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I feel very similar to you. My family took an overnight Amtrak from Albany to Chicago. We got a full sleeper room which ranges from $500-$1000 per person per ro

I feel very similar to you. My family took an overnight Amtrak from Albany to Chicago. We got a full sleeper room which ranges from $500-$1000 per person per room, which is certainly more expensive than a flight, and I recognize it's a privilege that we can afford it. That being said, it was far more enjoyable than flying. It left Albany at 7pm and the kids (3 and 5) were beyond thrilled to be on a train. Laying back and watching the sun set as I watched America go by in the window was beautiful and romantic. The beds were fine. And on top of that it has a dramatically lower (close to an order of magnitude) carbon footprint, something I believe you need to care about if you have kids. I understand that this won't work for everyone in every scenario but I do think it's great option that people should consider more.

linuxftw 3y ago
$1k/ticket you can easily fly 1st class for that amount, usually less. I can't imagine making this type of trade off.
- thinkingtoilet 3y ago
  $1k is on the high end, if you were traveling Dec. 23rd or something like that. The last time I did this the price was $680 per person, which again is more expensive than a flight, but for me was totally worth it and so much more enjoyable than a flight I don't know if I'll ever fly home again. However, to each their own. I fully understand this isn't for everyone.
  - Shish2k 3y ago
    > this the price was $680 per person What in tarnation is up with American rail?? Picking random routes spanning the EU, I’m seeing things like a 15 hour sleeper journey costing €100 for a private sleeper cabin (or €16 for one bed in a shared 6-person cabin)
- amluto 3y ago
  For most short-to-medium-length flights, first class merely upgrades you from a seat that is massively larger than a small child to a seat that is even more massively larger than the child. You’re still stuck on a plane with a fasten seatbelt lights for exactly the same amount of time. (Maybe longer because first class often comes with early boarding.)
- jochem9 3y ago
  One of the things that needs to change is that the pricing becomes more reasonable. I believe that the US has terrible passenger rail, so it makes sense for things to be overly expensive, but in Europe this is a major problem too. One fair fix would be to start taxing flying more (e.g. fuel is untaxed right now) and actually give tax benefits to trains.

linuxftw 3y ago

$1k/ticket you can easily fly 1st class for that amount, usually less. I can't imagine making this type of trade off.

thinkingtoilet 3y ago
$1k is on the high end, if you were traveling Dec. 23rd or something like that. The last time I did this the price was $680 per person, which again is more expensive than a flight, but for me was totally worth it and so much more enjoyable than a flight I don't know if I'll ever fly home again. However, to each their own. I fully understand this isn't for everyone.
- Shish2k 3y ago
  > this the price was $680 per person What in tarnation is up with American rail?? Picking random routes spanning the EU, I’m seeing things like a 15 hour sleeper journey costing €100 for a private sleeper cabin (or €16 for one bed in a shared 6-person cabin)
amluto 3y ago
For most short-to-medium-length flights, first class merely upgrades you from a seat that is massively larger than a small child to a seat that is even more massively larger than the child. You’re still stuck on a plane with a fasten seatbelt lights for exactly the same amount of time. (Maybe longer because first class often comes with early boarding.)
jochem9 3y ago
One of the things that needs to change is that the pricing becomes more reasonable. I believe that the US has terrible passenger rail, so it makes sense for things to be overly expensive, but in Europe this is a major problem too. One fair fix would be to start taxing flying more (e.g. fuel is untaxed right now) and actually give tax benefits to trains.