Air Fare vs. Train Fare

[ancestry]

This may be a really stupid question but I've been looking at Amtrak fares for some upcoming trips we have planned. No matter when or even where the trip is Amtrak is always WAY more expensive than flying.

And that is even with me driving three hours to Boston and not getting the train from Portland, ME.

Why is the train nearly double than flying? What is the incentive to spend 24 hours getting somewhere when I can fly there in 3-4 hours for 1/2 the price?

Am I missing something with the advantages of train travel?

 

[2BOYMOM]

No way I would pay more for the train than flying. But for our family (4 adults) the train is much, much less expensive. We will be leaving the Raleigh, NC station and the trip is 13 hours. $360 with the AAA discount for us. Right now flying on SW is $993.

 

[DC7800]

Am I missing something with the advantages of train travel?

It's not a plane. That's advantage enough.

There is also the fact that the seats are actually wide enough to fit the modern American physique, you get real food provided in an actual dining car, no invasive security search before boarding, your four heavy 36" suitcases are welcome, and you can get up and walk around whenever you feel like it. The list goes on...

In any case, air travel is not the passenger trains primary competition.

 

[skiingfast]

Trains have couple advantages.

Like DC8700 mentions the service on a train is like 1st class on a plane.
Also Amtrak charges children half price. Where an airplane doesn't care, it charges per seat.

The disavantage of a train being that it charges more per disatance on a base fee of about $25.

While planes have a base price of 100-200-300-400-500 inside the US the prices go up real slow over those bottom amounts. The base price depends on airport size and location. Cheaper from JKF than Long Island Mc Arthur.

Time is is like the price. The least amount of time needed to be at the station until you leave is about 20 minutes on each end, for 40 total. While for a plane you may need 3 hours to park the car in a giant lot, check in, security, waiting and boarding. Getting off you walk through huge expanses pickup bags and this could be another 30 or 60 minutes depending if your bags are first or last and how quick they get the carousel going.

My dilemma is I would like to go to Anaheim by train but it costs about $350 but I still have to drive to the closest station about 5 hours. And then it takes almost two days on the train. While I could finish the drive to anaheim in another 9 hours. Or I could fly the whole thing for $450 or 500, and it would take 5 or 6 hours.

To Orlando I really can only fly. The last time I went I was shocked to find fares of $350 because from my little airport the first segment is usually $300. Which was real bargain seeing as the flights were busy at my home airport.

 

[spima3]

Am I missing something with the advantages of train travel?

Well, train travel isn't just about getting from one place to another as quickly as possible. People actually take train excursions because they like trains. Our family is like that. The train ride, autotrain, to FL, is as much an event as WDW.

With a family of 5, the train was cheaper than flying, we had our own vehicle, so didn't need to rent one, we were able to take as much as we could pack. The kids had a blast going from car to car and up and down the stairs. The seats were roomy and we were able to get open ones so we had two seats to stretch out and actually slept quite well.

Dinner was quite good, as was breakfast, and the kids loved it. They want to take the train again when we go in Sept.

I am actually trying to talk them out of it, because w/o DH, I am not comfortable driving to VA by myself w/ the 3 kids, plus we are going during school, so our time is limited.

HOwever, looking at flights I am finding they are actually pretty expensive, plus we still have to drive to the airport and the cheaper flights don't have convenient times at all.

Flying seems to be more of a hassle to me so far, and I'm still mulling it over.

 

[ancestry]

Thanks everyone. I'm guessing that the high prices for the train must have to do with the location and distance.

I would like to take my two teenagers to WDW with just me this year as a surprise trip. Travel is always a big portion of our budget. I was hoping that the train might provide an affordable alternative to air travel but that doesn't seem to be the case. Round trip on the train is almost $400 per person and over 24 hours each way. I can get airfare for $200-$250 per person (round trip) for a 3 hour trip (5 hours if you add the airport wait time) each way.

 

[seashoreCM]

Unlike the plane, if the train experiences major mechanical issues (such as getting birds in the engines) while moving, when it stops it won't end up demolished along with everyone inside. (Now there is a scene in "Bridge Over the River Kwai" that shows an exception.)

At one place where I worked, a colleague would not fly. We had a business trip and were arranging a transcontinental train trip for him. At the last minute someone else who knew the project was found to go instead.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This may be a really stupid question but I've been looking at Amtrak fares for some upcoming trips we have planned. No matter when or even where the trip is Amtrak is always WAY more expensive than flying.

And that is even with me driving three hours to Boston and not getting the train from Portland, ME.

Why is the train nearly double than flying? What is the incentive to spend 24 hours getting somewhere when I can fly there in 3-4 hours for 1/2 the price?

Am I missing something with the advantages of train travel?

