded at 7 pm and got off at 3 am. The people in the lower level seating were very friendly and talked to our toddler and seemed to enjoy having a child in there, but we were cautious about being "disruptive" since the Amtrak employees were so reluctant to put us in there. In short - we felt bad about being in there!
Amtrak employees have never before made me feel unwelcome, but on this trip I felt like I wanted to just get off the train ASAP.
I am confused for the future whether or not I should reserve lower level seating. As I said, the website says nothing about this seating being only for handicapped. It is so nice to ride down there with a child.
The roomettes are too small for anything but sleeping (but they are great for sleeping!) and the family bedroom is so expensive, I really don't want to spend that much.
Any suggestions as to what I should reserve in the future? Would it be worth a call to Amtrak to see what they think or would I most likely not get any answers there?
TIA
Here are a few pictures from our trip:
http://grantandlatha.hopto.org/Latha/05.03/amtrak.html