Amtrak is now offering business class seats on the Coast Starlight. For those who book on line trying to find the offer will only find it after going thru 3 levels of preminum service. That is roomette, bedroom, delux bedroom then business class is then listed. Note BC cost only a few dollars more than the flexible coach price.
With no publicity and the location of the service being burried how can BC be properly sold ?
Note: If all rooms are sold then the business class shows up on preminum first.
Streak, I seen the sequence as Roomette, Family Room, and Bedroom. I haven't looked at the Coast Starlight recently, so I was unaware of the offering of the Business class on this train--perhaps it gives one a seat in the Pacific Parlour Car? If so, that would make it unpopular with sleeper passengers who enjoy sitting in the overstuffed chairs in that car--I have seen those empty early in the morning and then full through most of the rest of the day.
Incidentally, if you need accomodations in an Acessible room, you have to ask for such since the site does not show that (though I once was given that room from New Orleans to Chicago without my asking for it since it was the only space left in the car the day I traveled).
Johnny
blue streak 1With no publicity and the location of the service being buried how can BC be properly sold ?
I'm not sure how 'business class' fits into a slow, tourist oriented route. Can't remember many positive reports of Internet and cell-phone availability once you get north of Santa Barbara away from Hwy 101. At any rate here are some of the BC details:
"On the Coast Starlight, you'll also get two bottles of water and a $6.00 food and beverage coupon you can use to enjoy a meal or snack in the Diner, Lounge or Parlour Car. You'll have access to the Parlour Car to enjoy the popular wine tastings, for a small fee. When it's time to get back to business, stay connected with free Amtrak Connect Wi-Fi access."
All this for a ~46% fare premium over 'value' but less than 'flexible', at least for the days I checked. Hmmm.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Maybe there are some coach seats set aside for this--unless there are some unsold roomettes. The "small fee" for the wine tasting was $7.00 when I traveled from Seattle to Sacramento a little over a week ago. When I looked for acommodations from Seattle 12 June (the day before I left), all I saw were roomette, family room, and bedroom. I was able to get the last bedroom--A in the penultimate car (the first A I had ridden in since the spring of 1989; it is smaller than the other bedrooms--but it is a bedroom. I also had A at the rear of the last car from Sacramento to here; I did not notice any more movement that I had noticed in a bedroom closer to the center of the car). Perhaps the "business class" is available for day travel only?
I just looked at the Newswire--and found an item about the Business Class service--seats are reserved in what has been the video games section of the Parlour. This is an experiment that will run through September.
I don't see that the perks are entirely that great but just my point of view. They should do what Grand Canyon Railway does and forbid kids in this section, then maybe add a baggage handling service using the red caps to get your luggage from the baggage claim and deliver it via cab or to your car. Those two items would be nice additions to the amenities.
Why a Business Class? How many business folks are going to ride a train for 12 to 23 to 35 hours? Seriously?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimmWhy a Business Class? How many business folks are going to ride a train for 12 to 23 to 35 hours? Seriously?
I believe it is targeted more at point to point customers otherwise the seating section dedicated to business class would be a lot larger.
So say for example LA to SFO and quite a few ride that train just for that segment.
CMStPnP schlimm Why a Business Class? How many business folks are going to ride a train for 12 to 23 to 35 hours? Seriously? I believe it is targeted more at point to point customers otherwise the seating section dedicated to business class would be a lot larger. So say for example LA to SFO and quite a few ride that train just for that segment.
schlimm Why a Business Class? How many business folks are going to ride a train for 12 to 23 to 35 hours? Seriously?
The times I cited were point to point. More examples: LA to San Jose: 10 hours; LA to Oakland: 11 hr, 14 min. (+ bus or taxi transfer to SF); SFO to Portland: 18 hr. 22 min. One should also add in tranfer time to starting point train station.
How many businessmen would spend 12 hours of a working day riding a train(LA to SF) when they could drive it in 5:46 to 6:00 hrs. or fly in 1 hr. 10 min. (add in transfer/security time to/from airports)?
schlimmThe times I cited were point to point. More examples: LA to San Jose: 10 hours; LA to Oakland: 11 hr, 14 min. (+ bus or taxi transfer to SF); SFO to Portland: 18 hr. 22 min. One should also add in tranfer time to starting point train station. How many businessmen would spend 12 hours of a working day riding a train(LA to SF) when they could drive it in 5:46 to 6:00 hrs. or fly in 1 hr. 10 min. (add in transfer/security time to/from airports)?
I know what your saying but I would answer this more than a few but probably less than a LOT. I used to fly every single week until I found this great company recently that allows me to work from home and only travel occassionally. Week to week travel I was definitely looking at alternatives even if they took longer like driving, train and possibly even bus.
I have taken more than one trip where I flew in to Philadelphia then boarded Amtrak for DC because I liked the flight times better. One time pondered Amtrak from Buffalo to Chicago overnight. Repeatedly drove to Toledo and rode the Capitol Limited into Chicago then transferred to a Milwaukee train at Union Station.....did that when I worked for GM because I loved watching the sun rise in the Dome Car of the Capital Limited as it rolled West. So thats what I have done on business trips. Capitol Limited with layover in Chicago takes up some time......I don't know if it is 10 hours though.
Ridden the Texas Eagle about 5 times already from Dallas to Chicago and back (and onto Milwaukee) but it was liesure.
Now I have another consulting trip comming up. I'll probably have to carpool with someone else but it it was me traveling alone it would be Trinity Railway Express to Ft. Worth.........cross platform transfer to the Heartland Flyer to OKC.
Businessmen probably aren’t the target of the business class promotion. If it’s a famous scenic train ride, anyone with vacation time and disposable income might be induced to try it, as a life experience, a luxury, a treat.
Business class has a "soft launch", which is to say it is NOT being marketed. Intetionally. The idea is to start it, work the kinks out, then announce that the service has started and begin marketing it.
wanswheelBusinessmen probably aren’t the target of the business class promotion.
Is that an example of Amtrak marketing logic?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.