I don’t think some passengers realize just how hard/heartbreaking the work can be for Amtrak staff. I’ve witnessed so many things. Verbal abuse from passengers, messy passengers elder passengers that are traveling alone (and often times shouldn’t be) expecting attendants to treat them like a personal nurse and the worst was seeing two male passengers traveling in the middle of the night with a young boy (about 4 years old). The men were physically and verbally abusing the child. The female attendant was trying to keep the child safe (and warm..the poor boy was barely dressed for it being Winter). The attendant suspected what I was suspecting, the child wasn’t theirs and potentially being a victim of human trafficking. That brave attendant calmly kept the child safe, alerted the Amtrak who in turn alerted police at the station the men were set to depart at. The attendant offered to carry the young boy off the train onto the station platform where police (discreetly) were waiting for the men and young boy. This was on the Coast Starlight coming into the Dunsmuir station in the middle of the night. That female Amtrak staffer went BEYOND what most people would do.

I think the biggest I've seen, is with the restrooms.. Passengers seem to always plug them up, piss on the floors in them, or throw tissue or toweling on the floor.. Passengers can be really dirty and nasty 🤢🤮

Sneaking someone into the sleeper car is a form of stealing, but sleeper car passengers paid for their meals in the Dining Car. If they ate part of their meals in their room and took the leftovers to the observation car (where their teenager ate them), no one would notice. If they ask for a second dessert, that's another story

When I was five years old my Grandmother and I took the train from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1952 and my most vivid memory was having French Toast for breakfast after using a “finger bowl to wash my hands with the help of the porter! That started my love for train travel that has continued to my taking my children on several trips!!

I've never once thought "Gee, the attendant doesn't have much to do." I'm always amazed how much they do.

#1 is disturbing. So many people so afraid of one another that they can’t just say, “Hey there, sorry to bother you, and maybe I’m wrong, but is this my seat or yours?” Then show the person your friggin ticket, like you need their help. Non confrontational, but effective. Strange world.

After my first long trip, where I saw the hat the car attendants do, I have a set proceedure now. I let them know that once my room is set for sleeping, leave it. I'm more of a couch flopper than chair sitter anyways, so it's more comfortable for me, and no, I will make my own bed, thank you. Being a smoker, I also set my alarm for late night smoke stops instead of having to have the attendant wake me up. It might be small, but it's one less thing they are asked to do. And for the love of all things holy, tip your attendant! Especially if you request "extra"...

My favorite incident involved a southbound trip on the Coast Starlight. During the night, one passenger decided the seat wasn't comfortable enough, and chose to sleep in the aisle! The staff stood around him at three am trying to wake him up. You have to admire them for what they deal with.

I have no problem speaking up if someone is in the assigned seat I paid good money for, and I don't need the conductor unless they refuse to move. It's called having a conversation, more people should get their heads out of their phones and learn it.

The restrooms can get bad. I usually carry cleaning supplies

I travelled coach so I didn't need anything form a car attendant, but the staff was pleasant. What really made me feel good was the conductor saying, with great sincerity, that he knows we have all kinds of options for travel and that he and the staff appreciated us choosing Amtrak. It was more than the usual spiel of 'Thank you for choosing Amtrak', he really meant it,

You guys are such great role models for good behavior that I thought of you when I took a trip to Montreal. As you have noted before, the bathroom in coach was a bit messy with used towels on the floor and the trash bin overflowing. I took it upon myself to pick it all up and jam it well down into the trashcan. My experience on trains is the mess tends to snowball. A towel tossed into the sink clogs the drain. The next person uses the sink and it fills up and sloshes over the rim and onto the floor. Then the floor becomes muddy, and the cuff of your pants picks up that mud and you can't wash your hands. And so it goes. So, thanks for reminding everyone to do their bit to make the ride nicer for every rider and for every staff member. It makes a difference. We need the reminder to initiate the change we'd like to see.

