Amtrak adding bag fee for excess or overweight luggage (2024)
Amtrak is cracking down on passengers who try to board their trains with too many bags.
Starting Oct. 1, passengers who exceed the limit of two carry-on bags and two personal items will have to pay $20 for each bag that is in excess.
Travelers will also have to pay the fee if a bag is overweight. Carry-on bags cannot exceed 50 pounds, while personal items such as purses and laptops will have to weigh 25 poundsor less.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says the decision to impose the fee came after conductors on routes that run only a few times a week complained that they had to decide whether to turn away people with too many bags.
"People will show up with an excessive amount of baggage, and the crews have to make the choice: Should we let them ride with more or turn them back," he says. "It puts the crews in a pretty bad position."
There were also safety concerns with the overweight bags.
"It's unsafe for the crew," he says. "For a passenger, imagine you're sitting under the luggage rack and someone is trying to wrestle a 75-poundbag up to the rack over you. That's not good for anyone."
Baggage fees are not new to the travel industry. Most U.S. airlines have been charging fees for checked bags for years. Only Southwest Airlines lets passengers check two bags for free. JetBlue Airways, which had long touted its one free checked bag policy, began charging for checked bags this summer.
Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit, meanwhile, charge for carry-on bags that are too big to fit under the seat in front of you.
Last year, airlines made $3.5 billion in baggage fees, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in the U.S. Department of Transportation.
But Amtrak is not doing this for the money, Magliari says.
"The majority of our passengers won't even notice this because they're not even approaching the limits for carry-on bags," he says.
He also points out that Amtrak is not changing any of its baggage allowances, while airlines over the years have reduced the number of bags people can check for free. In addition to the four bags permitted on board, Amtrak also allows passengers on certain routes and trains to check two bags for free.
And passengers traveling with infants under the age of two can carry an additional item such as a stroller or diaper bag that does not count towards the allowance.
"One person could be traveling with 250 pounds of checked and carry-on baggage plus an infant plus a bag to take care of that infant," he says. "So I don't think that anybody has as friendly a baggage policy."
Don't expect to have Amtrak employees weighing all bags or forcing passengers to place them in luggage sizers of the kind you see at airports.
"If people are carrying six bags of carry-ons, that's easily observed," he says. "We'll intercept that passenger and check what their situation is."
A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed.
Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. When you travel with us, you can carry-on two free pieces of luggage. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs.(23 kg) and needs to be 28 x 22 x 14 inches in size.
Excess Baggage is baggage that is heavier or larger than the outlined allowance for your flight. All airlines have additional baggage fines set in place which will charge you for every kilo you have gone over the allocated weight.
Make sure to book your excess luggage in the luggage office, pay the prescribed charges and get your tickets endorsed by cross-referencing the luggage ticket details, before commencing your journey. Free allowance is not admissible for articles such as scooters, cycles etc.
You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars.
Carry-on bags shouldn't be larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including handles and wheels. Dimensions of personal items should not exceed 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high. There are no weight restrictions for carry-on luggage.
Note that both your personal item and carry-on bag (referred to as "hand baggage") combined must not weigh more than 26 pounds if you're traveling economy. The weight limit is 40 pounds for premium economy and other higher-class cabins.
Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. Before you travel, make sure to check and see if your train and origin and destination stations accept checked baggage.
Baggage on Amtrak is similar to flying on an airline. If you want to check a bag, you can certainly do so and it will be placed on a baggage car and taken off at your stop.
With due respect to passengers' privacy, the random and unannounced screening and inspection of passengers and their personal items is completed as quickly as possible - usually in less than a minute.
It's nearly always cheaper to book extra hold luggage in advance rather than paying excess baggage fees at the airport. Airlines know that keeping within weight/size limits is not always possible, so they encourage you to plan ahead by selling extra weight online.
Overweight baggage is usually considered any bag weighing more than 50lbs. The fees for checking overweight baggage are usually charged in addition to any standard, excess, or overweight fee.
As a general rule, it's a good idea to arrive 20-30 minutes before your train's scheduled departure time so you can get familiar with the station, find the information monitors as well as find your platform without being in a rush.
The two wheeler can be booked as luggage if you are travelling by the same train.If you are not travelling by same train, the two wheeler can be booked as parcel. Two wheeler needs to be booked as parcel if you are not traveling by train along with the vehicle.
"The safest spot in a train, during an accident, is the center of the train," said Mann, who was the principal author of the Federal Railway Safety Act in 1970. "Because if there is a front-end collision or a rear-end collision, the damages will be greater at those locations.
If you have a sleeper car reservation, there are linens provided for you. Just like a hotel! Facial, hand and body towels are all included, and your train attendant will make your bed for you at night and put it away for you in the morning whenever you want.
If you're traveling in coach on some of Amtrak's long-distance train services, you'll now have the opportunity to use the dining car onboard. Coach passengers will now be able to enjoy full-fledged meals for an additional cost in the dining car, which was a beloved service removed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most airlines allow passengers to bring on both a carry-on and a personal item like a backpack, laptop bag, purse, briefcase, shopping bag, etc. The general rule of thumb is that your personal item is smaller in dimension than your carry-on bag and it can fit underneath the seat in front of you.
