Amtrak Vs. Flying: Why Train Journey Is the Higher Selection for Holidays

After procrastinating to purchase my flight house for Thanksgiving one too many instances (sorry, Mom), I’ve been left with no different possibility however to show to the Pennsylvanian, a 9-hour and 20-minute Amtrak prepare that travels from New York to Pittsburgh.

This time, I paid $316 for the round-trip ticket, and was pleased to e book the prepare as an alternative of a flight. I’ve taken this prepare experience virtually a dozen instances up to now 5 years, and have changed into considerably of a prepare fanatic due to it.

Additionally, flying disruptions — such because the current authorities shutdown — and the seemingly countless development at my hometown airport have made me extra inclined to take the prepare over the previous few years.

It’s not excellent, however from avoiding endless safety traces on the airport to having a row to myself, listed below are the 4 causes I favor touring by prepare.

1. There aren’t any safety traces or airport hassles

I’ve been stranded in too many hour-plus airport safety traces to rely. When I arrive on the prepare station, I merely await my monitor to be introduced, which generally happens quarter-hour earlier than departure, after which board the prepare when it arrives.

There are not any annoying safety traces or shuttles to take between terminals, so I can get to the prepare station round half-hour earlier than the prepare leaves. Plus, boarding normally goes fairly quick as a result of the prepare attendants can stagger the boarding traces between prepare vehicles.

2. I haven’t got to fret about dimension restrictions or checking too many baggage

Have you ever shed a tear watching TSA throw away a treasured fragrance or hand lotion you simply purchased?

One of the stunning issues about touring by prepare is that there aren’t any dimension restrictions on liquids. This is a small win, however after I fly, I’m consistently holding my breath to see if my carry-on toiletry bag will make it by TSA, so it is one other tick on the professionals checklist for me.

Additionally, Amtrak has a very beneficiant baggage coverage. Each passenger is allowed one private merchandise, two carry-ons, and two checked baggage freed from cost. Additional checked baggage is simply $20 a bag.

3. There aren’t assigned seats, and I normally have a row to myself

With no assigned seats, there’s normally a possibility for me to discover a row to myself. I’ve taken this prepare route 5 instances within the final 12 months, and there is solely been one experience the place I wasn’t in a position to snag that luxurious.

There’s a roughly two-to-four-hour interval of the prepare experience the place I lose cell service fully, and I exploit that point as a deep work block to get writing, planning, or anything that I have to get completed completed.

One profit of getting a row to myself, apart from the apparent further room, is that I can unfold out my work in entrance of me and never fear about bothering anybody.

4. It’s an attractive prepare experience

Lastly, it is a scenic experience. Although I attempt to deal with getting some work completed or taking inventory of my priorities, each personally and professionally, I typically can not help however get misplaced within the views for hours.

My favourite a part of the experience is about midway by, once we go on the horseshoe curve in Altoona, PA. It’s a 220-degree railroad curve that was completed in 1854. I’ve now seen the curve by virtually each season and stay up for marveling on the view every time.

As a lot as I do love the prepare, the experience itself is not at all times the smoothest, the café automobile by no means has constant hours, and typically, by hour six, the 9-hour experience seems like it can by no means finish.

But general, if I’ve the time to spare, I’ll at all times select the prepare over flying. I’ve realized that having this time for myself helps me reset in between locations.

Got a journey hack to share? Email this reporter at [email protected].