I watched to make sure I wasn't doing anything to annoy staff. Whew! I'm off the hook. I have had nothing but great attendants and staff. A few years ago, I was coming back on the Empire Builder from MT to Chicago, and the train was 24 hours late. I spent, unplanned, Christmas day and evening on the train. The staff was so accommodating, they were even giving free food away to coach riders. I'll ride again in a heartbeat. Thanks for your posts. They have been so helpful.

Maybe you should do one of these for things that staff do that drive passengers crazy! I'll start 1.Conductors and car attendants who disappear except for when they are onboarding and collecting tickets, especially the ones who don't bother to come through and tell you the exit car when you're getting off the train in the middle of the night 2. Staff who don't enforce rules (like no vaping) because they just can't be bothered or want to avoid conflict 3. Staff who don't seem to notice that the PA system in a car doesn't work so passengers can't hear the announcements 4. Conductors who walk thru the cars with their VERY loud walkie-talkies turned on, even in the middle of the night

I had purchased an assigned seat ticket on Amtrak several years ago, pre-COVID. My embarkation time was at 11:30pm and the person in the same row was completely sacked out across both seats. I ended up crashing in the Superliner's Observation Car until the Conductor found me. I explained the situation and he sympathized. I went the 8-hour ride to Chicago without a proper seat. When I later complained to Amtrak about it, I was told that it was my responsibility to remove the passenger from my assigned seat...but then, how uncomfortable of a ride would it have been sitting beside a complete stranger that you rousted and made to move...or worse asked the Conductor to do it.

March 2024: A group of four women was seated all the way across the row ahead of me for 19 hours. They were all asleep when I boarded mid day. They were loud, cussy, messy, and inconsiderate. During the night they played videos without headphones, Played audible phone games, made and received phone calls, notifications were not muted. They were asked many times to be more thoughtful to those around them. Their response was to always be on the lookout for staff, but continue as usual. They ended their trip by dropping an empty drink bottle in the aisle next to me and spilling laundry detergent in the aisle. I couldn't tolerate the detergent's fragrance and had to flee the car before the building allergic reaction could fully manifest. The headache lingered for two more hours assuring I got less than half the sleep I desired.

Maybe not drive the staff crazy but, for sure drive me crazy: a person talking overly loud (and maybe using foul language), on the phone.

A few months ago I was travelling coach out of Chicago. While waiting at Union Station a security team with a sniffer dog ID'd this man's bags and the team did a search. Apparently they must not have found anything because the man ended up in the same coach car I was in and he was going on about how they kept asking him if he had any marijuana and how he was gonna "sue the pants off of Amtrak" and whatnot. Well he eventually quieted down, but about an hour into the trip, lo and behold, I smelled weed. Not long after I went to the lounge car, where at the next stop I saw this man being escorted away from the train by Amtrak crew and local police. Kudos to the crew that day for dealing with the situation swiftly and discreetly. (Not sure how security in Chicago missed it though lol)

Wow, I've never done any of that stuff on a train. Pro tip #1: If the train is delayed, you are not the only one being delayed -- so is everybody on the crew. Pro tip #2: If the crew can detect smoking in your room, they can certainly detect cooking. Pro tip #3: One of the single most important things to bring is a thermos -- you don't have to constantly bother the staff for coffee or tea. I recommend a wide mouth bottle for ice, too.

My daughter and I took a trip from Erie PA. to Moorepark in CA. We rode the South West Chief and I can say that the entire Amtrak Staff were wonderful. From the people at the counter to all of the staff on the train. It was a wonderful experience. I plan to do a trip again just because of what a wonderful experience I had.

Good information, thanks. The only thing I disagree with is that two people eating 2/3 of meal each technically does not increase the cost of the food for others unless you’re thinking of it in terms of lost revenue from them buying their own meal at the café.

Amtrak staff works hard the majority of the time and we wish people would treat them better overall. They are very underappreciated. Yes we have seen it when everyone is in the wrong seat too! Has happened to us a few times where our seats are taken. Last time we told attendant to correct the issue and the passengers told to move were rude to us the rest of our trip. A wok! Now that is crazy! WOW!

