Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
For the most part it isn't. Go check a AmTrak ticket price from ATL-SEA then compare it to DAL, AS, and AAI (direct flights) If it is more it is the first time it has been that way in a long time.
This was entertaining:
You're planning a trip, Monday next week (Oct 4) through 5pm Friday (Oct 8) from Atlanta to SFO.
4 Choices:
1. Delta Direct - $476 round trip, all direct. Leaves at 3pm on the 4th and then leaves SFO at 1040pm.
2. AirTran - $545 round trip, but you have to leave by noon. If you come back on Saturday, $342!!!!!!! However, DAL is offering $377 and gets you back by 135pm. Of course, you can leave earlier on AirTran but it'll cost you $426 and you get back by 2pm. Boy, that AirTran is really putting pressure on Delta isn't it?
3. SWA - drive 2 hrs to BHM then BHM to MDW to SFO - $888 but the problem is you have to come back the next morning if you really need to work until 5pm Friday. SO... your choices are $888 coming back at 1220pm and connecting in PHX. Or you can do the super web sale, that is a good bit cheaper, and thats $352 coming back on Friday at 1220 or $446 if you come back on the 620am flight Saturday morning and make 2 stops arriving at BHM at 430pm, or $194 if you leave at 950am and make 1 stop and arrive at 650pm in BHM. Then drive 2 hours home.
4. AMTRAK - Best deal yet, $349... oh wait, multiply by 2, $700. You go ATL to Washington DC to Chicago to Emeryville CA and bus from there. 95 hours travel time. And they're sold out on the sleeper cars which run around $300 more. So if there had been a sleeper car you're looking around $650ish...
ONE WAY!!! So now its 95 hours in a seat. ALLL ABOARD.