Amtrak Empire Builder – Chicago to Portland/Seattle

After pandemic restrictions lifted and getting our double jabs, we realized we had absolutely tons of airline miles and Amtrak points to burn! To our surprise, we could score TWO first class tickets on Amtrak’s Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland/Seattle in a Superliner one bedroom for UNDER 50,000 points!


Highlights from this 2,200+ mile trip across the country from include the Mississippi River at sunset; every traveler’s favorite, Glacier National Park; and the beautiful and dramatic entrance into Portland (on our trip) via the Columbia River Gorge with snow capped Mount Hood greeting you to the Pacific Northwest!


On the day of departure from Chicago’s Union Station, we arrived early to check out Amtrak’s complimentary and spacious Metropolitan Lounge for sleeping car passengers. One tip is to go upstairs once you access the lounge as it was practically empty and felt very luxurious and private. Regular boarding announcements are made in the lounge, and Amtrak escorts the sleeping car passengers in a small group from the lounge directly to the train. So far so good! The process up until this point was very easy and smooth!


As we approached the first Amtrak attendant by the train, they were splitting passengers by train number. Later, we realized the train numbers were associated with continuing service to Seattle or Portland, as the train splits on the final night of the journey. Seattle bound passengers were directed to the sleeping car at the front of the train while Portland bound passengers were directed to the rear sleeping car on the train.