Prior to your trip you can select your preferred seat in First Class and Business Class on all Acela trains. Choose between a single or double seat, a window or an aisle, or a two- or four-person conference table.
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The Train. The Acela train has two classes: first and business. First-class passengers have the option of preselecting their seats, which are arranged in a 2-1 configuration. Business-class riders do not have that luxury; it's first-come, first-served.
We realize that you have many options when traveling in the Northeast, but the answer should be clear: Acela is the smarter and more efficient way to go, saving you time, money and hassles when traveling from DC to New York and Boston.
While Business Class seats are much more comfortable than Economy seats, usually lying fully flat so they can be turned into beds, First Class seats take that a step further and are often enclosed in their own private suites, with a seat and a separate bed made up of fine linens. Some even have their own showers.
Amtrak Business Class offers many amenities over coach class including extra legroom, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and a 25% point bonus through Amtrak Guest Rewards.
You can upgrade your seating from Coach to First Class and Business Class seats on Amtrak.com, through our mobile applications, at a staffed station or over the phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL. On trains with First Class private rooms, you may be able to upgrade to a Roomette or Bedroom, availability permitting.
Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.
An Amtrak revenue management specialist told Trains last year that Business Class on the Auto Train had the effect of raising coach fares to the point where the company was losing business, so reservations agents had to “manually” override the yield management system to lower the price points.
Seniors, families with small children, active military, disabled in wheelchairs or walkers, and business class have boarding priority on Amtrak. In the larger stations, they will reserve a separate waiting room with more seating available.