Did Amtrak offshore the promotions department?
Jun 21, 2016, 2:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, BA Silver, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,620
Did Amtrak offshore the promotions department?
I received an email promotion today titled: "Fares as low as $23 on the Northeast Regional". The body of the email:
Book just 14 days in advance for some of the lowest Saver Fares in the Northeast
Travel aboard the Northeast RegionalSM for as low as $23. Simply book your travel 14 days in advance to nab our lowest fares.
From New York to: Fare
Newark $23
Philadelphia $39
Boston $49
Baltimore or Washington, DC $49
With downtown-to-downtown service, the Northeast Regional takes you to the heart of the action for less. And in addition to the savings, you'll bypass the crowded and congested roads, making your ride all the sweeter. So settle in and leave the driving to us. And remember, up to two kids ages 2 12 can travel for half the price, too.
BOOK TODAY
I find it kind of amazing
that Amtrak would "promote" an advance purchase fare from NYP to NWK, exhorting me to book 14 days in advance to "nab" 
a $23 
one-way fare for the 10 mile ride in a market where the peak one-way fare on NJ Transit trains using the exact same tracks is $5.25.
Has management of Northeast Regional off-shored its promotion department, such that no-one there has any practical knowledge of the railroad? If not that, do you have any ideas of how such promotions get dreamed up?
Book just 14 days in advance for some of the lowest Saver Fares in the Northeast
Travel aboard the Northeast RegionalSM for as low as $23. Simply book your travel 14 days in advance to nab our lowest fares.
From New York to: Fare
Newark $23
Philadelphia $39
Boston $49
Baltimore or Washington, DC $49
With downtown-to-downtown service, the Northeast Regional takes you to the heart of the action for less. And in addition to the savings, you'll bypass the crowded and congested roads, making your ride all the sweeter. So settle in and leave the driving to us. And remember, up to two kids ages 2 12 can travel for half the price, too.
BOOK TODAY
I find it kind of amazing
that Amtrak would "promote" an advance purchase fare from NYP to NWK, exhorting me to book 14 days in advance to "nab" a $23 one-way fare for the 10 mile ride in a market where the peak one-way fare on NJ Transit trains using the exact same tracks is $5.25. Has management of Northeast Regional off-shored its promotion department, such that no-one there has any practical knowledge of the railroad? If not that, do you have any ideas of how such promotions get dreamed up?
lol
Jun 21, 2016, 3:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
I find it kind of amazing that Amtrak would "promote" an advance purchase fare from NYP to NWK, exhorting me to book 14 days in advance to "nab" a $23 one-way fare for the 10 mile ride in a market where the peak one-way fare on NJ Transit trains using the exact same tracks is $5.25.
that Amtrak would "promote" an advance purchase fare from NYP to NWK, exhorting me to book 14 days in advance to "nab" a $23 one-way fare for the 10 mile ride in a market where the peak one-way fare on NJ Transit trains using the exact same tracks is $5.25.
Jun 21, 2016, 4:41 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
It's a classic problem at Amtrak...the weakness in their marketing department. Typically, one would expect it to be better for the Northeast Corridor, but the example for advance purchase fares for NYP-NWK shows otherwise.
Part of the problem systemwide has been that bureaucrats in offices are making decisions about trains that they rarely, if ever, ride, and their knowledge about the service is correspondingly weak.
At least they're advertising prices and destinations rather than the "train experience". The problem is that the city-pairs to be featured need to be carefully selected, rather than (seemingly) getting an intern to just go down the fare table.
Part of the problem systemwide has been that bureaucrats in offices are making decisions about trains that they rarely, if ever, ride, and their knowledge about the service is correspondingly weak.
At least they're advertising prices and destinations rather than the "train experience". The problem is that the city-pairs to be featured need to be carefully selected, rather than (seemingly) getting an intern to just go down the fare table.
