Weekly travel from NYC to DC - Program Recommendations
Oct 24, 2013 | 2:47 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 147
Like the last poster, I do the reverse. I live in DC and work in Manhattan. I do the round trip 2-3 times a month.
Depending on schedule and needs, I've flown the shuttle into LGA, and driven (when I wanted a car in the NYC area), but Acela is easily the best option.
Depending on schedule and needs, I've flown the shuttle into LGA, and driven (when I wanted a car in the NYC area), but Acela is easily the best option.
Oct 24, 2013 | 3:12 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Marcos, CA
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum ; Hilton Gold; Hertz 5*, Delta DM. Hyatt Globalist, Amtrak Select
Posts: 216
I have been doing BOS-NYC each week for awhile now...different cities, but same exact transportation options. I tried out a number of combos and have found that the delta shuttle from LGA outbound and the Acela back has worked really well. If you take one of the early flights you rarely get delays and the marine air terminal is a breeze (I leave my house in Chelsea at 5 AM and easily make the 6 AM flight each Monday). The train back is a bit slower than a perfect flight, but in the late afternoon, especially with weather coming, perfect flights are rare. Give it a try.
Oct 24, 2013 | 6:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta 1MM, Delta GM, United Silver, Amx Plat, Delta Amx Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 614
Reiterating what someone else said, ALOT depends on where you will need to be in DC. That small detail is a critical one. As an avid flyer and proud DL member, there's NO question on this choice for me - Acela all the way!
Oct 25, 2013 | 9:39 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
If you were forced to fly, you could credit your United flights to US, continuing to accrue miles there. You'd be treated as a Star Gold partner elite on United, good for fast-track security, preboarding, and bag check...but *not* automatic E+ seating, nor any kind of access to the comp upgrade queue.
Totally agree that the train is the low-stress and higher-reliability way to go if you're working in downtown DC. United's main utility would be if your gig is out by Dulles, as a lot of the big technology and Fed/DoD contracting firms are.
Totally agree that the train is the low-stress and higher-reliability way to go if you're working in downtown DC. United's main utility would be if your gig is out by Dulles, as a lot of the big technology and Fed/DoD contracting firms are.
Oct 25, 2013 | 1:11 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 766
do you have a car? If you do, and if most of your flying is early/late, have you considered HPN? Early in the morning, it's a 20 min drive from UES.
There are no lines, no delays, easy parking, it's like taking a bus. I left my house (in Westchester, but 25 min away) at 5.15 am and was at DCA at 7.15.
There are no lines, no delays, easy parking, it's like taking a bus. I left my house (in Westchester, but 25 min away) at 5.15 am and was at DCA at 7.15.
Oct 29, 2013 | 9:08 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: PAR
Programs: AA 1MM, AF Plat, VS Gold, Hyatt Glob, Sixt Diamond, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,170
Also don't feel like you're stuck taking the same mode of transport both ways. I've traveled the BOS-NYC-DCA corridor 12-20 times a year for the past 10 years. Oftentimes I found myself taking the train one-way and flying the other way. The train can be very relaxing. It can also feel longer than flying since traveling by air is broken up into approx 45min segments....security/waiting, in flight, getting from airport to destination, whereas the train is more like one 3 hour block. Also keep in mind that unless things have changed recently you should not count on having reliable internet on Amtrak. It drops and its SLOW during commuter times etc.
Oct 29, 2013 | 12:38 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,315
I'm a consultant and have been traveling to California from NYC for the past 7 months or so. I'm now Chairman's Preferred on US Airways and Platinum (75 Nights) with SPG. It's looking like my next project will be in Washington DC, and I was looking for some advice on what programs I should use going forward.
I was just testing out some itineraries on my company's travel portal, and for some reason it looks like US Air flights are "out of policy" due to price for whatever reason. It's spitting back "in policy flights" that are mostly United, JetBlue, and *sometimes* Delta flight recommendations, and even a combination of all 3 w/ some American legs thrown in as well. It all seems to be kind of inconsistent based on the random Monday-Thursdays I'm trying, however. Talk about bad luck...
