I paid $180 to sit in business class on a 9-hour Amtrak ride from Rochester to NYC. Next time, I'll stick to coach.
A traveler compares Amtrak coach and business class on a long-haul route between New York City and Rochester. The author concludes that the business class upgrade did not provide enough value to justify the higher cost.
Why it matters
It provides consumer insight into the value proposition of premium travel tiers on public transportation systems.
I took an Amtrak train to upstate New York. Samantha Pettyjohn/Business Insider I took a round-trip Amtrak journey from New York City to Rochester. I rode coach on the way there and business class on the way back so I could compare the two. I don't think my $180 business-class ticket was worth it for my trip upstate. In May of 2025, I was feeling a little stir crazy in New York City. I decided to take a quick break from the city's hustle and bustle to check out life upstate in Rochester, New York. Rather than schlepping to the airport, I took a more relaxing mode of transportation: an Amtrak train . I'm not an Amtrak newbie, but the ride upstate would be my longest to date. My journey to Rochester was scheduled to take seven hours, and the return was nine hours.
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