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I think it safe assumption that one criticism of the Amtrak Coach LD product never heard is "outlandish" fares.
While there could well be conjecture on this point, I do not think Sleeper fares are outlandish; they simply are "priced to market", and for a single traveler, they are quite competitive with 'sane' auto travel, i.e. hotel for overnights after each ten hours of driving vice a 'few winks' at a truckstop.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Desert Spirit.. I am with you. My flying days are over!!I am not going to pay to be the fifteenth sardine in a can built for twelve, in a seat with my knees up around my chin, squeezed in between 2 others and to top it off the seat in front of me pushed back into my lap. That is if we get off the ground and don't have to spend 2 days in the airport. I don't do sleeping on the floor any more.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I absolutely agree. Being what they call a "passenger of size", I have to pay for 2 seats on a plane. Not going to happen. And with Amtrak's seats wider than a plane, that's a huge comfort. I'd sooner take Amtrak than fly anymore.
Posts: 23 | From: Spokane, WA | Registered: Jun 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Rick Morris: I absolutely agree. Being what they call a "passenger of size", I have to pay for 2 seats on a plane. Not going to happen. And with Amtrak's seats wider than a plane, that's a huge comfort. I'd sooner take Amtrak than fly anymore.
I am not a small person by any means (6'4" , 295 lbs) and have not yet been classified as a 'passenger of size'.
I feel like that's pretty much a subjective label depending on who is making the call and I am concerned that sooner or later an airline ticket clerk is going to demand double payment in order to let me on a plane. If/when that does happen it's unlikely that I'll bring myself to fly again short of absolute neccessity.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tonight's news broadcast showed people sleeping all over the floors and chairs in various airports. The terrible ice storms have forced many flight cancellations and people are stranded. They shoulda taken the trains
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by train lady: Tonight's news broadcast showed people sleeping all over the floors and chairs in various airports. The terrible ice storms have forced many flight cancellations and people are stranded. They shoulda taken the trains
If they had taken the trains, not only would they have been able to get where they wanted to go, but they would've saved money, too---the fare costs less (in some cases, *a lot* less).
Posts: 100 | From: Kernersville, NC | Registered: Oct 2007
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Well, I'm not sure I wholly agree with the above. At 5'10" and 260, I'm not skinny, but I fit into a plane seat. And if I want to go from PHL to BOS, I can do it for less than $100 RT on Airtran or about $160 on Amtrak -- and Airtran takes 1:15 while Amtrak takes six hours if it's on time.
As for ice storms, we had them here last winter. They brought down signal cables and my 1:45 trip from PHL to WAS on Amtrak took more than three hours.
Posts: 614 | From: Merchantville, NJ. USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Airtran is one of the carriers I look at when I need to fly. I like that they have non-stop flights from Charlotte to both BWI and Chicago Midway......and on Boeing 717's. Not big planes but big enough. The small regional jets are very uncomfortable for me.....and that starts the instant I board since I can't even walk down the aisle without ducking.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Be that as it may if you had an airline ticket you could have spent several days and nights in the airport. Instead you spent 3 hours on a warm train.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by train lady: Be that as it may if you had an airline ticket you could have spent several days and nights in the airport. Instead you spent 3 hours on a warm train.
Add to that the two hours (+/-) spent at the airport prior to boarding, not having to remove your shoes, belt, pocket change, etc to board, not having the contents of your carry-on items publicy displayed during the search....yep, add me to the train only list! Doubtful Delta will miss me much anyway.
Posts: 21 | From: Huntington, WV USA | Registered: Aug 2002
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