I ve been using the All Aboard(now Explore)America plan for ten years. The price keeps rising. I just booked a trip for next summer using the full cross country plan and it is now $429. AAA takes off 10%.It still is the most economical way to go. With allthe different routes I will be taking, I figured itwould cost well over $700 if I booked from point A to point B.I never see the Explore America fare advertised. A few years ago, the three regions were split into four,adding Florida. The Eastern region used to include anywhere from Boston to Florida heading west to Chicago or New Orleans. Now the Eastern region does not include Florida and goes as far West as Cincinnati.
Amtrak pricing is very complex.Does anybody have any answer to their pricing on the sleepers? For example,I ll be heading from Chicago to Los Angeles on the Texas Eagle. From Chicago to Palm Springs its $192..I've checked..this is the biggest bargain in the Amtrak system.The next stop down the line is Ontraio, a mere 90 minutes and the price jumps to $322. Of course I ll relinquish my sleeper in Palm Springs and happily ride coach the last few hours to LA. What reasoning for the jumpin price and why would anybody spend $130 more if they don t have to for a few more hours in a sleeper? Of course a lot of people probably don t check the prices beforehand and just ask the agent for the rate between Chicago and LA and accepts it.
Having a sleeper on the train is one of the great vacation experiences and I booked on the Texas Eagle from Chicago to LA,instead of the Southwest Chief,which is one less night and twice as much. The train isthe vacation and I allot my time to maximize my train experience as well as saving as much money as I can.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
