Amtrak long distance fares 2021-2023

[jis]

Most of them would snub at the idea of riding Amtrak as well.

If they happen to know of the existence of Amtrak that is Really! It is amazing how many people are completely floored to learn that there is a train service with beds in them that serve Orlando!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Most of them would snub at the idea of riding Amtrak as well.

Oh, they ride Amtrak alright - in sleepers.

 

[Sidney]

My point was mostly about the distance one could travel for that fare. I was not trying to make a fair comparison of service. As for Air India the last time I flew them was in 1980. Haven't touched their international service since then. Of course I have flow plenty of domestic legs and they are fine for those, mostly, though my preference these days is Vistara.

My trips to India, which happens annually when not prevented by pandemics, is usually by United nonstops in Polaris ( which is really a one stop with transit at Newark which is not currently restricted) or by one stop Lufthansa (Frankfurt/Munich) or Emirates (Dubai) Business Class. These one stops are currently not available due to pandemic restrictions.

In reality I would not pay $1800 for traveling to anywhere on the LSL either, nor would I pay $1800 to travel cross country by Amtrak in any class. Just not worth it.

Agree. If it ain't low bucket,I won't book it. Good to be retired and flexible(not dining)with different dates.

 

[Cal]

If they happen to know of the existence of Amtrak that is Really! It is amazing how many people are completely floored to learn that there is a train service with beds in them that serve Orlando!

I was telling my neighbor the other day about my upcoming trip to the Northeast and how we're taking the train home all the way from New York. She had no idea trains even went cross country, and was even more surprised to know we only had to take two different trains.

I wonder, if a survey is done, how many people know of Amtrak's network.

 

[west point]

These outrageous sleeper prices . If we were to take even a third of the posted last ditch fare would sleeper revenue be more than coach on that train ? Especially since coaches seem to be fewer on trains right now.

 

[Tennessee Traveler]

When talking about these prices, while the prices everyone is quoting if for ONE PERSON on the airlines, etc.; the price for Amtrak sleeping accommodations are the price for one if traveling alone, yet those prices are the total for 2 people in roomettes and up to 3 people in a bedroom with no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare.

 

[coventry801]

When talking about these prices, while the prices everyone is quoting if for ONE PERSON on the airlines, etc.; the price for Amtrak sleeping accommodations are the price for one if traveling alone, yet those prices are the total for 2 people in roomettes and up to 3 people in a bedroom with no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare.

Total of 2 people in a roomettes is usually 1/3 higher than traveling solo.

 

[Tennessee Traveler]

coventry801 stated: "Total of 2 people in a roomettes is usually 1/3 higher than traveling solo."

I understand why the cost of 2 people in roomettes is "usually 1/3 higher than traveling solo". That increase is the standard coach fare for the second person which I noted with this statement in my original post: "no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare."

 

[coventry801]

coventry801 stated: "Total of 2 people in a roomettes is usually 1/3 higher than traveling solo."

I understand why the cost of 2 people in roomettes is "usually 1/3 higher than traveling solo". That increase is the standard coach fare for the second person which I noted with this statement in my original post: "no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare."

Yes I'm aware of the statement. I was not saying you're wrong. My statement is a simple mathematical summary / complement on top of yours.

 

[Bonser]

My point was that Amtrak is not as nimble and innovative as a true for-profit company needs to be if a for-profit company is to survive.

It’s taken Amtrak a half of a century to become serious about building out corridors. And as of now it’s a thought and nothing more.

If you think that’s evidence that Amtrak is generally as nimble and innovative as a typical for-profit company, we will have to respectfully disagree.

Amtrak's purpose is different from a for profit company. Congress created it (and subsidizes it) to help serve our transportation needs. Yes, it's supposed to be self sustaining but that's not the same as a for profit company which is answerable to its shareholders. Amtrak is still answerable to Congress (presumably us).

 

[west point]

Sleeper fares must be supporting their trains. Revenue from sleepers higher than coach ?

 

[Brian Battuello]

Sleepers pull their weight revenue-wise, but remember that not all the rooms sold for $1800 plus. The folks that booked six months ago got a pretty good deal. You're only seeing the last one or two rooms, and they might not even sell at that price.

 

[Sidney]

Sleepers pull their weight revenue-wise, but remember that not all the rooms sold for $1800 plus. The folks that booked six months ago got a pretty good deal. You're only seeing the last one or two rooms, and they might not even sell at that price.

If nobody would pay that insane price Amtrak will hopefully lower it. Thing is if just one person pays,the price stays. A few months ago I noticed the Southwest Chief between Chi and Lax was $899 no matter what date I punched in. There were a few $623 low bucket Eastbound. I checked yesterday and I saw a few $623 prices back Westbound. Hopefully, few people are paying $899..and that's a one person roomette.

 

[zephyr17]

Yes, that is the way yield management is supposed to work. If anticipated demand doesn't develop, more inventory is assigned to lower price buckets.