Bring an oven mitt with you and you can place your curling iron or straightening iron inside it so it won't burn or melt something else in your room or your suitcase

I've seen the seat issue on several trips I have taken. As a passenger I have had three scary incidents, two where smokers got irritated about not being able to smoke or the stops not being long enough to smoke. I was sitting in front of a guy who was getting so mad and was cursing, even at one point tried to smoke and was caught. The staff threatened to put him off. It's clear Amtrak is starting to get more popular than flying for some people.

Had my first Amtrak sleeper experience in Feb. this year. You two were both a huge inspiration to go do a bucket-list type trip, alone, for the first time as well as being extremely helpful with all your tips etc.. I felt, and was, very prepared for all the little 'things' that happen in a sleeper! The second floor of the Metro Lounge in Chicago...that was awesome. So thank you for all the tips! I definitely noticed a few people who apparently just will not listen to simple directions. Like when there's an announcement of "please do not head downstairs to wait by the door just yet, we'll make another announcement..." and certain people are just immediately hanging out on the bottom step. Like "look, I'm not waiting by the door...so it's ok right?" No, you're IN THE WAY. That said, my trip was AMAZING. The crew, and you all have said this before, on the Southwest Chief are TOP notch. Absolutely amazing! My Texas Eagle journey was a little weird with the crew...they kind of always seemed to be difficult to find. Still, they were super nice and regardless of anything else, VERY professional. Gotta love it. But please...anyone going on a trip...when you use the toilet, please take GLT's advice and learn to use the trashcan properly. OOF!

The most annoying thing I encountered in coach was a lady talking on her phone for over an hour...and she was loud, ruined that part of trip!

The first time on an Amtrak train was a huge blessing and all the workers was Awesome 😎

Love your insights about Amtrak train travel. However, I am rethinking that bucket list train trip. 🤔

I liked this one ...took my first Trip from Cleveland to Lancaster last year ...thinking of doing another one soon 😊❤ Some people really need this ..following the rules written or unwritten just not thier thing . Have a little class people ..🌼 golden rule

I was talking with our Sleeping Car Attendant and they like low maintenance passengers, but not so low maintenance they think you died. Our Attendant had someone who literally went into their room and she didn’t see him again until he got off the train. They want to know you’re doing alright, but kind of go with their flow. So if they’re going to dinner, it’s ok if you’re not ready for bed. We were thanked for that. Since she could take her dinner and know at least 1 room didn’t need help.

I travel a lot of Amtrak long distance. The restrooms. I’ve seen the attendant’s throughout the day cleaning them, but people are just filthy. It repulses me walking into a disgustingly dirty restroom. I can’t imagine being the one that has to clean it.

Empire Builder my wife and I being lite eaters always took food back to our sleepers, especially the desserts. Even shared our Blueberry Cheesecake with our attendant. Amtrak is so cool! Thanks, great video.

Sadly, too many people view staff as servants. I've ridden 5 different Amtrak trains and the staff every time was wonderful. Did have one grumpy conductor on the City of New Orleans, but not really a problem. One trip to Chicago I sat next to a woman who said she was very uncomfortable sitting next to an older man so I swapped seats with my daughter.

Someone try to cook their own food on a train? That’s crazy same time it’s beyond prohibited 🚫🤦🏽‍♂️

