Amtrak seating question...?

Question

i am going from st. louis to chicago with a friend...we have 2 reserved coach seats. will we be seated together? does amtrak assign seat numbers b/c i read somewhere that they don't and it is first come first serve...thanks so much!

Answer 1

unless you have a special compartment reserved, seating is first come, first serve, but you will always get a seat if you have it reserved, just not always together

Answer 2

Yes, it's first come first serve on most Amtrak trains (except around NYC).  Hopefully you'll get 2 seats together.  If not, you can always request someone sitting alone to trade with you.

Answer 3

I jsut came back fro mNy on amtrak and ran into a a similar issue. they dont make accomadations unless you ask. If the train is sold out its going to be harder for them to fulfill the request

have a good trip ;)

Answer 4

Yours is a short-haul train, so it is first come first serve.

However if you cannot find two seats together, find two seats across the aisle from each other.  You can also ask people to move over so you can be on the aisle.  People will often cooperate if you ask.  The other thing you can try is, once they take your tickets, go to the lounge car where you may find seats together, since those seats are never sold.

Amtrak never assigns seat numbers.  On overnight trains (not yours), the car attendant decides where you'll be sitting, and he will sit couples and groups together.

Answer 5

It all depends on which train you are riding, since you are going to St. Louis to Chicago, I assume you will be on the Texas Eagle or Ann Rutledge. I rode Amtraks Southwest Chief back in May from Kansas City to Albuquerque, NM and the car attendent on the train assigned seats, and sinice there are 2 of you I bet you will be together, since the tickets were booked together.