I upgraded to Amtrak's business class for $50. As nice as my 8-hour ride was, I'll probably stick with coach.NEWS | 04 April 2026When possible, I always choose to train travel over flying.
Even when the time commitment looks bigger on paper (a four-hour flight versus an eight-hour train ride), it's often counteracted by all the annoying processes flying entails, from checking luggage to moving through security screenings.
One of my most frequent train rides is aboard Amtrak's Pennsylvanian between my hometown in Western Pennsylvania and New York City, where I live now.
On my most recent eight-hour trip to NYC, I upgraded my seat from coach to business class. My one-way ticket cost $235, about $50 more than coach. Prices widely vary, though, I've seen these business-class seats cost double coach or just $30 more.
Here's what my experience was like.Author: Alexis Buncich. Source
