10 Amtrak Coach Mistakes Seniors Make on Their First Overnight

A man about my age boarded coach near midnight, swung a heavy suitcase over his head as the train lurched, took a sleeping pill he'd never tried, sat still all night in his good shoes, and the next morning headed straight for his car to drive three hours home. Here are the ten mistakes seniors make on their first night in coach, so you don't make a single one. I'm Stanley Pike, a lifelong Amtrak rider from Omaha (not an Amtrak employee). In this video: - before you board: why your first coach overnight should be one night, and why boarding time matters - around your seat: the neighbor, the bag you can lift, moving your legs (CDC), and sleep aids - during the night: being the quiet one, keeping the aisle clear - the morning: no showers in coach, and why you shouldn't drive off tired (NHTSA) CHAPTERS [00:00] The man across the aisle [00:49] What this video is (and isn't) [01:21] A night in a public bedroom [01:54] 1. Two nights for your first try [02:52] 2. Boarding in the middle of the night [03:49] 3. Hoping the seat stays empty [04:59] 4. A bag you can't lift overhead [06:02] 5. Sitting still all night in your shoes [07:17] A quick word about my guide [07:46] 6. A new sleeping pill or an extra drink [09:04] 7. The noisy one [10:08] 8. A trail in the aisle [11:03] 9. No shower in coach [12:08] 10. Driving away tired [13:25] The postcard on my refrigerator [14:08] All ten in one minute [14:37] The honest part [15:17] Your job before the trip Not affiliated with Amtrak. Carry-on and aisle rules are from Amtrak's carry-on baggage page; blood clot guidance from the CDC; drowsy driving from NHTSA; coach shower access from TravelsWithKev. This is general information, not medical advice: talk to your doctor or pharmacist about clots, compression stockings, sleep aids and your medicines before you travel. Rules and schedules change, so check Amtrak.com before you book. My guide to sleeping well on a moving train, Sleep Well on Amtrak After 65: https://stanleypike.com #amtrak #seniortravel #traintravel