Great video and good to make current or future passengers aware of what "not to do." I took the Southwest Chief (last Dec) from Chicago to LA Union station and, while the staff was great, I felt bad for them in that people just didn't know how to communicate properly. One night I had to run down from the sleeper car to use the restrooms on that level and saw a pool of water coming from under the shower door, spanning from under the door, across the bottom of that level's floor! I got back to my room and let the attendant know. She was furious as (apparently) the shower had been "backed up" for the entire ride but people would just use it until it "almost over-flowed" and then didn't say a word?! Not cool - let your attendant KNOW if there are issues. The other issue the attendant (and dining car staff voiced) was that, after the first night "No one wanted to eat in the dining car because they don't want to TIP!" I told the attendant that I don't think that's entirely true or perhaps people don't know (if they don't educate themselves in-advance of travel) that you SHOULD tip. I also think it was an issue of me being on a car with a band of mutants - and I count myself as a mutant (so no shade here). But...the first night (being a single rider) I was placed at a table with two other men - one much older (and a lot of fun) the other was much younger and a really interesting guy. We managed to make conversation but there was an underlying tension you could feel/ sense. And, while no one was passive-aggressive (other than the old dude, when I told him I was excited to take a shower on a train for the first time - saying to me "YOU - how are you gonna fit in that tiny place at your size?" (laughing while he said it). It is what it is. I think older people (like kids) have zero filter and don't care what flies out of their mouth. I think the seating of random singles together discourages people from wanting to be in the dining car. I loved the trip for the isolation and ability to unplug. I can have a conversation with anyone, honestly but, when it feels like work, it doesn't feel like vacation. Keep the great content coming! Love you two (and your positive energy).

I once sat near a woman who loudly used her cell phone for 2 hours -- including after 10pm. Almost a confrontation -- she got off just in time. And video makers: you can't get any staff help after a certain hour.

What I want to know is who's Teddybear is that in back?

Don’t show up early for dinning car reservations , wait until your time is called!

I was a train conductor in Victoria Australia and these people are on trains worldwide! I had a lady who loaded 2 cats in her luggage and all the drama that caused when I confronted her!I said “ Have you got cats in the luggage van,because they are going crazy!” And people sitting in someone’s reserved seat is so annoying for the Conductor and the passenger who expects there seat vacant! Smoking,drinking,fighting,swearing…I’ve seen it all on trains in Victoria. Love all your content across all your channels!👍

As a flight attendant, I have seen the goldfish, sunflowers seed shells, etc. numerous times.

The world is simply out of control! People seem to have such a sense of entitlement and that the rules do not apply to them. I was raised differently. While this does not surprise me it continues to disappointment me that humans are behaving this way. Good video!

On a recent 4-hour train ride, I noticed some things that you might want to mention. (1) A lady who was first on the train put her small roller bag under the luggage storage rack still standing on its wheels. I turned it on its sude because I knew it would just roll away when the train started moving. I put my larger roller bag next to hers, on it's own side. A young man with the aame destination as me put his bag above on the rack. When we were leaving the train at the end of our trip, his bag had been moved to the seating area behind the baggage rack. He was surprised that his bag was not where he had left it. The staff said that they sometimes move bags to the lower level seating area when there are few lower level seat seated passengers. I had brought a cable lock ro lock my luggage handle to the rack, but I'm glad i couldn't do that if staff had wanted to move my bag.

Decades ago there was a book written by an Amtrak attendant of many years experience that encouraged the rotating through of a 3rd person.

Not having done an overnight train before, we got on the OBB from Venice to Vienna. 😮 The fact the the numbered cars aren't in order, and not understanding how to read the ticket to figure out car, and berth, as well as having under 10 minutes from the train arrival to its departure was a bit crazy. Running down a platform and trying to get help from anyone about locating our car 12 that was 29 cars away?!? Then getting on and not being able to pull out phone to check bunkette number, because of being pushed by families to move forward. Oh heaven forbid I try to step aside, into the doorway of a bunkette, to let them by, and get scolded, that is theirs, get out of there. When all I want is to find my own bunkette. And not speaking German, didn't help the matter. I agree with sit where assigned, you just got to find it.😅😅😅

Staff is also under pressure on many of the long distance trains in the west because the staff cars have been removed and retired. This has forced the staff to move into the lower level of one of the passenger cars depriving passengers of that space. Staff has also taken over half of the cafe car lower levels as a rest break area, again, depriving passengers of that space. It's bad for everyone.