The yield management folks apparently didn't see the sales they wanted at the 899 mid bucket, so put some inventory in the low, 623 bucket.

Looks like the process is operating as intended. It also shows that Amtrak is no longer always bringing inventory in initially at low bucket 11 months in advance, but is bringing in inventory using an optimistic (from their standpoint) projection of demand, then adjusting downwards if it doesn't develop.

 

[Brian Battuello]

And again recognizing the considerable differences, that is more like the way cruise ships do it. They started an average yield and then adjust the prices up or down depending on how actual sales go.

With cruise ships, if you can find a cruise that is significantly under booked, you can find a real deal even a few weeks before departure.

 

[MARC Rider]

To put some perspective on this, one should keep in mind that back in the 1870s, a one-way sleeper ticket between Omaha and Oakland sold for $100, which is about $2,000 in today's money. And, I believe you had to change trains in Ogden. And the whole journey took 4-7 days, depending on the weather and the moods of various outlaws, disgruntled Indians, buffalo herds, jerry-built infrastructure, etc. Also, the fare didn't include food, and maybe only one train a week had a dining car, which means one had to pay $1 (that's $20 in today's money) for every lousy meal choked down at meal stops whose facilities would probably be closed down by the order of any competent 21st century health inspector.

This is on top of whatever it cost to get from the east coast to Omaha, and for a while, the trains didn't cross the Missouri River there, and you had to take a ferry from Council Bluffs.

And more recently, from a December 1968 timetable:

Baltimore and Miami (Penn Central and Seaboard Coast Line)

coach fare $40.02 ($303.35 in 2121 $)
Sleeping car fare: $57.71 plus:
roomette $24.30 (total 82.01) ($621.63 in 2021 $))
bedroom $41.70 (99.41) ($753.45 in 2021 $)
compartment $44.75 ($102.46) ($776.55 in 2021 $)
Bedroom Suite $74.70 ($132.41) ($1,003.67 in 2021 $)
Drawing room $59.25 ($116.96) ($886.56 in 2021 $)

These fares did not include meals in the dining car, which may have cost between $7 and $50 in 2021 dollars.

I just did a search on amtrak.com for Baltmore-Miami fares departing on July 18.

Silver Star:
Coach $207 Value Fare, $345 Flexible fare
Roomette $1,614 (No bedrooms available, only 1 roomette available)

Silver Meteor:

Coach: Only flexible fare available ($345)
Roomette $656
Bedroom :$1,234.

Do the reservation for departures on August 22, and you get:

coach: $159 (both trains)
Roomette $552 Silver Star; no bedrooms available)
Roomette $487 Silver Meteor
Bedroom $1,234 Silver Meteor

Push your trip to September 19 and you can get a bedroom for $1,037 on the Meteor, and becomes available on the Star for $1,234.

In summary, I would say that even this summer's inflated Amtrak prices, even with flex dining are a better deal than riding the Overland Limited in the 1870s, and, for the most part, they're a better deal than riding the Seaboard Coast Line in 1968, though I will concede that the food on the SCL was probably a lot better. And there was also no yield management uptick in fares due to high season crowding. But that only means that off season Amtrak fares, purchased in advance, are a definite bargain compared to the Seaboard Coast Line.

The real exception seems to be in fares for single people occupying bedrooms, though I'm not sure how a modern bedroom compares to the choices available in 1968.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I can't afford those Fares, then or now! Flying is lots cheaper ( especially Southwest Airlines) even with the hassles involved.

It's good you mentioned the Food being better in the old days,as was the Service( remember Amtrak Diners were a la carte up until the 90s), and as for the Comparisons between Heritage Sleepers and Amtraks current equipment,the bedding was much better, and the Sections and Slumber Coaches gave you a more affordable option .

Lots of us have had the pleasure of riding the Canadian with the Budd equipment and the better food and service, it's the closest thing to the Super Chief that I rode as a kid.

I will say that I much prefer the Viewliner Roomettes over the Superliner ones, and of course the Superliner Bedrooms are a nice Luxuy if you can afford one.( I've never ridden in a regular Viewliner I Bedroom,nor the New II,except for the H Room on the Is, which I consider the Best Sleeping Car Room that Amtrak offers.

 

[MARC Rider]

Flying is lots cheaper

That's part of the problem here.

 

[Qapla]

I don't care how the prices compare to any other time period, adjusted for inflation or not - fact is, right now, at current rates and current living finances ... I can't afford to ride sleepers everywhere I want to go on a train.

The price gap between coach and sleeper is just too great to justify the addition expense when I will need that money when I get to my destination

As long as there are people willing to pay the overinflated costs of the sleepers people like me will just have to ride coach or seek other forms of transportation

 

[dlagrua]

When talking about these prices, while the prices everyone is quoting if for ONE PERSON on the airlines, etc.; the price for Amtrak sleeping accommodations are the price for one if traveling alone, yet those prices are the total for 2 people in roomettes and up to 3 people in a bedroom with no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare.

