Copyright Business Insider
While checking out, I was pleasantly surprised to find that seat selection was included with my business-class ticket. This isn't something Amtrak offers in coach, where seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A map of the train car showed which spots were still available, and I was pleasantly surprised to have tons of options despite only booking my trip a few days in advance. I chose a window seat positioned far from others to enjoy plenty of personal space. When I boarded my train a little after 6 a.m., I walked through several packed coach cars to reach business class. I expected the crowding to continue, but the business-class car was fairly empty. For most of the ride, it was just me and a larger group seated up front. Though passengers got on and off at various stations, my car never felt crowded. Every solo traveler — including myself — had an entire row to themselves. The quiet, open space felt like a far cry from the often noisy, crowded rows in plane travel. Given the price of my business-class ticket and the length of my train ride (over four hours), I expected a complimentary drink or snack. I was surprised that nothing was offered during the ride. I later found on Amtrak's website that the Northeast Regional business class does include a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage, which can be redeemed by presenting your ticket at the café car. Unfortunately, this wasn't mentioned during boarding, when my ticket was scanned, or at any point during the trip. Had I not checked the website afterward, I wouldn't have known about this perk. It may have been my fault for not inquiring, but a simple announcement or a mention from the attendant would've been nice. That said, even if I had known about the complimentary drink, a single beverage doesn't feel like enough to justify a $226 ticket price. On a flight of similar length, even in economy, you're typically offered a small snack like pretzels or crackers. It's a small gesture that can add comfort and value to the experience, especially in a class that's marketed as a premium upgrade. Each seat had a button on the armrest that allowed it to recline backward. I expected this feature, but I was surprised by how far back the seat actually reclined. It extended far enough that I could turn my head and see the rows behind me. The seat offered noticeably more space than a standard economy airplane seat, and considering how early in the day my ride was, I appreciated the extra comfort. I was pleasantly surprised to see seats had footrests built into their backs. So, once I reclined my chair and lowered the footrest in front of me, I was able to stretch out my legs completely. After all, Amtrak's business-class seats offer about 42 inches of legroom. I was practically horizontal, and I found myself wishing I had brought some comfortable travel items, such as a neck pillow or blanket, so I could really relax. That said, I'm just over 5 feet tall, so the seat may not have felt as spacious for someone larger. In addition to the footrest, each seat also had a tray table in the back. Unfortunately, though, I didn't find it to be very practical. It was just big enough to fit my laptop and a small coffee, which barely sat flat because of the table's ridged edges. There was no way I could comfortably work with both on the table, let alone add anything else, like a phone or notepad. The tray table would be fine if I were watching a show sans drink or doing something that required minimal movement, but given how expensive my ticket was, I expected more space. The café car did have larger tables, and I saw a few people working in there as I passed by, but I didn't think it made sense for me to pay for a business-class seat just to go sit somewhere else. Even though the car was mostly empty, I found myself distracted by the larger group seated ahead of me, as most of them were wearing suits, earpieces, and badges. Based on their conversations and overall demeanor, they seemed to be a security team for someone important who was aboard the train. I overheard them mentioning "the press" and a stop arranged by the conductor to discreetly let someone off the train, separate from the other passengers. I'm unsure who the mystery VIP guest was (one conductor I asked told me it was an international prime minister), but I was impressed by how much privacy business class seemed to offer — apparently enough for someone of high status to travel largely undetected. Though technically anyone could walk through the train car, the space felt closely monitored. Conductors were stationed by the doors throughout the trip and, in my experience, were quick to check tickets. My own was scanned almost immediately after I sat down. Though my seat felt nice and big, I expected to have a bit more personal space. There wasn't even an armrest between the pairs of seats, so if someone had been sitting next to me, we probably would've been brushing elbows the entire ride. Despite the business-class perks — like seat selection, extra legroom, and a quieter environment — if I were sitting this close to someone, my journey would've been a bit uncomfortable. Business Insider reached out to Amtrak for comment.