One of our best rail trips was not on Amtrak but Alaska rail from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The conductor was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. He was happy to answer all of our questions. Because the regular whistle stop train was not running that day, ours was the substitute. At one stop the passenger was traveling with his rifle, the conductor had to lock it in his office; just a normal day

Number of years ago the experience was in the diner car being seated with a group of Korean parents with their son. He was the only one speaking English. Before the food was served his mother hauled out a bottle containing Kimchee, was very smelly and the whole car was looking around to see where it was coming from and what it was. I served in Vietnam and knew what was going to happen when the jar was opened. The server didn't say anything but took the empty glass jar when it was empty. She explained to the son that outside food was not permitted, but could be consumed in the sightseer lounge. Poor son was embarrassed, and the parents were mystified.

These people are insane!!! Geez, if somebody has a cooker next to me, I'll make some noise. The staff is always great, but they don't have it easy. Tip as well as you can!

On the Missouri River Runner, it was open seating, so they put cards with our starting location. On the sleeping car, my sister and brother-in-law had a room, and I had a roommette, so I could visit them, but slept in my room, and at the Portland end of the Empire Builder, couldn't go to the Seattle end, through the dining car, to see if those cars were the same as ours (but the attendant allowed me to discreetly view) I saw a plastic Dr. Pepper bottle lodged in the braces between our car (I was in Roomette #7) and the baggage car behind us (except when we backed up). At a fresh air stop, I thought I'd see if I could get a better picture of it, but the maintenance worker saw me and quite forcefully told me there's 480 volts in there!

Would love to hear a bit of your history! You both are such lovely people could you share how you two met and how the love of travel got started and have your children ever traveled with you?

I really enjoy your channel.

I totally loved what you had to say. I had an attendant issue. I went fron Seattle to Alliance Ohio on the EB. My lady attendant had her grandkids on board. They ran up and down the cars every hour of the day. She let them make announcements. I was in a bedroom, once she turned down my bed the first night, I never saw her again, my bed was down the whole way back.when I would say something,she said she was really busy and would take care of it. No she didn’t. S o things can work both ways.

Lazy car attendants who disappear. Snack car people who will take lot of breaks and not be open. Last summer the coach attendant filled one coach car up and left the other one completely empty. The AC did not keep up with the 100 plus temperatures. We were coming from Portland to Minot ND. Coach attendant started to split up families of little Children involved. I finally went searching for the Conductor. Turns out she wanted everyone on the same car so she would have only 1 car to monitor. (GO FIGURE) Conductor was not happy. The other car never did have many in it the entire trip. Some passengers did sneak up to the next car. We had traveled that route many many times in the last 30 years. This was the absolute worst experience on the Empire Builder. When we reached our destination, it was a crew change and there were zero announcements made when arriving in Minot ND. The Sleeper Attendant told me the crew had disappeared to go to the motel as soon as the train stopped. Just horrible experience. We melted the entire trip and so did the rest of the passengers. WE got out and each stop and went to the observation car when there was room. In the middle of August it was very very hot.

I was on the Spirit of Queensland once and someone rendered the bathroom unit ahead of me useless by taking a dump in the shower cubicle...

Great Video… thanks! We have seen all you said except for the food sharing to coach. We have experienced on a couple occasions “very strong” cooking odors coming from a bedroom…. Filling at least all the other bedrooms with their aromas of what they were eating. (It was not hamburgers or hot dogs.). Our sleeper car attendants have been very good with a few exceptions. On the sunset Limited we had great attendants and on the Empire Builder we had an exceptional attendant last year. But… the last trip we had on the Zephyr we had an attendant that loudly announced the rules after every stop. (You mentioned the call button) She actually announced after every stop, that during her “off” time she will not answer the call button. Also saying that during the night don’t bother using the call button that she would not answer, it was her off time, but instead we would have to go find the conductor in the diner or in the snack car.

Hello guys. In 2021, I was on the Cardinal when the conductor had to put someone off the train in a different state from their initial destination for having his mask off. The conductor had a 3 strike system. 1st ask you, 2nd tell you 3rd your off the train at the next stop No refund.

