Train Review: Amtrak Acela First Class
Last week I headed to Delaware from New York City and decided to take Amtrak. A few days prior when I knew what my itinerary for the day was going to be, I checked out the fares on Amtrak from New York Penn Station into Wilmington, DE. It's a pretty painless trip that takes just under an hour and a half (and skips most of New Jersey), but I of course wanted to try out the different classes of service on the train, so I booked different classes in each direction.
Using the Amtrak iPhone app, which I found to have a pretty user-friendly interface, I purchased a first class ticket on the 10am Acela Express and a business class ticket on the Northeast Regional heading back to NYC at 3:34pm. The Acela Express only offers business and first class while only coach and business class are offered on all other Amtrak trains.
On the morning Acela Express train, business class seats were going for $138 each and you would have to pay an additional $78 to be bumped up to first class for a total of $216. For my return on the afternoon train, coach seats were $105 per person and an extra $30 to get a business seat for a total of $135. As I said, I opted for first class on the way to Wilmington and business class on the way home costing $351 roundtrip - which is actually a bit expensive for a quick trip down the east coast for the day, but still the best option for me since renting a car would have taken a lot more time and flying wasn't a convenient or time-saving option either.
I arrived at Penn Station pretty close to departure so I didn't have much extra time and ended up booking it to the train. But if I'd had a bit more time, I would have swung by the ClubAcela lounge in Penn Station that's exclusive to first class passengers. ClubAcela lounges can also be found in Boston South Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Washington, DC Union Station. First class passengers also enjoy premium amenities onboard and complimentary onboard food and beverage services.
The ride was comfortable and the time passed quickly because of the extra amenities available in first class, like breakfast and drinks service, and I pretty much just hung out in the club car the whole ride. Although I didn't order breakfast on the way there, I was impressed by the options on the first class dining menu. For a starter you could have a breakfast biscuit and then you had a choice of a Basque Spanish Omelet with chorizo sausage, bell peppers and onions in a tomato sauce, a traditional Belgian Waffle, cereal and a bagel or a fruit plate with pineapple, melon, cantaloupe, vanilla yogurt and gluten free granola. There was also complimentary coffee and tea as well as cold beverages including apple, orange or cranberry juice and spring or sparkling water.
When I arrived at the Wilmington station to get on the train home I was told my train had been cancelled. I needed to get back for an event I was attending that evening so I hopped on the next Acela train and got a seat in first class though I had to shell out an extra $125 - bringing my trip cost to $476! Needless to say I wasn't thrilled - since I can fly from New York to Miami for about half that price, or even a roundtrip to/from Los Angeles for less than that.
However, to me it was worth it because I was able to get a more comfortable seat and the complimentary food and beverage services which I took advantage of.
I was starving, and figured I might as well make the most of it, so on my return trip I did order from the menu which offered a snack as well as entrees like spanish tapas, Thai chicken, salmon guajillo and a sunflower and goat cheese salad. The tapas consisted of chorizo sausage, manchego cheese, manzanillo olives, roasted tomatoes, spicy almonds and grilled pita bread. The salmon dish was a filet of salmon served over a pineapple sauce with brown rice and a summerberry parfait was also available for dessert. Everything sounded pretty tasty and was a much better menu than I had expected.
I decided on the Thai chicken entree and though ti was delicious, with soba noodles, shiitake mushrooms and edamame beans in a coconut-curry sauce. was pleased with the portion size and flavor of the dish. The Thai Chicken came in a bowl along with edamame beans and shitake mushrooms over soba noodles with a coconut curry sauce.
Overall my Amtrak experience was very pleasant and easy to book - I thought the first class service was a really nice way to travel and it made getting to/from New York quick and easy since Amtrak operates out of Penn Station in the heart of Manhattan, so it's quicker than getting out to one of the airports or having to rent a car in the city and navigate one of the tunnels or bridges. Some Amtrak trains also stop at Newark and in Philadelphia, you can link from 30th Street Station to the airport on SEPTA, so it could be a good option for folks who need to catch a flight from an airport in a different east coast city from the one in which they're based.
That said, the price of my ticket was rather high, even though it was in premium classes, and I don't think that I got $476 worth of service or convenience, but in a pinch, it definitely worked for me.
On the upside, I did get to take part in Amtrak's fall promotion, Double Days, which has been extended through November 22, 2013, and was able to earn double points on my travel so that lessened the blow a bit. Normally Amtrak Guest Rewards members earn 2 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel, 500 points on an Acela business class trip or 750 points on each first class trip so a 50% increase is a decent bonus. If you're planning on any Amtrak travel in the near future be sure to register for the promotion and travel before November 22nd!
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.