WASHINGTON — Beginning Tuesday, July 1, Amtrak is revising rules on how passengers are permitted to utilize first-class Metropolitan Lounges at its major stations.
The principal change is that passengers now entitled to access can no longer enter Metropolitan Lounges after arriving unless they are booked in Acela First Class or a sleeping car on another Amtrak train later the same day. Thus, going to the lounge to wait for a commuter train will no longer be an option.
Furthermore, originating passengers with those accommodations won’t be allowed entry more than three hours before their train’s departure
Previously, lounges at Chicago Union Station, Washington Union Station, New York Penn Station’s Moynihan Train Hall, and stations at Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Portland, Ore., have welcomed anyone with a sleeping car or Acela First Class ticket arriving or departing on an Amtrak train that day. Those venues offer snacks and beverages, as well as comfortable seating and TV entertainment.
They have been a valuable perk for high-revenue patrons, who often travel with several pieces of luggage requiring storage for a short time, or people who need a place to do work or conduct conversations immediately before or after a trip. Business-class passengers have also been able to purchase day passes to utilize the same facilities.
The three-hour rule also applies to coach passengers, but they will now be allowed to buy a single-visit Metropolitan Lounge pass on a space-available basis for $35 ($50 at the Moynihan Hall in New York) that entitles use of the facility. One child (12 and under) may accompany each adult. Previously, only patrons booked in business class could buy a lounge “day pass.”
The revised policy means originating travelers with luggage arriving more than three hours in advance will have to pay $10 per bag where baggage is checked.
The new restrictions do not apply to Amtrak Guest Rewards’ top-tier Select Executive or Select Plus members. They currently have lounge access even if they are not booked in Acela First or a sleeping car room, but arrive or depart on an Amtrak train in coach or business class.
Having a separate, sequestered venue ensures smooth passenger flow during boarding at New York, Los Angeles, and particularly Chicago, Amtrak’s only hub where same-day east-west and north-south transfers are made between originating and terminating trains serving all three coasts. When these trains arrive close together — the Lake Shore Limited, Floridian, and Cardinal did so on Saturday, and this is often the case with the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief — many passengers off those trains line up to get checked in.
The new rules may thin those ranks and remove some big-city flexibility the Metropolitan Lounges now offer.
“We believe this is a fair approach to our guests,” says Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari, who points out that most major airlines impose a similar three-hour lounge entry rule at originating airports [American does not].
A significant difference is that remote airport locations don’t offer the extracurricular dining, entertainment, and attraction options available in downtowns Amtrak serves, which is one of the plusses for arriving or leaving by train.
It remains to be seen whether the cost-benefit analysis for passengers wishing to pay for Metropolitan Lounge access will change if the visit is limited to three hours. Of course, if the train’s departure is delayed, passengers will get to spend more time enjoying the amenities.
Here are the new rules from Amtrak.com. Note sleeper passengers connecting same day are not generally subject to te three hour rule. This is an amazingly long set of provisions/rules, but most of this is not unreasonable. The “same itinerary” phrase should read “Same Day”, but the basic rule should allow for all-day use when, for example, changing from the LAKESHORE to the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS–especially if the passenger retains/shows the ticket for the first/arriving train.
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Admittance
Duration and Timing of Lounge Visit: Any access to the Lounge may occur only during the three hours immediately prior to the scheduled departure time for the guest’s train. For First Class and AGR Select Executive and Select Plus guests, this time limit is not applicable during the time period between two connecting trains on the same itinerary. First Class guests and Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Executive and Select Plus customers may also access the Lounge upon arrival at their destination station. Additionally, guests with delayed trains may also extend their visits past three hours until their actual departure time.
Age: Individuals must be 18 or older to enter the Metropolitan Lounge, unless accompanied by a supervising adult 18 or older.
Access via “Single Visit Pass”: A Single Visit Pass is valid for use at the Lounge location where the purchase was made and requires a same-day ticket for Amtrak service. Purchased access is subject to availability at Amtrak’s sole discretion. One (1) child under 12 years old may accompany an individual accessing a Lounge with a Single Visit Pass; however, no other guests are permitted, and each additional guest must purchase a pass if available.
Access via First Class (including Acela or Private Room accommodation): is extended to guests traveling on an Amtrak route or service that offers First Class (Acela or Private Room) accommodations. Guest must hold a valid same-day ticket for that Class type. One (1) child under 12 years old may accompany a ticketed adult; however, any additional travelers traveling in other Class accommodations must have their own eligible ticket or may purchase a Single Visit Pass if available.
