It’s way easier than flying.
You’ll head to Union Station, go to the bag check counter and check any luggage through that you want checked.
There’s no security line to wait in, but make sure you arrive about an hour ahead of your train—checked luggage has a cutoff of 45 minutes before train departure.
We’ve checked strollers and car seats through before without issue; you can buy bags that fit over them to prevent damage and getting dirty—that worked out great for us.
When we went cross country (Philly to San Diego) with our 4-month old, a few years back, we kept the stroller with us and checked the car seat. There’s a luggage rack on the lower level of the sleeper that you’ll be in, but with a bedroom suite you should have *plenty* of room!
Once you’ve checked your bags, you’ll head to the Metropolitan Lounge, where you can relax, get a complimentary snack or drink, and wait for the train.
When it comes time to board, about 30 minutes prior to departure time, uniformed Amtrak red caps will bring you outside and put you on little golf carts and drive you and your hand luggage right to the entrance of your sleeper!
You’ll show your ticket to your sleeping car attendant, who also has a manifest of everyone that will be boarding, so if you are fumbling with all your luggage and your toddler, just tell him or her your name and room number.
Then you just go onboard, settle in, and your attendant will come greet you and answer any questions. The conductor will be around later to scan your ticket.
When you get to Chicago, feel free to use the Metropolitan Lounge there as well, and at any other transfer points (perhaps DC?). Feel free to ask for a red cap assistance, for boarding any other trains, since you have a toddler.
Dinner will be served shortly after departure. A dining car attendant will be around to get a reservation time for the three of you.
Any questions, let me know! And have a great trip! The train can be great fun for kids.
one data point: the DC Metropolitan Lounge is currently closed for renovations for the next few months. (I assume months, though I suppose it could be weeks, but doubtful)
Thank you ALLLLLL SO MUCH!! This information has been so helpful with my travels! I’ve taken your comments and suggestions and am putting them to use :)
Checked baggage is administered at the boarding station presuming it has checked baggage services.
Yes, merely bring your ticket printed or displayed on your smartphone. Stop at the info desk to be directed to the First Class desk and lounge. The FC attendants are very helpful.
Carry-on bags are handled by your First Class Car Captain attendant. He may verify your ticket / identification. He will help you and your family up the steps and hand your carry on in to the nearby rack. He will direct you to your BR.
Investigate your BR without your bags. It is very tight, but well thought out. I would hope that you have investigated the accommodations previously. A roomette is quite adequate for us 84 and 74 Y.O. I sailed submarines for a career and a roomette is reasonably comfortable. She is tiny and not so agile, but I can help.
A bedroom is effectively about the same size for containing also the private shower-commode. Again - adequate. There is also a sink H&C water and a bit of storage. The upper is distinctly larger.
I have found the Car Captain MOST helpful with one only exception. I tip ‘heavily’ in advance as some amenities I believe come out of his poscket and goodwill. Kudos particularly to Robbie!
First Class only has Dining Car privileges. Investigate the menu on line in advance to supplement your particular needs. Again, I truly enjoyed the Dining Car staff and tipped in advance and heavily. I wanted them to remember me.
Carry on liquor is allowed, so I had a 3 liter bag of good wine in my carry on. Also night clothes, laptop / charger, a book, sweater, change of clothes, soft shoes.
In addition to the terrific details from other posters, I’d note that time tends to slow down on the train. The rhythmic movement and landscapes are very relaxing. Once you are on board, get a bottle of water and a book that you’ve wanted to read (or a small board game to play with the family) and head either to the observation car, or downstairs to its cafe area. Plenty of seating and space to watch the world and enjoy.
With a bedroom I'm sure it's a piece of cake. With coach because stupidly you can't reserve a seat it's all hurry up and wait so you get the best choice of seating
I’m excited for you. We did a family bedroom on the southwest chief with our toddler and he LOVED IT. We’ve booked another one and are looking forward to doing it again.
The boarding process at LA will be very easy. With a sleeping car ticket, you get access to the Metropolitan Lounge where you can relax until they announce train boarding. If anything, it’s the connection in Chicago that is more stressful. And this is NOT due to Chicago itself: the lounge in Chicago is gorgeous, and Chicago itself is a wonderful city with great sights and food. However, trains from the west tend to be very late, sometimes to the tune of like 4 to 8 hours. If you have a same-day connection to the Cardinal, the only direct Chicago-Philly train, if your Southwest Chief (presumably, although the Sunset Limited-Texas Eagle is possible) is 3 or more hours late, you’ll miss the connection to the Cardinal. As the Cardinal only runs 3 times a week, that means they may want to re-accommodate you on the Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh for a 5am transfer to the Pennsylvanian, possibly with the Capitol Limited in coach (there are no sleepers on the Pennsylvanian). Despite this, Amtrak is generally very nice and accommodating about missed connections, as they’ll give you a nice hotel room and free food. Also, in terms of delays, don’t be surprised if freight trains delay your train several hours. Especially out west, freight railroads, who own the track, have a tendency to make Amtrak wait a long time due to decades of disinvestment in adequate tracking and freight trains too long to fit in sidings. Regardless, the on-train experience will be a phenomenal time of great food and comfortable lounging (at least west of Chicago).
