By Elizabeth Yuko, lifehacker.com; July 24, 2019
On a recent Amtrak trip, I arrived early, boarded as quickly as possible, and yet, wound up without a seat. I had purchased a “reserved seat” ticket, and when I asked the conductor about this, he told me that everyone on the train had a “reserved seat” ticket and having one did not guarantee you a seat.
As frustrating at this is, there are ways to improve your chances of getting a seat on a very full train. Here’s what you need to know about Amtrak’s coach ticketing policy and more importantly, how to snag yourself a seat.