Domestic carry-on policies. A good rule of thumb is that if your carry-on bag fits under the seat in front of you, it's considered a personal item. This includes small backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop bags, etc. Larger bags, including suitcases, must fit in the overhead bin compartment.
Can you put clothes in your personal items? Certainly, you can pack clothes in your personal items or carry-on bag. But for a better experience, we recommend packing most of your clothes in your carry on and leaving extra space in your personal items.
That means that if your checked bag weighs more than 50 pounds, your airline will charge you a set fee on top of their standard baggage rate. Most airlines also have a weight limit, usually 70-80 pounds, after which they don't accept bags, even for an extra fee.
No liquids restrictions! Make sure you don't leave home without bringing the necessities! Each traveler may bring 2 personal and 2 carry-on items plus check up to 4 bags (2 free and 2 at $20 per bag).
Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may 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.
To ensure you stay connected while traveling, we offer free basic WiFi service in select trains and stations throughout the country. Stay productive, or simply sit back and have some fun while en route to your destination.
To measure your bag, place it upright with the wheels (if it has them) on the bottom and the extension handle on top, but don't extend it. Measure from the bottom of the wheels up to the tallest part, which is likely to be the handle.
Currently, all Amtrak locomotives operating in revenue passenger service are equipped with outward-facing video cameras and advanced train control (PTC) systems.
In addition to the departure time and train number, pay attention to the route you're riding. Amtrak trains make many stops along the way, so keep an eye on the conductor; they'll tell you when the next stop is coming up. Amtrak has more than 30 train routes throughout the United States and Canada.
If you want to get up and stretch your legs, there's plenty of room to walk around, with restrooms conveniently located in every car. On shorter train journeys, Amtrak's Coach Class seats provide a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the view.
Pick up a cheap or even plastic bag from one of the terminal stores and start filling it. Depending on your airline's carry-on policy, you might be able to take two bags on with you – one handbag or laptop case and one small piece of luggage.
What happens if my luggage is overweight? For hold luggage, most airlines set a weight limit for single items of luggage. Usually, this is 23kg. If your hold luggage is over and you haven't paid for extra, you might be charged.
Instead, there are a few things you can do to avoid paying baggage fees by preparing before you head to the airport. This includes signing up for the right credit card, enrolling in a paid loyalty program, or booking the right ticket class, but it varies from airline to airline.
There are two ways you can purchase excess baggage: At the airport - If only additional weight is being carried, you will be charged INR 550 per kg (inclusive of taxes), irrespective of the fare you selected.
If you have a strong enough pipe or something similar attached on your ceiling, you could wrap a rope around it and try to balance out your luggage on one end, and a bag full of items with known weights on the other end until both items hover at the same height.
United Airlines (UA) will charge the following for U S domestic flights for bags that are greater than the standard 50 pounds or 23 kilograms: 51 to 70 pounds or 24 to 32 kilograms: $100.00 USD to $200 USD extra per bag. 71 to 100 pounds or 33 to 46 kilograms: $400.00 USD extra per bag.
In summary, backpacks can be used as personal items, but they must fit in the plane's cabin. In addition, when airlines publish size limitations, your rucksack must be less than those limits. Otherwise, you will be charged additional costs or have things abandoned at the airport.
Small cases and bags can be stored under your seat, medium sized bags can go in the overhead racks and large suitcases must be placed in the luggage racks at the end of each carriage.
Customers holding tickets for Amtrak travel may store their items in Parcel Check service when available for $10 per item for 24 hours. Check the station detail page for the stations you'll be visiting to see if they offer this service.
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.
Carry-on bags must weigh less than 35 pounds and must not exceed 10 inches deep, 16 inches wide and 24 inches high. Bags must fit in the overhead bins. Checked bags must be no longer than 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh under 40 pounds.
Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart (Auto Train passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure).
General Guidelines: Tipping is NOT required, but is considered correct for the service crew personnel on the train. Recommendations: Snack bar attendant: roughly 10%. Dining car: 15% of menu prices (sleeping car passengers may want to note this when ordering their meals).
While tipping isn't required, leaving a gratuity is the norm. What is this? Usually, for one night in a sleeper, I suggest about $10 per person/per night. If your room attendant brings your meals to you in your room, then think about adding more to the tip as you would have left a tip anyway for the dining car waiter.
4. Bring a Travel Pillow and Blanket. While Amtrak does provide bedding in the Sleeping car rooms, you may wish to have your own pillow and an extra blanket for warmth. You may also ask your Sleeping car attendant for an additional blanket when they come to turn down your bed for a cozier night's sleep.
Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage.
If you're traveling by train and a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent asks to search your bags, you have the right to refuse. Law enforcement only has the right to search you or your belongings if they have probable cause to believe you are committing a crime.
If you have a lot of luggage, you may want to consider using a luggage forwarding service. These services will pick up your luggage from your home or hotel and deliver it to your destination. This can be a great option if you are traveling with a lot of gear or if you are worried about losing your luggage.
Most domestic airlines publish checked baggage size limits as a single dimension: 62 linear inches total. International airlines vary slightly, but the 62-inch rule is the most common standard worldwide. Bags larger than 62 linear inches can still fly, but they may be subject to additional fees.
Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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