Amtrack - train from Pittsburgh, PA to San Juan Capistrano, CA - given uncomfortable seats even though paid for more comfortable ones

Complaints.com received the following on April 3, 2003:

From: Email User

RE: Amtrack - train from Pittsburgh, PA to San Juan Capistrano, CA - given uncomfortable seats even though paid for more comfortable ones

Attention: Mr. David L. Gunn, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMTRAK On March 5, 2003 at 1:00 A.M. (train was 1hour late- was due March 4, 2003 at 11:59 P.M.) boarded the Three Rivers #41 Amtrak train from PIttsburgh, Pa. to Chicago. Being that this was a first time trip and greatly looking forward to it and not knowing the ropes, my husband and I were assigned seats .. Car #54578 - (4). ..and given a little pillow.....we had paid for deluxe accomodations from PIttsburgh, Pa to San Juan Capistrano, Calif. for a total of $1291.00 for TWO, ONE WAY + $25.00 for AAA to make these reservations..... The seats were hard and were the type used for a short day trip, not for an overnight ride...also it was freezing through the night.... never saw a porter after being seated and he gave us a little pillow at 1:00 A.M......when daylight finally came and we had a chance to explore the train....discovered that one train behind, there was an half empty plush seating car, the seat reclined way back, was adequately padded, had a foot rest and great for a good nights rest..... When I finally saw the porter 9 hours later, at 10:00 A.M.,he said his name was "TODD" , I approached him and said "Sir" and he looked right into my face and rudely said "MAMM", I asked why we did not get Reserved seating - #1 because we paid for Deluxe Accomodations and -#2 since on my confirmation from AAA Travel Agency it had: AMTRAK 41 RSRVD COACH EQUIP -TRAIN he said there are NO Reserved or Unreserved seats, they were ALL COACHES, and besides "didn't you have a pillow?" I asked why he did not have the courtesy to seat us in the comfortable seats because we paid for them and they were available and he said he was told to sit us there (by whom he would not say)...for the amount we paid for this one way trip, one of us could have gone on a Seven Day Cruise or flown round trip for 2..there were other incidences on the this continuing trip to Calif......but, that was the worst, if AMTRAK wants customers it needs to inform their employees to be more efficient and courteous to its, overpriced deluxe accomodations, paying customers......supposedly we had a Senior Citizens discount, and we did not qualify for any other discounts, which they so wrongly advertise, because we had Deluxe Accomodations? Go Figure.... Warning: People do not take AMTRAK if you can fly....I will not take AMTRAK again and have already informed many friends and relatives who were eagerly awaiting to hear about our "TRAIN RIDE".. It was, sorry to say, a very big disappointment.. Sincerely,

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Burns

Pittsburgh, PA.