Hassles of Air Travel Push Passengers to Amtrak
Aug 15, 2012, 10:37 am
#1
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Hassles of Air Travel Push Passengers to Amtrak
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/bu...pagewanted=all
I have no sympathy for the airline executives.
Between New York and Washington, Amtrak said, 75 percent of travelers go by train, a huge share that has been building steadily since the Acela was introduced in 2000 and airport security was tightened after 2001. Before that, Amtrak had just over a third of the business between New York and Washington.
“It’s easier. I don’t have to take my shoes off,” he said as he shared a drink with a friend in the Acela cafe car.
“It’s easier. I don’t have to take my shoes off,” he said as he shared a drink with a friend in the Acela cafe car.
Aug 15, 2012, 12:01 pm
#2
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/bu...pagewanted=all
I have no sympathy for the airline executives.
I have no sympathy for the airline executives.
I'm ready to make the switch myself, especially after experiencing Delta at JFK (One of the worst terminals I have ever seen-I swear I saw a couple of dementors flying around.). I'll be sure to drop the airline a note explaining exactly why, as well. Will my one note make a difference? Of course not. But it has infinitesimally more impact than complaining about it on the internet.
Mike
Aug 15, 2012, 12:16 pm
#5
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The part that I like is that I don't have to make my way to get to the airport. If I'm going city-to-city, the Acela is faster and more efficient. If I'm going from Manhattan to Downtown Boston, it's much easier to go straight from NY Penn to Boston South Sta. on Acela than it is to backtrack to JFK or LGA and wait for a plane to take me to Logan.
All those times wasted in getting to the airport, clearing TSA, waiting for boarding, push back, taxi to runway, "we're now number X for take off," actual flying in the air for 30 minutes, landing, taxi to the gate, deplaning, etc. etc. ... it's just not worth it for short intra-city distances.
I might as just head to the train station, hop on, read a book, and I'm already at the city center when I arrive.
Obviously a train won't work when going from LA to NY, but for shorter distances, the train is a better way to go than a plane due to the hassles involved.
All those times wasted in getting to the airport, clearing TSA, waiting for boarding, push back, taxi to runway, "we're now number X for take off," actual flying in the air for 30 minutes, landing, taxi to the gate, deplaning, etc. etc. ... it's just not worth it for short intra-city distances.
I might as just head to the train station, hop on, read a book, and I'm already at the city center when I arrive.
Obviously a train won't work when going from LA to NY, but for shorter distances, the train is a better way to go than a plane due to the hassles involved.
Aug 15, 2012, 12:32 pm
#6
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“Nothing compares to air service for a quick, convenient, on-time experience between major cities in the Northeast,” Mr. Lehmacher said. “US Airways shuttle allows customers to travel at three times the speed in less than half the time versus traditional forms of ground-based transportation.”
Aug 15, 2012, 1:07 pm
#7
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Aug 15, 2012, 1:15 pm
#8
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I notice he's not even attempting to compare 'door-to-door' times, which is what matters to me.
It took me 3 hours recently - for a 30 minute flight (IIRC, actual air time was a few minutes less than that). I'm counting from the time I entered the departure terminal with carry-on only to the time I exited the arrival terminal (tiny) without stopping to pick up a bag.
I could have driven in almost the same time. No partial disrobing, no hands in my pants and between my legs, no shouting, no bellowing CNN overlaid with airport security announcements ad nauseum unlimited snacks and beverages of my choice.
(Only reason I flew was because I had to drive a truck back).
It took me 3 hours recently - for a 30 minute flight (IIRC, actual air time was a few minutes less than that). I'm counting from the time I entered the departure terminal with carry-on only to the time I exited the arrival terminal (tiny) without stopping to pick up a bag.
I could have driven in almost the same time. No partial disrobing, no hands in my pants and between my legs, no shouting, no bellowing CNN overlaid with airport security announcements ad nauseum unlimited snacks and beverages of my choice.
(Only reason I flew was because I had to drive a truck back).
Aug 15, 2012, 1:32 pm
#9
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Over the years Amtrak has significantly changed for the better on those routes. The metroliners are pretty much gone, standing because the train is packed is a thing of the past in most cases, you have a seat, you have electricity, in some cases you have wifi or you have your own.
While you can attribute some of it to the hassles of an airport, some of it is Amtrak realizing if they give people the ability to work for the two or three hour trip if they want to work they will get way more business.