A few things that drive me crazy that staff do. Staff doesn't help a person with their luggage when there is a huge gap from the platform to train. Staff ask when you want to eat you say 6:30 and he says 5:30. The attendant never checks on you. The attendant looking at you strange when you ask for another bottle of water on a 24 hour ride ; you only get one bottle per person.

Smoking in between the cars and one person had smoked a joint in the bathroom. We recently rode the City of New Orleans, Sunset Limited and the Southwest Chief all in coach.

Thanks for sharing your experience

Most of it is just rude people. My big "I can't believe you did that" thing is people who rest there dirty, nasty shoes on the seat opposite. Can the attendants or conductors kick the people off the train?

I took the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco last year. I had a roomette. One hour into the trip, someone flushed a tampon down the toilet in the upstairs restroom. The toilet was out of commission the whole trip.

So much is just common curtesy, also when people can't take care of things and destroy rooms or leave trash, that is why prices go up because they probably have to repair things and really clean it. I always think would you do this in your home? Thank you for this information.

What gets them is if ur gonna exit in coach and ur a sleeper u gotta let them know cuz they will go looking around wondering where u are. The conductor told me that after I wanted to spend the trip in the lounge car and get off in coach and use the sleeper for storage for my stuff

When I first started to travel by Amtrak, there was no assigned seating. No big deal. Then they started assigning. No big deal. I was asked per Amtrak staff, to sit with a particular passenger. I agreed. For example I was asked to sit with a young woman who was deaf. She was travelling to the same town/station. I admit it has been a few years since I travelled overnight coach. Back then people seemed to follow the instructions of train staff.

I am going on my solo train adventure starting tomorrow!! I appreciate all this tips on how not to drive the staff crazy!! Most of them I would never do anyway but it's good to know!! I am going on the Coast Starlight to Emeryville the on the California Zephyr to Chicago and then the Southwest Chief back to Riverside. Can't wait until 6:00am!!

Leaving children unattended in the family bedroom. I was in a roomette next to the family bedroom. The two adult women left their four children (age range about 4 to 12) alone. The children were screaming, throwing things and literally bouncing off the walls- they were literally out of control. I asked the sleeping car attendant if she could do something about the noise and when she found the women drinking in the cafe car, she told them to go back to the family room and control their children. The women came back, loudly berated the kids for getting the moms in trouble, told them to behave and went back to the cafe car for more drinks. Five minutes later, the kids were back at it. This cycle repeated twice more. Finally, the car attendant got the conductor who a) told them that I was being relocated to an upstairs roomette and the one I had been in was out of service and they were being charged for it and b) if they refused to pay for the out of service roomette OR there were any complaints from other passengers, the group would be thrown off the train. The car attendant later told me the women were drunk, belligerent, uncooperative and the family bedroom had been trashed; the group was removed from the train at a small town stop in the middle of the night.

I got #7 right here!!! Passengers clogging half the number of toilets, one even vomited in the sink. The staff had no choice but to lock them down. We went that way from Albuquerque to Chicago.

I wanted to go from Gastonia, NC to Anniston, AL and take my bicycle. Even though the website said bicycles were acceptable if they were a certain dimensions (presumably packed in a box), when I called Amtrak they said I could not get on in Gastonia with a bike because it was not a staffed station. So, I tried to go from Charlotte to Anniston. Charlotte apparently has staff to put the bike (not in a box) in the luggage car. But that didn't work either because there is no staff in Anniston to take the bike out of the luggage car. Apparently this applies to any checked luggage not just bicycles. On the light rail trains in Charlotte we just walk on and hang our bikes on the wall ourselves. Why can't Amtrak do this?

Assigned seats: Chinese are not very confrontational, but if someone is in their train seat, they just show their ticket and the person in it will move without any hassle.

I seen a man raise hell getting on the train because the Conductor made him pay for another ticket. Then he was touching a little girl inappropately. The crew called the Sheriff and the took him off the train.

