1. The AAA discount.

I booked my one-way ticket from DC to NYC yesterday. The actual price of the ticket was $98.00, but I only paid $88.20 because of my AAA discount. On a last minute fare.

2. The leg room.

Even in coach class, I am stretched out, reclined, have plenty of space for my backpack on the ground in front of me, my luggage overhead... It just doesn't compare to the two square feet made available on a USAirways flight. Thank god.

3. The power adapter.

Every single set of seats in coach class has a 120v power adapter. For those of us still behind in the times with a normal cell phone (sans BlackBerry/iPhone), this works well for people like myself who want to do some writing on the computer instead.

4. The wireless internet.

In existence on some trains, mostly Acela Express at this point, but Amtrak hopes to expand wireless service over time.

5. Security processes.

There are none. They glance at your ticket and you're on your way. No one rifling through your bags, no one fondling you with a metal detector, no air jets detecting you for bomb goodies... You just simply board. the. train.

6. On-time service.

It is now 8:19am. Nine minutes ago, my train departed Union Station, DC on-time, at 8:10am. There is no hold up, no wait time to get other trains out in front of you, no international push on Sunday night, no weather delays, you just go - and the majority of the time, on-time.

7. Timing.

Got to the station this morning at 7:35am. My train, again, was scheduled to depart at 8:10am. I checked in at the kiosk at 7:40am, walked down to my gate, waited for about twenty minutes, and boarded the train. Ah-ma-zing. I didn't have to get up two hours earlier, to wait in line at check-in, to wait in line for security, to wait in line to board. None of that.

8. Total travel time.

It took about 35 minutes to get from Alexandria to Union Station. 20 minutes waiting time, 3 hours and 8 minutes travel time to Penn station. Total travel time into Manhattan, 4 hours 3 minutes, give or take a few. If I had flown from Reagan to LGA, how long would it have taken? About the same amount of time, plus the cost of taxi from LGA, plus waking up three hours earlier to arrive at the airport for the obligatory 'two hours early' for check in (which, I realize, almost no one does anymore). Lame.


It has its imperfections... and yet I still almost prefer it to flying these days. What do you think Amtrak can do to improve its services for you?

Labels: business, customer service, review, travel