I upgraded my Amtrak seat to a 23-square-foot roomette by bidding $110. Here's what the 15-hour train ride was like.

After an upgrade, I spent 15 hours in a roomette aboard Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited.

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• I upgraded my coach seat to a private roomette on Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited for an extra $110.
• The 23-square-foot space had two seats, an in-room toilet, a foldable sink, and a tray table.
• The roomette gave me a sense of privacy, but I wouldn't want to share one with another person.

I originally planned to travel in coach on Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited for my 15-hour trip from Cleveland, Ohio, to Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

I've enjoyed traveling in this section of the train during past trips. Coach tickets are budget-friendly, the baggage allowance is generous, the seats are comfortable, and the café sells snacks and soda.

However, on this trip, I decided to try to upgrade my ticket with a bid — and it worked.

Here's what getting the upgrade and taking the ride was like.

Amtrak passengers can bid to upgrade their tickets, and my $110 offer scored me a roomette.An Amtrak sleeping car.

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I upgraded my ticket through Amtrak's BidUp program. About 37 hours before my trip, Amtrak provided a price range for bids and asked how much I'd like to wager for an upgrade.

Since I was traveling in coach, I had the opportunity to bid on a business-class seat, a roomette, or a bedroom.

A few hours after wagering $110, the minimum bid I could place on a roomette, I received an email telling me that Amtrak had accepted it and upgraded my ticket.

I spent a total of $226 on my trip, which includes the $110 I paid for the upgrade. If I'd booked a roomette initially instead of upgrading, I would've likely paid over $500.

The level of service in the sleeping car was exceptional.The hallway leading to my roomette was lined with windows.

JB Bergin

Before I boarded the train around 1 p.m., an Amtrak employee asked if I was traveling in a sleeping-car accommodation. Then, he checked my last name to verify and led me to my roomette.

The service remained wonderful throughout the rest of the journey, in part because each sleeping car on Amtrak trains has its own dedicated attendant.

While settling into my space in the sleeping car, the attendant assigned to my roomette informed me that breakfast service was about to begin. I thanked him and closed the door so I could get situated and put my luggage away.

Several times throughout the trip, the same attendant came by to check in, even taking my dinner order and delivering it to my room in the evening. I appreciated the great service.

The roomette felt like the perfect size for a solo traveler, as the two seats could fold into a bed.The accommodation was about 23 square feet.

JB Bergin

Inside my 23-square-foot roomette, two plush seats faced each other and looked out to a big window, where I could watch the world go by.

I could've folded these seats into a bed or lowered the upper bed using an easy-to-use lever mechanism.

Since I wasn't planning to sleep during my trip, I raised the bed as high as it would go. I'm pretty tall, so I wanted to give myself more space.

Above the door was a storage space big enough to fit all my luggage.Keeping my luggage safely stored in my roomette was a perk.

JB Bergin

Having in-room storage was an important perk, as I could easily access my belongings whenever I wanted.

The storage space, along with the full curtains and a lock on the door, made me feel very secure and gave my roomette an added sense of privacy.

It was also convenient that I could keep my items safely stored and locked in my roomette while I ate in the dining car or wandered the train.

The in-room toilet area was tiny, and I wouldn't want to use it with another person in the space.The bathroom area was very tiny, and I wouldn't feel comfortably using it with another person in the roomette.

JB Bergin

I had a toilet and sink in my space, but this isn't the case for all roomettes; it depends on the train. This was an older model.

The in-room toilet took some getting used to, and I wondered how using it would have gone if I had a companion in the roomette with me.

It was such a small setup that we'd have to take turns going for walks whenever one of us needed to use the bathroom. Or, we'd use one of the train's nearby public restrooms for more privacy.

The foldable sink was a good idea, but the design seemed far from perfect.The sink inside my roomette folded, but it got water on the floor if I wasn't careful.

JB Bergin

The sink drained as I folded it, so I could spill water in the room if I wasn't careful.

The roomette had controls that allowed me to adjust the airflow, temperature, and intercom volume.I didn't expect to be able to control the temperature, airflow, and intercom volume.

JB Bergin

I was surprised to find so many comfort controls inside the roomette.

I had a personal thermostat that controlled the temperature, a device that managed the airflow coming into the room, and a nob that adjusted the intercom volume. I also had ample lighting options so I could create the perfect ambiance in my roomette.

Thankfully, there was a poster with operating instructions for every bit of furniture in my roomette. I used it while setting up the space and adjusting the comfort controls throughout the day.

The dining car had a retro feel and was accessible only to passengers staying in sleeper cars.I had breakfast and lunch in the dining car during my trip.

JB Bergin

Around 10 a.m., I walked to the dining car, which was reserved for sleeping-car passengers.

The dining car had a retro design that was very inviting and felt region-specific, with patterns of hills and deer etched into the glass above each bench.

My upgraded ticket came with complimentary meals.Passengers in the dining car can wander into the dining car and eat whenever they want.

JB Bergin

Because I was staying in a roomette, I had a flexible dining plan. The food and soft drinks were included in my rate, and I didn't have to make a reservation before popping into the dining car for a meal.

The complimentary food I tasted was great, so I ordered breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the train.

For breakfast, I had pancakes, sausage, and coffee. I came back to the dining car for lunch and ordered Atlantic salmon and shrimp.

I even had dinner brought to my roomette.I ate my third meal of the day in my roomette.

JB Bergin

Later in the day, my attendant took my order and brought my dinner — braised beef and short ribs — to my roomette. I ate it on a convertible tray that I could use as a table or desk and stow away when I didn't need it.

Eventually, I arrived at my final destination around 4 a.m.

The upgrade was worth the extra $110, but I wouldn't want to share this accommodation with another person.Amtrak train

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Even though Amtrak roomettes accommodate two people, I'd be hesitant to book one if I were traveling with a companion I didn't know well. The space would probably feel too small with another person in there.

However, staying in a roomette for my all-day solo train ride was worth the upgrade.

The quality of the complimentary meals exceeded my expectations, and the roomette was a great size for one passenger. Plus, it allowed me to store my luggage and have some privacy during a long travel day.

I would consider paying full price for a roomette depending on the cost and circumstances. However, I'd definitely give Amtrak's Bid Up program a try for future train rides.

This story was originally published on April 23, 2023, and most recently updated on May 26, 2026.

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