I have a choice between Amtrak and the MBTA monthly pass for 3 r/t per week from Boston to Providence for the next 2 years.
The MBTA passes are slightly cheaper, but they don't offer a point system. I like to fly and earn miles, but looking at the redemption, it looks like my best use would be going for hotel points?
Am I missing something?
BobH
Jun 26, 12, 5:22 pm
I have a choice between Amtrak and the MBTA monthly pass for 3 r/t per week from Boston to Providence for the next 2 years.
The MBTA passes are slightly cheaper, but they don't offer a point system. I like to fly and earn miles, but looking at the redemption, it looks like my best use would be going for hotel points?
Am I missing something?
Have you compared the schedules/equipment ?
There's this thing called comfort.
Bob H
amamba
Jun 27, 12, 8:14 am
I have a choice between Amtrak and the MBTA monthly pass for 3 r/t per week from Boston to Providence for the next 2 years.
The MBTA passes are slightly cheaper, but they don't offer a point system. I like to fly and earn miles, but looking at the redemption, it looks like my best use would be going for hotel points?
Am I missing something?
Do you need to use the subway/T when you are in Boston (ie, red line, orange line, green line, etc)?
Starting July 1, the monthly for PVD - BOS on MBTA is $314. That includes commuter rail and subway. The amtrak pass is $360/month.
Amtrak wins on comfort and length of trip (40 minutes vs. 75 minutes). There is really no contest, IMO. I think the additional $$ is well worth it for amtrak, if your schedule allows it. The 66 in the morning is full of commuters - my H commutes from PVD - BOS daily on amtrak. The afternoon choices are not as great but still workable IMO.
Also, the points are great. Once you do the monthly pass for a year, you will become S+ and then can have unlimited access to the Club Acela in BOS. The points are not that great in terms of transferring to hotel programs, but if you can use the amtrak points for amtrak stuff they are great. I am on my second free LD cross county sleeper trip with points after three years of my H commuting on amtrak.
You cannot transfer AGR points to any airlines anymore. If you travel to NYC or DC fairly often, a great use of points is upgrade coupons to FC on acela.
stupidzbu
Jun 27, 12, 8:41 am
Have you compared the schedules/equipment ?
There's this thing called comfort.
Bob H
I have not done either ..... I guess before buying a pass I will have to test each one out ....
stupidzbu
Jun 27, 12, 8:45 am
Do you need to use the subway/T when you are in Boston (ie, red line, orange line, green line, etc)?
Starting July 1, the monthly for PVD - BOS on MBTA is $314. That includes commuter rail and subway. The amtrak pass is $360/month.
Amtrak wins on comfort and length of trip (40 minutes vs. 75 minutes). There is really no contest, IMO. I think the additional $$ is well worth it for amtrak, if your schedule allows it. The 66 in the morning is full of commuters - my H commutes from PVD - BOS daily on amtrak. The afternoon choices are not as great but still workable IMO.
Also, the points are great. Once you do the monthly pass for a year, you will become S+ and then can have unlimited access to the Club Acela in BOS. The points are not that great in terms of transferring to hotel programs, but if you can use the amtrak points for amtrak stuff they are great. I am on my second free LD cross county sleeper trip with points after three years of my H commuting on amtrak.
You cannot transfer AGR points to any airlines anymore. If you travel to NYC or DC fairly often, a great use of points is upgrade coupons to FC on acela.
Good points ....
I would have to be at the job by 8 am, which puts me either on the NE 95 or the 801 ... sure, I could probably take an Acela, but I would have to connect to the #30 bus and I wouldn't want to wake up crack ... early to take an Acela and then lounge around doing nothing for an hour in PVD.
I don't go much to NYC or DC .. and the few times I've gone to NYC, it's always been with the cheap $10 chinatown buses.
I do use the T quite frequently, and oddly enough, the monthly pass to PVD is also good to take me to Singing Beach ...
Since your hubby has some experience, has he seen any delays/issues taking the commute?
I am still torn on whether I should just get a car and commute.
tolkiennut
Jun 27, 12, 8:57 am
sure, I could probably take an Acela, but I would have to connect to the #30 bus and I wouldn't want to wake up crack ... early to take an Acela and then lounge around doing nothing for an hour in PVD.
Weclome to the Amtrak forum. Just want to make sure you are aware that the monthly pass is not good for Acela as it may or may not influence your decision.
I'm a commuter on Amtrak and couldn't be happier with productive, non-driving time on my way to work, and a chance to take a mental holiday on the way home. Please let us know if you have any further questions on your decision.
I have a choice between Amtrak and the MBTA monthly pass for 3 r/t per week from Boston to Providence for the next 2 years.
The MBTA passes are slightly cheaper, but they don't offer a point system. I like to fly and earn miles, but looking at the redemption, it looks like my best use would be going for hotel points?
Am I missing something?
Are you sure that a monthly pass is cost effective for three roundtrips a week?
I'm seeing Amtrak fares as low as $11.00 one way, if you book sufficiently far in advance. It would require a lot of bookkeeping on your part, but it would also let you use Amtrak one way, and MBTA the other way, if that worked out better for you.
And you will earn AGR points a lot faster by using cheap, one-way tickets, instead of monthly passes.
amamba
Jun 27, 12, 12:35 pm
My H has no issues with the service, although when the train is late going north in the morning, it is like 3 hours late.
Since you live in Boston, you might find the T monthly pass more useful since you can use it to go on any MBTA commuter train out to zone 8 (including Singing Beach which I love - I used to live on the North shore before I moved to RI) and then of course the subways AND buses.
But in terms of comfort and length of time on the train, amtrak wins one million times over. However, since you will be doing the reserve commute, you might not find the trains too crowded or uncomfortable. MBTA uses single and double decker cars on the Providence commuter rail line, with bench seats (3-2). If you get the dreaded middle seat on the bench, it is very squishy - like your butt/thighs will be touching strangers - one on each side of you. Some people don't mind that, but for me, it is nasty to sit like that in a hot car in the summer for over an hour.
Keep in mind the excellent point that if you buy amtrak one way tickets in advance, they are $11 each way. This requires at least a 14 day advance purchase. If you miss that, the lowest they can be is $14 (unless you have AAA in which case they are $12.60).
MBTA one way is going up to $10 starting July 1st. You can buy a 10 ride MBTA pass for $100 with the caveat that you must make all of those trips in 30 days. An amtrak 10 ride pass is $160, which is a terrible deal if you can find low bucket trains or a good deal if all the trains you want to take are high bucket.
Scheduling is generally very good/on time on trains heading south in the morning from BOS. Also keep in mind that you will NOT be able to take the acela on a monthly pass.