Access via Amtrak Guest Rewards status: is extended to “Select Plus” and “Select Executive” tier members holding a same-day ticket for Amtrak service. A government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID) may be required for admittance, and must match both the Amtrak Guest Rewards member and ticket holder’s name. Amtrak Guest Rewards members may enter the lounge with immediate family members (spouse or domestic partner, children) or one non-familial guest. All guests must also be ticketed for same-day Amtrak service.
Amtrak Guest Rewards membership is nontransferable and physical or digital member cards may not be loaned to others. Amtrak representatives will confiscate membership cards that are expired or presented by anyone other than the member.
Members must accompany their family and guests during their Metropolitan Lounge visit. Members are responsible for ensuring guests and family members comply with these Rules.
Amtrak Guest Rewards members who bring more guests than allowed will be charged for any additional guests at the current cost of a Single Visit Pass.
Access via Amtrak Guest Reward’s Preferred Mastercard: access is extend to guests holding Amtrak Guest Reward’s Preferred Mastercard (“cardholder”), who are granted one (1) Lounge pass upon opening their account and one (1) annually upon their card opening anniversary. A government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID) may be required for admittance, and must match both the cardholder and ticket holder’s name. Cardholders using their Preferred Mastercard’s Lounge passes may enter the lounge with immediate family members (spouse or domestic partner, children) or one non-familial guest. All guests must also be ticketed for same-day Amtrak service. Cardholders who bring more guests than allowed will be charged for any additional guests at the current cost of a Single Visit Pass.
Prohibited actions: Amtrak retains the right to refuse access and/or bar future access to any guest who undertakes the following actions in attempt to gain entrance to the Lounge:
Sharing an eligible travel document: Sharing a travel document (e.g., a First Class ticket) with a guest who is not named on the reservation is prohibited.
Purchasing an eligible ticket, then canceling ticket before travel: Purchasing an eligible ticket to gain access to the Lounge, and then canceling that ticket prior to travel, is prohibited.
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The key to this not turning into a confrontational debacle will be good judgement by the lounge staff.
Interesting that the rules as spelled out are not as harsh as they’re described in the article.
Sure, I’ll just go walk around an unfamiliar downtown and enjoy some fine dining and entertainment.
I (62 F) typically travel alone, and appropriately attired for a long train ride. Killing a few hours going to dinner and walking around in a big-city downtown, by myself, does not sound like a good time – or a good idea.
I have to wonder if any women were involved in this decision making process. Having a quiet, safe place to pass a few hours between trains is (was?) an important benefit.
On re-reading the article it sounds like the three-hour limit might not affect those transferring from one Amtrak train to another. I hope that’s the case.
So, the way I read this: say I arrive in a sleeping car off the “California Zephyr” at 2:39 p.m. and have a coach ticket to Toledo leaving at 6:40, I can’t use the Metropolitan Lounge unless I pay $35? Or, I can’t check in until 3:40?
I forgot to mention, 6:40 p.m. departure is on the “Capitol Limited” of course.
Passengers can always sit on the floor at NYP. What’s the problem?
Some people really need watch less news it’s making them paranoid!
Innercities have become dangerous places so let’s charge extra for a safe haven.
So, if I arrive at Penn Station New York in a bedroom on the Silver Meteor and my hotel room isn’t going to be available until early afternoon, I’m not allowed to wait in the Metropolitan Lounge? And the the tickets cost how much for the trip?
After reading this article, I checked to see the date, hoping that today is April Fools Day. It’s not.
How much did you pay for the ticket, David? Obviously ticket prices vary by any number of factors. Since you said Silver Meteor, I checked the price for a room on Amtrak, MIA to NYP, compared to fully refundable first class on UAL, MIA to EWR. Amtrak costs almost twice as much.
With the flight only a few hours, coach or business class on UAL wouldn’t be all that bad.
Now, you talk about wanting to sit in the lounge after ARRIVAL for a few hours. My time in a lounge, airline or railroad either one, amounts to exactly once. Guess what, it was an ARRIVAL lounge, Air Canada at London Heathrow, where I could shower and rest and munch. This was after two flights, Milwaukee to Toronto, Toronto to Heathrow. And before two trains from Heathrow to Bristol (changing at London Paddington). So I can see, David, why you would want to use a lounge on ARRIVAL.
For everyone who is a bit (or a lot) disappointed with Amtrak, this article absolutely takes the cake. Talk about going out of your way to screw over your highest-paying customers.
Why don’t you take the Silver Star…oh, right.