It looks like I may be able to do a United status match through a company promotion (Premier and Premier Executive levels only). Would that be worth it? Does JetBlue do status matches (does JetBlue even have an elite status?). Should I try to match/obtain a status on ALL of these airlines since some itineraries include (for example) JetBlue on the way, United on the way back, etc.? I'm just not sure how these programs compare and might pay off in the long run of my travel career. Or maybe I should scrap the whole flight idea and just stick to Amtrak/Acela? I realize NYC - DC isn't going to add up to a lot of miles, and by the time I get to the airport, go through security, etc. it might be about the same amount of travel time so maybe I'm over-thinking it...
I'm still unsure of an exact location of the new project, but are there some nice SPG properties in DC? I'm Silver Elite with Marriott, maybe I should make the switch?
If anyone has done similar travel and has any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!
I was just testing out some itineraries on my company's travel portal, and for some reason it looks like US Air flights are "out of policy" due to price for whatever reason. It's spitting back "in policy flights" that are mostly United, JetBlue, and *sometimes* Delta flight recommendations, and even a combination of all 3 w/ some American legs thrown in as well. It all seems to be kind of inconsistent based on the random Monday-Thursdays I'm trying, however. Talk about bad luck...
It looks like I may be able to do a United status match through a company promotion (Premier and Premier Executive levels only). Would that be worth it? Does JetBlue do status matches (does JetBlue even have an elite status?). Should I try to match/obtain a status on ALL of these airlines since some itineraries include (for example) JetBlue on the way, United on the way back, etc.? I'm just not sure how these programs compare and might pay off in the long run of my travel career. Or maybe I should scrap the whole flight idea and just stick to Amtrak/Acela? I realize NYC - DC isn't going to add up to a lot of miles, and by the time I get to the airport, go through security, etc. it might be about the same amount of travel time so maybe I'm over-thinking it...
I'm still unsure of an exact location of the new project, but are there some nice SPG properties in DC? I'm Silver Elite with Marriott, maybe I should make the switch?
If anyone has done similar travel and has any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!
1) Don't use NYC and WAS as airport identifiers, if you specify LGA and DCA it'll force the system to only consider DL and US (only two direct flights) and the cost of the two most of the time is exactly the same. Even if it's a little bit more than the options ex-JFK/EWR (or arriving into IAD/BWI) you should be able to justify going out of policy with reduced cab fares on both ends going in and out of LGA and DCA
2) Check to see what the United flights are, they could be code-shares operated by US (United doesn't fly LGA - DCA so if it's listed as UA doing LGA - DCA it'll be operated by US). Alternatively just fly UA using your US number. It's a really short flight so while you'll miss out on upgrades (only 1 UA plane is upgraded between WAS - NYC anyway and it's only a cr7), you'll get zone 1 boarding and your miles and segments will credit back to US
As for DC based SPG properties, the Westin Georgetown is nice, haven't stayed anywhere else (especially since I live there now)
Last edited by Duke787; Nov 1, 2013 at 8:45 am
Oct 31, 2013 | 5:58 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,377
When talking about "Where's your destination relative to DC Union Station?" don't discount the possibility of renting a car at the train station and driving to your hotel or work site in the suburbs. I've done that a few times. A few of the major agencies have booths in the station. Complete the paperwork then walk to your car in the parking garage.
Oct 31, 2013 | 6:54 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,768
When talking about "Where's your destination relative to DC Union Station?" don't discount the possibility of renting a car at the train station and driving to your hotel or work site in the suburbs. I've done that a few times. A few of the major agencies have booths in the station. Complete the paperwork then walk to your car in the parking garage.
...and then navigate one of the most difficult cities in the US in which to find your way out of if you are going to a suburban destination. I know since I have done it dozens of times before (and after) we got googzmapz in the phone. It is obvious that Pierre L'Enfant designed the place for the horse and buggy.Notice that I have said nothing about traffic.
Nov 17, 2013 | 7:19 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1
Weekly travel from NYC to DC - Program Recommendations
Why not do both? I fly and use the train. When weather is good, use the air. When iffy, use the train. When promos are going on for triple points on Amtrak, be sure to register. I also prefer the regional trains because I find the seating more comfortable. The Acela seats have a hard armrest and the desk trays are smaller. However, you do get more points for using Acela vs. regional.
If you are working in Reston/Herndon, consider the LGA to IAD route instead.
If you are working in Reston/Herndon, consider the LGA to IAD route instead.