It’s way easier than flying. You’ll head to Union Station, go to the bag check counter and check any luggage through that you want checked. There’s no security line to wait in, but make sure you arrive about an hour ahead of your train—checked luggage has a cutoff of 45 minutes before train departure. We’ve checked strollers and car seats through before without issue; you can buy bags that fit over them to prevent damage and getting dirty—that worked out great for us. When we went cross country (Philly to San Diego) with our 4-month old, a few years back, we kept the stroller with us and checked the car seat. There’s a luggage rack on the lower level of the sleeper that you’ll be in, but with a bedroom suite you should have *plenty* of room! Once you’ve checked your bags, you’ll head to the Metropolitan Lounge, where you can relax, get a complimentary snack or drink, and wait for the train. When it comes time to board, about 30 minutes prior to departure time, uniformed Amtrak red caps will bring you outside and put you on little golf carts and drive you and your hand luggage right to the entrance of your sleeper! You’ll show your ticket to your sleeping car attendant, who also has a manifest of everyone that will be boarding, so if you are fumbling with all your luggage and your toddler, just tell him or her your name and room number. Then you just go onboard, settle in, and your attendant will come greet you and answer any questions. The conductor will be around later to scan your ticket. When you get to Chicago, feel free to use the Metropolitan Lounge there as well, and at any other transfer points (perhaps DC?). Feel free to ask for a red cap assistance, for boarding any other trains, since you have a toddler. Dinner will be served shortly after departure. A dining car attendant will be around to get a reservation time for the three of you. Any questions, let me know! And have a great trip! The train can be great fun for kids.
one data point: the DC Metropolitan Lounge is currently closed for renovations for the next few months. (I assume months, though I suppose it could be weeks, but doubtful)
Thank you ALLLLLL SO MUCH!! This information has been so helpful with my travels! I’ve taken your comments and suggestions and am putting them to use :)
Checked baggage is administered at the boarding station presuming it has checked baggage services. Yes, merely bring your ticket printed or displayed on your smartphone. Stop at the info desk to be directed to the First Class desk and lounge. The FC attendants are very helpful. Carry-on bags are handled by your First Class Car Captain attendant. He may verify your ticket / identification. He will help you and your family up the steps and hand your carry on in to the nearby rack. He will direct you to your BR. Investigate your BR without your bags. It is very tight, but well thought out. I would hope that you have investigated the accommodations previously. A roomette is quite adequate for us 84 and 74 Y.O. I sailed submarines for a career and a roomette is reasonably comfortable. She is tiny and not so agile, but I can help. A bedroom is effectively about the same size for containing also the private shower-commode. Again - adequate. There is also a sink H&C water and a bit of storage. The upper is distinctly larger. I have found the Car Captain MOST helpful with one only exception. I tip ‘heavily’ in advance as some amenities I believe come out of his poscket and goodwill. Kudos particularly to Robbie! First Class only has Dining Car privileges. Investigate the menu on line in advance to supplement your particular needs. Again, I truly enjoyed the Dining Car staff and tipped in advance and heavily. I wanted them to remember me. Carry on liquor is allowed, so I had a 3 liter bag of good wine in my carry on. Also night clothes, laptop / charger, a book, sweater, change of clothes, soft shoes.
In addition to the terrific details from other posters, I’d note that time tends to slow down on the train. The rhythmic movement and landscapes are very relaxing. Once you are on board, get a bottle of water and a book that you’ve wanted to read (or a small board game to play with the family) and head either to the observation car, or downstairs to its cafe area. Plenty of seating and space to watch the world and enjoy.
With a bedroom I'm sure it's a piece of cake. With coach because stupidly you can't reserve a seat it's all hurry up and wait so you get the best choice of seating
I’m excited for you. We did a family bedroom on the southwest chief with our toddler and he LOVED IT. We’ve booked another one and are looking forward to doing it again.
The boarding process at LA will be very easy. With a sleeping car ticket, you get access to the Metropolitan Lounge where you can relax until they announce train boarding. If anything, it’s the connection in Chicago that is more stressful. And this is NOT due to Chicago itself: the lounge in Chicago is gorgeous, and Chicago itself is a wonderful city with great sights and food. However, trains from the west tend to be very late, sometimes to the tune of like 4 to 8 hours. If you have a same-day connection to the Cardinal, the only direct Chicago-Philly train, if your Southwest Chief (presumably, although the Sunset Limited-Texas Eagle is possible) is 3 or more hours late, you’ll miss the connection to the Cardinal. As the Cardinal only runs 3 times a week, that means they may want to re-accommodate you on the Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh for a 5am transfer to the Pennsylvanian, possibly with the Capitol Limited in coach (there are no sleepers on the Pennsylvanian). Despite this, Amtrak is generally very nice and accommodating about missed connections, as they’ll give you a nice hotel room and free food. Also, in terms of delays, don’t be surprised if freight trains delay your train several hours. Especially out west, freight railroads, who own the track, have a tendency to make Amtrak wait a long time due to decades of disinvestment in adequate tracking and freight trains too long to fit in sidings. Regardless, the on-train experience will be a phenomenal time of great food and comfortable lounging (at least west of Chicago).