On full trains, Amtrak staff would tell passengers in the waiting areas & at embarkation that the train was sold out & if they came together to sit together. Single travelers would take up 2 seats anyway & wait to be confronted by an attendant. I've learned to book reservations in sleeper cars to avoid these situations. If my travel is during the day, the accommodation charge isn't as much as if it were at night. I'll pay the difference & avoid the crowds.

I'm new to train travel and was curious if there is a "no ride list" like the "No Fly list"on airlines?

So sad that we have so many adults who lack self-discipline and responsible behavior.

Feel asleep in my roomette 10 minutes before disembarking in Emeryville - by the time the attendant found me, train had pulled off & was 5 minutes away in the maintenance yard . My attendant was sooo frustrated with me as she had to figure a way to get herself and me back to the Station.

When we travel as a family, I need the accessible room but plan to have a coach seat and my husband and daughter will alternate who is in coach. Honestly, if we ride a viewliner, we are paying for 3 and understand only getting meal service for 2 but don't want to constantly be shoving one person back to coach to ride alone on a family trip

The sleeper car attendant is NOT your personal attendant - there's 20 roomettes and 5 bedrooms of people they have to attend to! I just got back from a nightmare trip made worse by one sleeper passenger who insisted on engaging the attendant in conversation for half an hour or more every time he passed her, and when he politely excused himself to get back to work, there was always just "one more thing" she had to show him on her phone or tell him... even if the call bell had rung loudly several times, a reminder there were other passengers in the car besides her. And we were trying NOT to call him, becsuse she was making his life difficult - he was bearing up well but was having to rush to get everything done. Plus the train had been delayed THIRTEEN HOURS into San Antonio, and he like many of us had been up all night as Amtrak's inaccurate and unhelpful notifications kept insisting the train was coming in two hours, oh, no, another hour, postponing it an hour or two at a time so we couldn't risk sleeping so that the 2:40 am train actually left at 2:45 p'm (shortly after the app showed departure time had been delayed from 4pm to 5pm and the conductor told me no, it wasn't the Texas Eagle, so I'm very lucky I'm assertive enough not to get left behind, but that's another story). Now, I'm afraid I'm guilty of one of the things you describe on this same adventure - but i was trying to avoid having to call poor Chris our attendant because of the demanding passenger hogging him! Outside Yuma we stopped and a different conductor apologetically announced a freight train had hit someone up ahead, and we'd probably be stopped for another several hours while police investigated. At that point Chris was TRYING to put the beds up and prepare for arrival in LA, just in case we got moving again, but super-demanding passenger thought this was another opportunity to borrow her personal entertainment system (him), so as I had used up my two water bottles, I decided to go downstairs and fetch my collapsible electric kettle - it's all silicon apart from the heating element, handle and spout - from my suitcase. The first cup of tea went fine. The second cup of tea? Well, I got covid from someone in the next sleeper on my very first Amtrak ride in 2022, and due to being immunocompromised it turned my immune system whackadoodle so it attacks my own organs including my eyes, and my depth perception is not so great. Which means even though the train was at a standstill, I missed the ledge next to the sink when I put the cup down to add sugar, and poured boiling water all over my leg; INSTANT second degree burns. Magnificent blister almost 3 inches across, and red 1st degree the size of my hand. Luckily I'd splurged for the bedroom instead of roomette this time, so I could get a hand towel with cold water on it instantly. Unfortunately this now meant I had to call Chris, totally defeating the reason I'd tried to make myself tea. And really, I had injured myself badly enough I should've gone to urgent care, but we were south of the Salton Sea, and you just KNOW that would've delayed the train longer, or at the very least made even more work for an already stressed train staff. As usual, Chris couldn't answer the call button because the pit spider had him trapped, so I finally limped to the back of the sleeper with the washcloth pressed to my leg - and may i say, i certainly paid for my foolishness; a second degree burn of that size is NOT comfortable, although luckily having been born with arthritis I can bear pain more than most people, though it doesn't mean I don't feel it - and I was finally able to ask Chris to bring me some ice, although the kitchen was pretty well out by that time. At least I got him away from her. I tipped him $20 for that trip, although I confess I usually only do that for the 2-night trip on the Chief. The good news is that my old first aid training worked, and it's just about healed. But your point stands. I might not have posed a hazard to anyone but myself, but even THAT meant more work for the attendant. And had he realized just how seriously I'd roasted myself, he might've had to do some kind of emergency procedure, further delaying the train and inconveniencing everybody on board. Lesson very much learned!