I agree. I looked into the autotrain and not only was it more than airfare ($588 on SW for 4 of us w/ one Rapid Reward), taking my car (minivan) was more expensive than a rental car in FL and that's saying a lot since rentals are so high lately.
Add to that several hours of driving to VA (by then past the worst part of DC area traffic anyay) and add now 24 hrs of being stuck on the train. Not to mention arriving in VA several hours before departure time. A poster recommended arriving before 1 pm for a 4 something departure. I'm guessing also that getting your car is not nearly as quick as baggage claim. At least if my luggage gets delayed, they will deliver to hotel. With your car, you really are stuck waiting for it. Maybe I'm wrong here. Can you get in your car just before you arrive in Sanford and be ready to drive off ?

Some say they like to see the country en route but I'd rather see it from 30,000 ft going 500 mph. 2.5 hours is plenty for me.
Watching the sunset over the clouds is a beautiful view too!
By the time I finish a movie on our port dvd player, we're there.

My guess would be most train riders have fear of flying and feel the train is easier than driving the whole way. Again, I may be totally wrong in guessing.

ymmv.

 

[stefanospops]

I just priced a trip for 6 of us from Buffalo to Orlando on Amtrak and while the price was good at $1428 total the duration at 32 hours was not. Once I added rooms to the trip the price got out of hand. ALthough I could see my DW and I taking a train somewhere for the experience and leaving the kids with some poor soul. Then I won't mind the 32 hours of getting to the destination and will definitely want the room!

 

[spima3]

Well, I priced the autotrain and we come up w/ $880 for the 4 of us, plus the car.

The same trip via air and we are over $1100.

It is more expensive for us to fly.

My guess would be most train riders have fear of flying and feel the train is easier than driving the whole way. Again, I may be totally wrong in guessing.
ymmv.

Well, not totally wrong, as I imagine there are people who fear flying so much they avoid it at all costs, but if you had read all the posts in this thread, there are people, us included, who LOVE train travel for it's own sake. It's not just the destination, but the journey.... that type of thing.

 

[2BOYMOM]

My guess would be most train riders have fear of flying and feel the train is easier than driving the whole way. Again, I may be totally wrong in guessing.

ymmv.

Nope. For us it is the price. PLUS the experience. I've never been on a real train so I'm really looking forward to it! Both our train trips will be all night so the time factor isn't really an issue with us either.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, I priced the autotrain and we come up w/ $880 for the 4 of us, plus the car.

The same trip via air and we are over $1100.

It is more expensive for us to fly.

Right, so when you say 'plus the car' you're right back up to what airfare costs. Maybe if I were a teacher and off all summer and could take a few weeks off I'd feel differently. I can only get a week at a time so I'd teleport there if I could.

 

[Dreamingin2010]

For us it is cheaper to take Amtrak. For our family of 6(2 adults, 4 children) it is $365 round trip in coach. To fly was over $1200. We could drive but would rather not.

 

[fers31]

For us it is cheaper to take Amtrak. For our family of 6(2 adults, 4 children) it is $365 round trip in coach. To fly was over $1200. We could drive but would rather not.

These prices seem way off. You're telling me it's $200 a ticket on the plane from NC and $60 for the train??? I know when I priced the train it was almost DOUBLE of what the flights cost (and this was just Amtrak without a car).

 

[ongomom2]

I also live in N.C. I am trying to talk my DH into taking the train. How'd you do it? He doesn't really want to drive and SW is around $893?

 

[Dreamingin2010]

These prices seem way off. You're telling me it's $200 a ticket on the plane from NC and $60 for the train??? I know when I priced the train it was almost DOUBLE of what the flights cost (and this was just Amtrak without a car).

It's accurate for coach seats. Add a sleeper and the price is much higher. RDU to MCO last time I priced it(a month ago) round trip was over $200 per person.

 

[dzorn]

I would take a train, but I don't have 4 extra days and twice the cost.

Denise in MI

 

[lisa-upnorth]

We love riding the rails!! Main reason we started was complete fear of planes.Cost does not matter to me-if the plane was a dollar, I would not get on it!!!
We have done coach and rooms and love the adventure! We do a 2 week disney vacation and the time spent on the train is mostly overnight ,so not that much time is lost. We have fun planning and seeing the sights from the train on the way down! there is no other way for us.
With all the fees I see planes charging I wonder why more aren't riding the rails BUT do see price changes in flights often that make flying more affordable. I think the coach seat ticket from the new england area to Orlando is about $90 one way BUT with that each traveler can bring on 2 suitcases and whatever they want to carry-on.

 

[skiingfast]

I also live in N.C. I am trying to talk my DH into taking the train. How'd you do it? He doesn't really want to drive and SW is around $893?

www.amtrak.com Just look at the routes or stations and find the closest one with you. North Carolina has a couple routes so it may be easier to drive to the one that goes direct to Florida rather than transfer trains.

 

[Dreamingin2010]

I also live in N.C. I am trying to talk my DH into taking the train. How'd you do it? He doesn't really want to drive and SW is around $893?

If you are near Raleigh there is a direct train to Florida. It leaves at night and arrives late morning. If you look at routes on amtrak it will show you all the stops. The train starts in NY I believe and ends in Miami? The Silver Star.