For those of you haven’t seen inside Amtrak St Louis Gateway Station First Class Lounge – here is what it looks like. St Louis is a great example of inconsistency with Amtrak service. From station to station – crew to crew – passenger experience is different – rules are enforced differently.
Granted it took a number of years and complaining before Business Class riders were given access to Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station Chicago. Now Business Class passengers catching train home or connecting train can wait inside lounge. For many years this was not allowed. Although Business Class was always given priority boarding in Chicago.
Lounge access and priority boarding are perks not available in St Louis. First Class lounge access excuse has always been stated to be – to small a space. Personally I’ve only seen lounge used twice in the years I’ve traveled in and out of this station. Even with 2 trains of Business Class passengers waiting – I think space could handle that – maybe a bit crowded with 30 or so people. Honestly not sure why area was made small to begin with. Then again not sure why it was built – rarely seen it used. Of course I’m never in station when Texas Eagle sleeper car passengers are waiting for their train.
A quote from a previous article I wrote.
Yes it is a smaller lounge with no attendant – but why shouldn’t St Louis Business Class riders get the same privileges as those who depart from Chicago? Many will be traveling same amount of miles on the route. Why should one Business Class ticket holder get more for their money over another on same train?
I only got St Louis lounge access after receiving a ClubAcela Single Day pass when I made Select status for Amtrak Rewards program. Pass has a horrible name and shows how focused Amtrak is on eastcoast services only. It’s actually good for ClubAcela, First Class and Metropolitan Lounges in stations that have them.
From a previous conversation my girlfriend had with a female St Louis Amtrak ticket agent – I figured it was going to be a hassle for me to use a ClubAcela Single Day pass. That employee stated she had never heard of the pass and didn’t think it would be valid for access to First Class lounge. It clearly states on pass that it is valid – I wasn’t aware of that at the time.
Male Amtrak employee did make process slightly more involved than it needed to be – especially considering how he treated another First Class lounge passenger. That passenger walked up – waved at ticket agent and then headed for lounge. I had to provide a photo ID and when I thought I was going to get attitude – provided my Amtrak Rewards Select card. Figured I was in for an argument when he stated St Louis didn’t have a ClubAcela – like I was stupid and didn’t know that. My comment back was you DO have a First Class lounge. It was then he started writing door code on pass for me. I also made sure to make him aware I knew their lounge was not like one in Chicago. Which got a smile from him. Honestly I think because I was dressed casual – he was stereotyping and that is why he ran me through hoops.
I shared lounge with a man heading back to Los Angeles after visiting friends in St Louis. He was Riding Missouri River Runner Business Class to Kansas City. Then boarding Amtrak Southwest Chief to get home. This was person who just nodded to get OK to head to lounge.
Book your next rail vacation or business trip
Inside Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge Union Station Chicago Christmas 2012
It’s time Amtrak stopped treating Lincoln Service Business Class like Second Class
Amtrak Club Acela Washington DC
Los Angeles Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge
Amtrak Lincoln Service coming into St Louis
Illinois High Speed Rail track upgrades Watch the work being done
Illinois high speed rail track upgrades outside Auburn Illinois
TRT-909 Track Renewal Train High Speed Rail construction Chatham IL May 20 2012
Rick Harnish Midwest High Speed Rail Association Executive Director Ray Lang Amtrak
My articles / videos related to Midwest High Speed Rail Association
Chicago St Louis high speed rail project location map
Federal Railroad Administration Rail Car DOTX 221 Amtrak Texas Eagle Normal Illinois
Looking out the back window Amtrak Lincoln Service
Socks on seat Business Class Amtrak Lincoln Service
Amtrak employees must think this is safe Lincoln Service 305
History of St Louis MetroLink Ewing Yard conference room National Train Day 2014
St Louis MetroLink maintenance facility Ewing Yard tour National Train Day 2014
Inside Indianapolis Union Station
Bird hanging out inside Amtrak Union Station Chicago
Inside Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge Union Station Chicago Christmas 2012
Riding Amtrak Hoosier State leaving Chicago leaving Indianapolis
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Pullman Sleeper Car hotel rooms
Burlington Route 13593 Caboose revisited
Great Northern Railway Caboose Seattle Post-Intelligencer parking lot
A good way to get killed by Amtrak Texas Eagle
Amtrak Lincoln Service from Springfield to Chatham IL
Rio Grande locomotive in a backyard
3003 C B & Q locomotive Hudson Class S-4 Burlington Iowa
Bring Back the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line in Seattle
Welcome to Galesburg Illinois Railroad Days
Day and night statues Chicago Union Station
Monticello Railway Museum Throttle Time
Canadian National 6789 Monticello Railway Museum
992303 Milwaukee Road The Milltown Superfund Caboose
Amtrak Lincoln Service Northbound Southbound Springfield IL
History of The Milwaukee Road trail in Bonner Montana
Catfish Bend Casino Riverboat Fort Madison Iowa viewed from Amtrak Southwest Chief
Trinidad Colorado Amtrak station
Amtrak Rewards won’t give me earned SELECT upgrade
Portland Vintage Trolleys St Louis MetroLink Delmar Loop Trolley
Loop Trolley 1351 Missouri History Museum Forest Park St. Louis
Federal Trade Commission affiliate link advertiser disclosure for Iggy Uncensored
Midwest High Speed Rail Association
National Association of Railroad Passengers ( NARP )
Passenger Rail Myths & Facts National Association of Railroad Passengers
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum
Amtrak Guest Rewards FlyerTalk Forum
Midwest High Speed Rail Association Wikipedia
National Association of Railroad Passengers – Wikipedia
IDOT Illinois High Speed Rail Chicago to St. Louis
Official Website of Midwest High Speed Rail
St Louis Amtrak Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center
St. Louis First Class Lounge Amtrak Rail Discussion
Amtrak begins using Gateway Center in St. Louis Amtrak Rail Discussion
Amtrak Rewards questions about reaching Select Status
Select level and upgrade coupon Amtrak Guest Rewards
Amtrak’s Business Class too often isn’t worth the extra fare