I'm currently sitting at my desk in Manhattan. Four minutes from now I could be standing on the Amtrak Platform (if I hit both walk lights in my favor). The airports can't possibly match that
While you can attribute some of it to the hassles of an airport, some of it is Amtrak realizing if they give people the ability to work for the two or three hour trip if they want to work they will get way more business.
I'm currently sitting at my desk in Manhattan. Four minutes from now I could be standing on the Amtrak Platform (if I hit both walk lights in my favor). The airports can't possibly match that
Aug 15, 2012, 1:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
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I've traveled by Amtrak 5 times and 4/5 times the delays were insane, I had a 12 hour delay one time from Virginia to Rhode Island.
Frankly the entire article smelled like a PR spin for Amtrak, an unprofitable heavily subsidized government run service.
Granted airlines also take subsidies, but at least there are a couple of companies you can choose from.
I'd rather take the bolt buses or drive rather than take Amtrak, and foreign travel is kind of a no brainer.
Aug 15, 2012, 1:51 pm
#11
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+1
I'm ready to make the switch myself, especially after experiencing Delta at JFK (One of the worst terminals I have ever seen-I swear I saw a couple of dementors flying around.). I'll be sure to drop the airline a note explaining exactly why, as well. Will my one note make a difference? Of course not. But it has infinitesimally more impact than complaining about it on the internet.
Mike
I'm ready to make the switch myself, especially after experiencing Delta at JFK (One of the worst terminals I have ever seen-I swear I saw a couple of dementors flying around.). I'll be sure to drop the airline a note explaining exactly why, as well. Will my one note make a difference? Of course not. But it has infinitesimally more impact than complaining about it on the internet.
Mike
Aug 15, 2012, 2:01 pm
#12
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Sure, but the domestic travel helps to subsidize international travel.... Half an hour from now I could be boarding a plane to a beach in another country. Amtrak can't possibly match that!
I've traveled by Amtrak 5 times and 4/5 times the delays were insane, I had a 12 hour delay one time from Virginia to Rhode Island.
Frankly the entire article smelled like a PR spin for Amtrak, an unprofitable heavily subsidized government run service.
Granted airlines also take subsidies, but at least there are a couple of companies you can choose from.
I'd rather take the bolt buses or drive rather than take Amtrak, and foreign travel is kind of a no brainer.
I've traveled by Amtrak 5 times and 4/5 times the delays were insane, I had a 12 hour delay one time from Virginia to Rhode Island.
Frankly the entire article smelled like a PR spin for Amtrak, an unprofitable heavily subsidized government run service.
Granted airlines also take subsidies, but at least there are a couple of companies you can choose from.
I'd rather take the bolt buses or drive rather than take Amtrak, and foreign travel is kind of a no brainer.
The article was about Northeast Corridor travel, not travel to far-flung beaches. So, what's your point?
Regarding profitability, get back to me when the (likely toll-free) highway you took to the airport turns a profit.
Aug 15, 2012, 2:04 pm
#13
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More desperate execs --
Funny, because the plane can't take me to midtown Manhattan or Boston's Back Bay.
It's worth noting too that PreCheck does nothing to address the one issue most at stake here: time. You don't know whether you'll be deemed worthy enough till you get to the checkpoint, so you need to show up to allow enough time for the full experience.
Delta and US Airways are also making bids to get passengers back. Gail Grimmett, a Delta vice president, said the airline had made several changes in recent years to attract business travelers, including adding Wi-Fi for a fee to its flights connecting Washington, New York and Boston.
“The idea is to build brand loyalty. We want you to fly with us no matter where you are flying, not just the East Coast,” she said. “The train can’t take you to South Africa.”
“The idea is to build brand loyalty. We want you to fly with us no matter where you are flying, not just the East Coast,” she said. “The train can’t take you to South Africa.”
It's worth noting too that PreCheck does nothing to address the one issue most at stake here: time. You don't know whether you'll be deemed worthy enough till you get to the checkpoint, so you need to show up to allow enough time for the full experience.
Aug 15, 2012, 2:07 pm
#14
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Anyone know the financials on this?
Just how profitable are these northeast routes to the airlines? More profitable, say, than west coast business travel (up and down the coast)?
Just how profitable are these northeast routes to the airlines? More profitable, say, than west coast business travel (up and down the coast)?
Aug 15, 2012, 2:07 pm
#15
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