This actually happened to me yesterday!!! One thing that drives me as a customer crazy is when I spend money on a ticket and an attendant never comes to check it off for me… I could have just walked on the platform and taken a seat and gotten a free ride to my destination!!! Lovely trip but was pissed to have wasted money on a ticket that wasn’t even counted!

I hate when people sitting in coach keep their feet out in the isle.

Dealing with those who talk loudly/on their phones in the Quiet Car! Also, those who watch videos with no ear buds.

Shoot, I’d be like, “get out my seat!”

I flew and had a short layover in fort lauderdale , so I decided to use the restroom.I have never seen a more filthy restroom. Toilets had not been flushed and I swear there was an entire roll of toilet paper strewn all over the floor. Trash cans were overflowing and used paper towels were just left on the counter (used).

Not having their ticket ready. Not just Amtrak, CR as well. You know they're coming. Have it out.

Maybe if Amtrak didn't charge such ridiculous fares people wouldn't try these dumb tricks

My last trip, I had woman and her 2 teenagers (2 roomettes). Hers was on the top and theirs on the bottom. I was across from her and she wanted me to change because she needed to keep an eye on them. The attendant heard her rather loud discussion. I knew I had an upper roomette on the Zephyr. The attendant gave her the choice of moving downstairs and the lady across from the teens upstairs. She was not thrilled, but agreed. So entitled almost like the families on planes.

In 1990 i took Amtrack from Philadelphia to penn Station. It was a normal ride from what i recall. It was a weekday. I was a teen

WOK,are you talking about-haha

My daughter and I are going to be on Amtrak May 2nd. This will be our 5th time. Three trips we have had horrible trips so hoping this one will be better. Thanks for some good tips!

I must be missing something - I don't understand the issue with the people taking portions of their meals back to the person in coach. They paid to receive 2 meals, they were served 2 meals - aren't they entitled to eat less than they were served, and do whatever they see fit with said leftovers, including giving them to another passenger in their group? If it was an "all-you-can-eat" buffet situation, I would agree with you 100%, but in this case, I'm not understanding the problem. Thanks.

I miss your video last night because I had a power outage at my house on Bumgardner Cemetery Rd Whittier NC sorry.

Have yet to ride Amtrak. Looking forward to a trip this year. I’ll share any funny stories.

Entitled passengers yelling at the staff.

Woks and kitchenettes??😮 For someone to bring that in a sleeping car is just absurd to me. I ask myself… Why would someone want to do that?😲 Like… come on, people!😱

Staff assigning coach seats is unfair. As a solo female traveler over the age of 75 pairing me a seat mate from morning on one day to the next morning is unfair when some passengers had no one next to them for the entire time. Sleeping next to a stranger in one seat is an awful experience.

just shared this to a FB group called Amtrak Fans - so no deep fryers or a self tapping keg?????

Interesting video. I can understand the complaints but it seems like there isn't enough effeffective communication and customer service. Maybe they are short staffed?🤷‍♀️

WTH?? 😂 I was cracking up listening to you guys recall these incidents. I haven’t experienced traveling on Amtrack, but when I do, I’ll definitely watch for these selfish and inconsiderate passenger behaviors.

Our porter was abosolutely awesome!

I would love to know what you guys do for a living with so much travel

I didn’t realize there were assigned seats.

Oh non i got a nice water kettle, travel size , was looking forwards to make my own coffee 😂