Frequently Asked Questions

• How will I know if a seat has been assigned to me?

  Your seat number is printed on your eTicket. Your seat number also appears on your Amtrak.com and Amtrak app booking confirmations.

  

  
• Can I choose a specific seat?

  Yes, during booking, you will have the option to review and change your pre-selected seat before you complete your reservation. You can still 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.
  

  

  
• I prefer sitting forward. How do I predict which direction my seat is facing?

  We will do our best to predict and display your direction of travel when you view your train's seat diagram on Amtrak.com or the app. You will have the option to review and change your pre-selected seat before you complete your reservation. You can still change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after booking, even onboard while your train is en route by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. The ability to select forward-facing seats is subject to availability and preferred seat orientation is not guaranteed.

  A schedule change, equipment change or other unforeseen circumstance may cause the planned orientation of your train or seat to change before departure. The conductor can also assist you with changing your seat onboard, subject to availability.
  

  On Acela

  Acela Business Class consists of five cars on the six-car train. The Quiet Car is located in Car 2 and the Cafe Cafe is located in Car 4. Most of the seats are rotated to face forward, except for the seats at the conference tables and at the bulkhead.

  The Acela First Class car is always either the first or the last car on the six-car train and is configured with both forward- and rear-facing seats. Some of the single seats are rotated by the train crew and are always forward facing.

  In Palmetto Business Class

  The Business Class car is the last car on the train and is configured with forward-facing seats and two conference tables with four seats each. All the seats are rotated by the train crew to face forward, except for the seats at the conference tables, which means you could end up sitting in a rear-facing seat.

  A schedule change, equipment change, or other unforeseen circumstance may cause the planned location of the Business class car to change before departure.

  In Northeast Regional and Carolinian Business Class

  Cars are configured to have forward and backward-facing seating. You can change or view your assigned seating by clicking the View/Edit My Seat link.
• I use my corporation’s travel booking tool or someone else books my travel for me. How can I find my reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com?

  Your assigned car and seat numbers will be displayed on your eTicket.

  Having trouble logging in or finding your reservation when you’re on business travel? Often, the email address or phone number associated with your reservation belongs to your travel agent or corporate travel agency.

  In the Amtrak app, all you need is your Reservation Number and Last Name and you can retrieve your reservation.

  Agents are available to assist you in the station or when you call 1-800-USA-RAIL. The conductor can also assist you with changing your seat onboard, subject to availability.
• I booked separately from my friends, family and colleagues. How do we sit together?

  We'll assign seats together for multiple travelers booked in the same reservation, subject to availability. If you book separately, coordinate with your travel companions to find and change to seats next to one another.
• If I see an empty seat onboard, may I sit there?

  Once onboard, use the Amtrak app or Amtrak.com to change your seat before moving to an empty seat; someone boarding from a station down the line may have already selected that seat. The conductor can also assist you in checking whether an open seat is available between your origin and destination.
• How do I reserve a seat in the Quiet Car?

  If you wish to select your seat in the Quiet Car on Acela, use the interactive seat map on Amtrak.com or in the Amtrak app to change your seat selection. The Quiet Car is always located in Car 2 on Acela and is indicated in the seat map.

  On Northeast Regional or other services, the Quiet Car does not yet have seat selection; seats are first come first served.