exvalley wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:47 pm
SouthernRailway wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 11:59 am
I can fly from LGA to DCA or BOS on American and get same-day ticket changes for FREE if I'm in paid first class, and if I bought a coach ticket, FREE standby on earlier or later flights. I almost always am able to go standby on whatever flight I want, too.
Exactly my point. If you pay for first class on American you can get a same-day ticket change for free. In other words, you get something of value in exchange for paying the higher fare.
As far as standby and coach tickets are concerned, American charges a fee of $75 to fly standby, which is an important detail. Their rules are here: https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/ext ... travel.jsp
Generally speaking, airline ticketing rules are more strict than Amtrak. So you may not want to cite the airlines as the example for Amtrak to follow if you don't like restrictions.
My take on this is very simple. If you pay more you should get more. Amtrak is trying to add value to the more expensive tickets, which seems more than fair.
Again, missing the point I think.
The main reason why airline style fees are not the right move are various:
A) not all airlines are the same
B) american is garbage so why mimic a trash airline. Not sure why anyone other than business class would fly them. High prices, surly customer services, unfriendly policies. Theres a reason southwest carries more people domestically I suppose.
C) trains arent planes, specifically people use them differently. Flights arent competing with cars and buses, trains are.
D) by riding amtrak you've already paid more. Since you can afford more, you can afford options.why get nickel and dimed when you can save money and drive or take the bus
E) by riding the acela you will save time and will have trains held in order to get you to your destination
I actually referenced another train company. Those types of policies are often associated with low fares.
For example, I will be flying to the carribean in a couple weeks for 20 bucks more than the price of a walkup ticket to ny tomorrow. I dont expect any extras on that trip. If I pay amtraks fare to ny, which at its absolute cheapest, is still three times the bus, i expect the train to be fast, clean, on time, and flexible. There's a reason amtrak performs poorly in the overall travel market and it is because they can't deliver on what people want out of train service. I'd also be surprised if this ends up generating more revenue than it costs unless this is a precursor to the low fare all stops service.