Auto Train, Business or Coach?
Nov 9, 2017, 9:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Auto Train, Business or Coach?
Likely taking the auto train down from VA to FL this weekend. Business class is $200 and coach is $135, I assume J is worth the difference? A roomette is pushing $600.
Haven't signed up for GR yet, is there any status match program from a hotel/rental car company, referral bonus or special promo I should be aware of?
Haven't signed up for GR yet, is there any status match program from a hotel/rental car company, referral bonus or special promo I should be aware of?
Nov 11, 2017, 10:04 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
I've done the Autotrain many times in Roomette and Bedroom.
Let's compare it to airline standards:
Coach == Coach
Business == Domestic First
Roomette == International Business
Bedroom == Larger version of Roomette, with a private toilet/shower (literally, the shower is over the toilet).
IMHO, Roomette is the minimum civilized way of doing it. Remember, the ride is like 16 hours. Consider it the same way you would consider an international redeye flight, and add in the fact that you would be expected to have a drive after you get where you are going.
For example: I couldn't imagine driving from DC to NYC, or Sanford to Miami after being on the equivalent of Airline Domestic FC.
Let's compare it to airline standards:
Coach == Coach
Business == Domestic First
Roomette == International Business
Bedroom == Larger version of Roomette, with a private toilet/shower (literally, the shower is over the toilet).
IMHO, Roomette is the minimum civilized way of doing it. Remember, the ride is like 16 hours. Consider it the same way you would consider an international redeye flight, and add in the fact that you would be expected to have a drive after you get where you are going.
For example: I couldn't imagine driving from DC to NYC, or Sanford to Miami after being on the equivalent of Airline Domestic FC.
Nov 11, 2017, 10:56 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
I've done the Autotrain many times in Roomette and Bedroom.
Let's compare it to airline standards:
Coach == Coach
Business == Domestic First
Roomette == International Business
Bedroom == Larger version of Roomette, with a private toilet/shower (literally, the shower is over the toilet).
IMHO, Roomette is the minimum civilized way of doing it. Remember, the ride is like 16 hours. Consider it the same way you would consider an international redeye flight, and add in the fact that you would be expected to have a drive after you get where you are going.
For example: I couldn't imagine driving from DC to NYC, or Sanford to Miami after being on the equivalent of Airline Domestic FC.
Let's compare it to airline standards:
Coach == Coach
Business == Domestic First
Roomette == International Business
Bedroom == Larger version of Roomette, with a private toilet/shower (literally, the shower is over the toilet).
IMHO, Roomette is the minimum civilized way of doing it. Remember, the ride is like 16 hours. Consider it the same way you would consider an international redeye flight, and add in the fact that you would be expected to have a drive after you get where you are going.
For example: I couldn't imagine driving from DC to NYC, or Sanford to Miami after being on the equivalent of Airline Domestic FC.
Amtrak's seat pitch/width are comparable to domestic First (36/23).
Nov 11, 2017, 1:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
There is a reason why most international flights (8+ hours) have lie-flat business class seats, and most domestic flights do not.
Nov 11, 2017, 2:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Long-haul flights increasingly do have premium Y, which is akin to domestic F and fits with nerd's analogy. That said, Amtrak's business class hard product is virtually identical to coach on the overnight trains. I really hope RA is taking a look at the incremental revenue opportunities that a lay-flat-type seat would bring.
Nov 11, 2017, 2:59 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
And yes, there's a big difference between 6 hours travel time and 16 hours travel time. But that's partially because there's a 10 hour difference in travel time.
Nov 11, 2017, 9:42 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,472
Roomette may well be worth $400 more than business. Whether business is worth $65 more than coach is dubious, but then $65 may not be that much to venture. Domestic first class air compared to coach is not analogous to Amtrak long distance business to coach. There is a significant difference between the air products, IMO, and only a small one between Amtrak's.
Nov 14, 2017, 8:36 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Save your $65 and book Coach or a Roomette, Business Class on nearly every Amtrak train is a waste of money (Except the 2-1 leather seats used on like the Empire Service).
Coach is just as big as a domestic first seat on an airline, don't plan on getting much sleep. Business gives you another 2-3 inches of legroom, that's about it.
The Roomette and above is the only option that includes a bed and I find I need a roomette to sleep at night, but the economics is tough. Frequently the roomette is available for a reasonable number of points, be sure to check out the signup offers currently on the Amtrak CC, you could easily get enough points for a roomette on the Auto Train.
Coach is just as big as a domestic first seat on an airline, don't plan on getting much sleep. Business gives you another 2-3 inches of legroom, that's about it.
The Roomette and above is the only option that includes a bed and I find I need a roomette to sleep at night, but the economics is tough. Frequently the roomette is available for a reasonable number of points, be sure to check out the signup offers currently on the Amtrak CC, you could easily get enough points for a roomette on the Auto Train.
Nov 16, 2017, 12:44 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Downeaster and Vermonter too. I often book Business on the Downeaster because it's $9 more than coach and the single seat is nice.
Nov 20, 2017, 3:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Amtrak
Posts: 75
Nov 20, 2017, 11:19 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
There are still that many of them out there? I thought they didn't have very many left, because I was slightly upset that they were gone from the red-eye Northeast Regional (65/66/67) and assumed that they simply didn't have enough.
Nov 21, 2017, 9:46 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CT/NY
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium; Amtrak Select
Posts: 61
Just did the Auto Train down and back with a friend. Roomette on the way down, Bedroom on the way back. Will never do a roomette again with a second person. I now understand why the bedrooms cost that much more. The extra room and having your own toilet are definitely worth it on a trip that long. Could not fathom long distance in coach or business.