Amtrak lounge access with a bicycle

[Stefan_E]

Hi everyone. I have a sleeper ticket for Amtraks Silver Meteor from Penn Station to Miami. That means I am going to check my to big panniers, but I will have to walk my bicycle to the baggage car myself when boarding starts.

A sleeper ticket grants access to Amtraks Metropolitan Lounge, which looks worthwhile visiting in Moniyan Train Hall.

Does anybody have experiences about entering one of these lounges in big stations with a bicycle?

[adventurepdx]

Does anybody have experiences about entering one of these lounges in big stations with a bicycle?

I've used a few of these lounges. I have the most experience with Portland as it's my home base, and I usually bring a bike with me. With this lounge, I've been able to bring either my "big" bike or a folder into it with no problem.



When we used the lounge in Los Angeles, the lounge attendant has us bring the bikes down the hall, into the baggage area. And that's despite them being folding bikes.

So, it depends. Every lounge is different and reflects more the station than Amtrak as a whole. If you are in NYC you can drop by Penn Stn. in advance and ask. Otherwise, when you arrive the lounge attendant will let you know where you can put your bike.

[aggie]

As said earlier it depends on the lounge and also who is staffing the desk.  The only lounge I've ever had a problem is Chicago.  The staffer at the desk wouldn't let me enter the lounge or tell me where I could put my bike.  In the past I was able to put it in the baggage room of the lounge.  When I asked where to take my bike the staffer told me to leave the lounge.  However on my return trip a different person was at the desk and he took me to the place where I could leave my bike. 

If you have a long wait or layover the lounges are a nice place to wait.  Most have light snacks and refreshments.  Some even have a bar area at certain times of the day. 

Sometimes you have to wait at the baggage car for awhile before they take your bike.  Depending on the station some will have you go to the train a little earlier so you can load the bike before everyone else is called to the train.  (Someone is usually available to immediately load your bike.)

[Stefan_E]

Thank you. Having read your answers, I will give it a try in Penn Station and let you know how it worked out.
Sleeper tickets are expensive, so I certainly want to enjoy the lounge I paid for.

[adventurepdx]

Sometimes you have to wait at the baggage car for awhile before they take your bike.  Depending on the station some will have you go to the train a little earlier so you can load the bike before everyone else is called to the train.  (Someone is usually available to immediately load your bike.)

One of the big advantages to the Lounge is, that since you are either in a sleeper or business class, you'll get priority boarding. So you'll be able to get it to the baggage car before others.

[Stefan_E]

Accessing the lounge in Penn Station worked out fine. They stored my bike in a separate room beside the reception. The lounge is great.

When I walked my bicycle down to the Silver Meteor to Miami, the baggage car was already closed with no personnel inside. They had clearly forgotten about it, although I had checked it in at the baggage counter. The conductor hammered on the opening mechanism like crazy to get it open. He managed it at the departure time, at least he was very concerned about on time departure.
I arrived in Florida four and a half hours late and got 200$ compensation from Amtrak the next day.

[Westinghouse]

I would just open the door and push the bike inside and lean it against a wall. Call the train people and ask.