How do I upgrade my Amtrak seat?

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.



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A few standouts where it is worthwhile to upgrade to business class? One is the Coast Starlight, because it has a separate observation car reserved for business class riders. Another is the Pacific Surfliner, which has big tables in business class that let you balance computers and drinks and have room for stretching.

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Yes. Upgrades from Coach to Sleeping Car accommodations are available up until the moment of your departure by modifying your trip on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app. While you will pay the difference in fare, no change fee applies when upgrading to a room.

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Travelers booked on trains with seats eligible for upgrades are alerted that there are seats in upper-class cars that they can bid for. Passengers can then pick an amount to offer from a monetary range set by Amtrak. Here's everything you should know about Amtrak BidUp—and the best ways to use it.

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Amtrak.com gives you the freedom to make quick and easy changes to existing reservations that were made online, through the Amtrak App or in a station anytime you want. Enjoy the flexibility of changing the dates and times of your departure and/or return trip or feel free to upgrade your seat or room options.

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You can view or change your seat at any time after booking, even onboard while your train is en route. A schedule change, equipment change or other unforeseen circumstance may cause the planned orientation of your train or seat to change before departure.

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In October of 2021, I spent two nights on overnight Amtrak trains traveling between Miami and NYC. I stayed in a 20-square-foot roomette for $500 and a 40-square-foot bedroom for $1,000. The extra space in the bedroom was more comfortable for the long journey and worth the price.

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The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

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The average Amtrak Coach seat measures 23 inches in width (compared to around 17 inches for airplane equivalent seating) with exceptional legroom and the ability to recline for an even more comfortable sleeping position.

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There is more room in the business class car along with free non-alcoholic drinks. Other perks include Amtrak points bonus and reserved seating on some routes (no reserved seating in coach cars). The train car layout is also slightly different in business class vs coach class.

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You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

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You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.

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You can view or change your seat at any time after booking, even onboard while your train is en route. A schedule change, equipment change or other unforeseen circumstance may cause the planned orientation of your train or seat to change before departure.

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If the seat is available, the passenger pays for the upgrade on the flight. So while you shouldn't expect a free upgrade on a flight, you can still ask for upgrades from booking till boarding — and you may be able to pay your way to a much more comfortable seat.

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Realistically, it's a gamble and getting upgraded to business class at the airport is pretty rare. If luxury and extra legroom is really important to you, book it in advance. However, if you're perfectly willing to fly economy class, and willing to roll the dice, a last-minute upgrade can be the cheapest option.

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Some airlines offer upgrades for a flat fee, while others base the cost on the difference between the price of your original ticket and the first-class fare. It's essential to keep in mind that first-class upgrades are only sometimes available, especially during peak travel times or on popular routes.

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To upgrade just speak to the train manager to check there's space onboard and pay the upgrade there on card.

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