Are the coach seats on AMtrak comfortable enough for a 4 day trip?

Question

I'm pregnant and I'll be traveling about a 4 day trip with Amtrak next month and I was wondering if the coach seats are comfortable enough for such a distance? Hubby really wants me to get a sleeper car but for that distance its an additional $900, which we can't afford right now. I'll be traveling alone, we are moving to the east coast from Nevada and he is already on the east coast getting our house ready and his job established. I'm afraid to fly while pregnant, that is why I'll be taking the train. Seems better than the bus. Please tell me anything you can about the Amtrak trains, I've never traveled with them before!

Answer 1

If you can possibly afford it, get the sleeper, period.  There is no substitute for a bed, especially for one who is expecting.

And congratulations!

Answer 2

czimme3 is dead wrong. The coach seats are much larger that flying. If you get a seat with no one on the outside you can curl up without a problem. Be sure to bring a full blanket and your own full sized pillow. I just completed a 5500 mile trip in coach and had no problem sleeping.

Answer 3

I agree with Rivardau, if you can't afford the sleeper the whole trip, get it for part of the trip.

Answer 4

They're comfortable, yes. Big and roomy too. But even a Sleep Number bed will get old after four days. Coach car seats are certainly better than a bus, or plane seats though.

Answer 5

You know how coach seats on an airplane are narrow and you can't really recline them much and you can't really put your feet up, and there's really not much space to move around? Coach seats on a train are the same way. It's going to be just like flying coach, only for 4 days straight. I would definitely recommend flying instead. It's quicker and must be cheaper.

Another point...you will inevitably have a cell phone person near you...HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? ARE YOU THERE? HELLO? WE JUST WENT IN A TUNNEL, I'LL CALL YOU BACK!

Answer 6

amtrak coach seats are the largest, widest, biggest, and recline the farthest, in all the travel industry.  the seats are comfortable to sleep in.

altho', a 4 day (3-nights) trip is long, and probably even longer if you are pregnant.  if you are near due date, you probably wont be allowed to fly anyway.  at least on the train, if you go into labour, there are cities, towns, or even road crossings that ambulances can meet the train at to get you to a hospital in an emergency.

sleepers are very expensive, but they are very popular too.  as a ticket clerk, here is what i suggest to people who cant afford the sleeper the whole way ----  USE SLEEPER FOR 1 NIGHT, generally the 2nd night is best for your comfort.  

this is what we call split space.  so start in coach from nevada, stay in coach the 1st night and thru the second day, then at a city (say, around 5 or 6p on the timetable) then move to a sleeper room.  then you can freshen up in complimentary shower, get complimentary supper from diner, and have a bed to sleep in 2nd night.  get complimentary breakfast and lunch too, shower, relax, etc til chicago.  then when you transfer trains, go coach again to east coast.

you will find that this will lower your sleeper charges quite a bit.  it might only be 300-400$, which perhaps might be doable for you.

being pregnant and going coach 3 nights probably will be less that ideal, but if you can sleep in a recliner at home, you can do it on the train, it is a similar position, what with the leg rests, feet rests, and reclining seat back, and drop down trays too for a little table to work/eat on.

Answer 7

four days of traveling on any mode of transportation is a long time. the coach seats I've been in are much more comfortable than an airline seat; definitely wider. You can get up and walk at least. And for that lengthy of time thetrain will have a diner and a lounge car for refreshments.