When I did my comparison on our first class air fare to Arizona (United) $1600 was the full cost of the R/T for my wife and myself. The Amtrak bedroom fare for two was over $5,000. That's just too high a price to pay for second class accommodations. First Class rail to me would be equivalent to what Orient Express service was like..

 

[MARC Rider]

Flying is lots cheaper

In 1970, when I started flying to look at colleges, a one-way airline ticket between Philadelphia and Chicago was $55, or the equivalent of $382 in today's money. That was for coach, and coach service was good enough that you didn't really need to bother with first class unless you just wanted to do some conspicuous consumption or didn't want to associate with the riff-raff. Back then, even though wages and salaries were generally higher than they are now, these prices really meant that most people couldn't afford to fly, or more likely, they flew much more infrequently than they did now, unless they were flying for business. This was personally true for me; our family was pretty well off, but we hardly ever took a family vacation that involved airplanes. Most of the time it was "pack up the car, let's drive to Maine and rent a cabin." Come to think of it, we hardly ever ate out in restaurants, either.

I think airline deregulation was a huge mistake, specifically because it achieved its goal -- cheaper airline fares. That meant more people were flying, which has turned out to not be such a good thing for a number of reasons. First, of course, it means that the service you get on these cheap flights is lousy. You can get good service, but the fares are so high that most people just can't afford it. Second, is that the airports and planes are crowded, and the entire experience is much more unpleasant than it used to be. Third, service to smaller cities has been severely cut back. Finally, the vastly number of increased flights means more pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and more transmission of disease as more and more people are traveling long distances. I've read that emissions from jet engines at the cruising altitudes of 30,000 ft. have a much more negative impact on air quality, global warming, and such than emissions on the ground.

Not to entirely pick on airplanes as a source of pollution. All transportation emits nasty stuff, and the world's increasing population means that even with technological improvements min emissions reductions, the emissions are going to increase. Probably if we're really serious about climate change, were going to have reduce mobility in general, but I can't see how that is possible in a democratic society. Maybe something like a carbon tax, riding the bad emitters will cost you more, but I'm not sure that Amtrak LD trains would fare so well, at least as long as they're being hauled by Tier 0 P-42s.

 

[Tennessee Traveler]

Tennessee Traveler said: When talking about these prices, while the prices everyone is quoting if for ONE PERSON on the airlines, etc.; the price for Amtrak sleeping accommodations are the price for one if traveling alone, yet those prices are the total for 2 people in roomettes and up to 3 people in a bedroom with no increase for the second and third passengers other than their coach fare. When I did my comparison on our first class air fare to Arizona (United) $1600 was the full cost of the R/T for my wife and myself. The Amtrak bedroom fare for two was over $5,000. That's just too high a price to pay for second class accommodations. First Class rail to me would be equivalent to what Orient Express service was like.. Such a quote of $5000 is simply out of the realm of acceptable and prior to this summer unheard of even on Amtrak. My maximum budget for roomettes is in the $600 price range and a bedroom would be under $1400 and I do not consider the $800 extra cost for a bedroom desirable nor justified for me. As a solo traveler the bedrooms are less desirable since the sofa can face either forward or backward since in every other room the sofa faces opposite directions and since the bedrooms are over the downstairs bathrooms and next to the adjacent room's toliet, there is always chance of toliet smells which I have experienced. I suggest we all hold off reserving any room in the current $5000 realm since that is not value selling, it is pent up demand for people who will pay any price after COVID confinement. Hopefully we will survive the "bid any price" mentality we have now.

 

[neroden]

Maybe something like a carbon tax, riding the bad emitters will cost you more, but I'm not sure that Amtrak LD trains would fare so well, at least as long as they're being hauled by Tier 0 P-42s.

Thankfully they're being replaced with Tier 4 ALC-42s, which should put Amtrak in a pretty comfortable position in terms of emissions.

 

[niemi24s]

The previous fare increases noticed occurred sometime around April, 2021. Now the fares for Family Bedrooms and Bedrooms have increased again as seen during a few spot checks of the TE, SWC and CZ today.

For SWC and TE high bucket Bedrooms:
• 1 Adult fares were $2137, 2173 and 2233
• Increases were 2.6 and 2.8%

For SWC and TE low bucket Bedrooms:
• 1 Adult fares were $1013, 1029 and 1052
• Increases were 1.6 and 2.1%

For CZ high bucket Bedrooms:
• 1 Adult fares were $2108, 2202 and 2261
• Increases were 4.5 and 2.7%

For CZ low bucket Bedrooms:
• 1 Adult fares were $966, 1015 and 1039
• Increases were 5.1 and 2.4%

On the bright side, Coach and Roomette fares have remained constant through these last two increases.

Let the pissing and moaning begin!

 

[Exvalley]

Supply and demand. What more can you say.