Cheapest airports with train to Baltimore
Oct 9, 2015, 1:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: The Embassy
Posts: 677
Cheapest airports with train to Baltimore
Next summer I need to get from BKK to Baltimore for a week, dates to be confirmed, in J. I consider doing the final part of my journey to be a feature, not a hindrance, and I want to fly as luxuriously as possible, for the least money, on oneworld or *G, but preferably oneworld.
What are likely to be the cheapest airports on the Mid-Atlantic to fly into on a major long haul flight?
What are likely to be the cheapest airports on the Mid-Atlantic to fly into on a major long haul flight?
Oct 9, 2015, 6:21 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,926
Your choices are EWR or PHL, although neither has a one-seat ride to Baltimore. In both cases, you'll need to take either a commuter train (SEPTA in PHL) or a linking line (EWR's Airtrain) to get to the Amtrak station. There is also JFK, which probably would be the cheapest, but there you have to take both the Airtrain *and* a subway or commuter train to get to Penn Station to pick up Amtrak...a lot more time and shlepping vs. the first two options.
Oct 10, 2015, 11:55 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
CX flies into EWR. QR flies into PHL.
There is much more frequent train service to BAL from Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Newark Penn Station than there is from EWR Airport Rail Station. (Amtrak's Acela service does not stop at EWR Airport.)
CX flies into EWR. QR flies into PHL.
There is much more frequent train service to BAL from Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Newark Penn Station than there is from EWR Airport Rail Station. (Amtrak's Acela service does not stop at EWR Airport.)
Oct 10, 2015, 12:35 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
But the OP wants "to fly as luxuriously as possible." I don't think BA Club World quite ranks up there with CX J or QR J.
Whether it's worth it to him to take a train to avoid BA, only he can answer.
Originally Posted by Often1
BA flies nonstop LHR-BWI, so no need for any hopping on trains (beyond local light rail if you choose) and fly TATL. Coming the other way, AA/US has multiple services SFO/LAX-BWI.
Whether it's worth it to him to take a train to avoid BA, only he can answer.
Last edited by guv1976; Oct 10, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Oct 10, 2015, 12:40 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
If the OP flies QR into PHL, a short, connecting flight on AA PHL-BWI (rather than Amtrak) is also a possibility.
If the OP flies QR into PHL, a short, connecting flight on AA PHL-BWI (rather than Amtrak) is also a possibility.
Nov 9, 2015, 10:24 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
While it's true that the Northeast Regionals (except for the overnight WAS-BOS and BOS-WAS trains) do not offer checked-baggage service, it is still possible to check baggage between major stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak will simply transport the baggage on one of its several trains with baggage cars that traverse the Corridor. (The checked baggage would arrive on a different train than the Regional or Acela that the passenger travels on, and the passenger would have to return to his destination station to claim the baggage after it arrives.)
Originally Posted by beyondhere
AFAIK, Amtrak doesn't offer checked bags on it's NE Corridor trains. So, a big suitcase might not be ideal to carry on one of those trains.
Nov 9, 2015, 10:30 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
While it's true that the Northeast Regionals (except for the overnight WAS-BOS and BOS-WAS trains) do not offer checked-baggage service, it is still possible to check baggage between major stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak will simply transport the baggage on one of its several trains with baggage cars that traverse the Corridor. (The checked baggage would arrive on a different train than the Regional or Acela that the passenger travels on, and the passenger would have to return to his destination station to claim the baggage after it arrives.)
While it's true that the Northeast Regionals (except for the overnight WAS-BOS and BOS-WAS trains) do not offer checked-baggage service, it is still possible to check baggage between major stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak will simply transport the baggage on one of its several trains with baggage cars that traverse the Corridor. (The checked baggage would arrive on a different train than the Regional or Acela that the passenger travels on, and the passenger would have to return to his destination station to claim the baggage after it arrives.)
Nov 10, 2015, 10:55 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Or rather, if it arrives.
Have you had more occasions of lost/delayed baggage with Amtrak than with the airlines?
Originally Posted by Doc Savage
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
While it's true that the Northeast Regionals (except for the overnight WAS-BOS and BOS-WAS trains) do not offer checked-baggage service, it is still possible to check baggage between major stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak will simply transport the baggage on one of its several trains with baggage cars that traverse the Corridor. (The checked baggage would arrive on a different train than the Regional or Acela that the passenger travels on, and the passenger would have to return to his destination station to claim the baggage after it arrives.)
While it's true that the Northeast Regionals (except for the overnight WAS-BOS and BOS-WAS trains) do not offer checked-baggage service, it is still possible to check baggage between major stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak will simply transport the baggage on one of its several trains with baggage cars that traverse the Corridor. (The checked baggage would arrive on a different train than the Regional or Acela that the passenger travels on, and the passenger would have to return to his destination station to claim the baggage after it arrives.)
Nov 10, 2015, 5:25 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
I certainly wouldn't send my luggage on a different train than the one I was traveling on.
YMMV
Nov 10, 2015, 11:08 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
I had a shipment of household goods systematically pilfered when shipped by Amtrak when moving years ago. Each box slit open, the more expensive stuff taken, a few boxes missing. I met the train upon arrival.
I certainly wouldn't send my luggage on a different train than the one I was traveling on.
YMMV
Well, pilferage of cargo can occur on airlines too, and I assume that the contents were insured.
I've checked baggage to be transported on Amtrak trains other than mine, and the only problem I ever had was when some luggage I had checked from Los Angeles to Oceanside a few hours before my departure was not off-loaded at Oceanside, and continued on to San Diego. Because the baggage was transported on an earlier train than the one I was traveling on, the baggage was already heading back to Oceanside from San Diego before I arrived at Oceanside. The delayed baggage arrived at Oceanside a few minutes after I did.
Originally Posted by Doc Savage
I certainly wouldn't send my luggage on a different train than the one I was traveling on.
YMMV
I've checked baggage to be transported on Amtrak trains other than mine, and the only problem I ever had was when some luggage I had checked from Los Angeles to Oceanside a few hours before my departure was not off-loaded at Oceanside, and continued on to San Diego. Because the baggage was transported on an earlier train than the one I was traveling on, the baggage was already heading back to Oceanside from San Diego before I arrived at Oceanside. The delayed baggage arrived at Oceanside a few minutes after I did.