I booked a roomette and a first-class seat on Amtrak trains. The cheaper ride was way more comfortable.
A travel reporter compares the experience and value of an Amtrak roomette on a long-haul route versus a first-class seat on the Acela corridor. The author finds the cheaper, longer overnight trip to be more comfortable and better value than the expensive, short-duration first-class ticket.
Why it matters
It highlights the pricing discrepancies and value propositions within Amtrak's diverse service offerings, helping travelers make more informed booking decisions.
Business Insider's reporter traveled in a roomette and a first-class seat on Amtrak trains. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I booked a $400 roomette for a 15-hour Amtrak ride from Colorado to Utah in January 2025. I booked a $450 first-class ticket for a three-hour ride from Washington, DC, to NYC in September 2025. I was shocked that the first-class seat cost more than the overnight ride in a private cabin. When I saw how much a first-class ticket on the Amtrak Acela train cost, I had to book it. This was in September 2025. At $450 for a three-hour trip up the East Coast, it was $50 more than the private cabin I booked for a 15-hour journey from Colorado to Utah in January 2025. The steep price point would probably deter the average person.
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