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I rode in business class and coach on Amtrak trains. The upgrade is only worth paying for on certain trips.

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I rode in business class and coach on Amtrak trains. The upgrade is only worth paying for on certain trips.

Amanda sitting on Amtrak.
I compared Amtrak's coach and business class to see which I'd prefer.

Amanda Shammas

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  • I rode business class one way and coach the other on an Amtrak between New Jersey and Boston.
  • The seats themselves didn't have any noticeable differences and were both decently comfortable.
  • However, boarding was smoother in business class, and the ride felt more peaceful and private.

One day, I was sipping coffee and stretching my legs in Amtrak's business class. Two days later, I was touching knees with strangers and cleaning red wine off my pants in coach.

On a recent trip from New Jersey to Boston, I booked business class on the way there and coach on the way back.

The price gap was hard to ignore — $226 vs. $80, a $146 difference for the same five-hour ride on Amtrak's Northeast Regional.

It felt like a splurge, but I had just paid about that much to upgrade a recent flight from basic economy to economy, so I assumed it was standard for a travel upgrade.

Still, I was skeptical. The seats looked the same, with the same tray tables, recline, and similar legroom.

But I soon realized that the difference wasn't the furniture; it was the experience. And under the right conditions, business class just might be worth it.

Boarding for my business-class ride was a smooth process, and my seat had been pre-selected.
The colorful sunrise outside an Amtrak window.

Amanda Shammas

My business-class ride departed from Newark Penn Station on a Sunday at 6 a.m.

I arrived early, and boarding was simple. I entered near the middle of the train and made my way to the first car, where the business-class section was located.

While the rest of the train was decently busy, my train car was noticeably quieter, with only a couple of passengers other than me. It stayed this way for the entire trip.

I made my way to the assigned seat I had pre-selected during booking, and I started my journey with a sunrise.

In contrast, passengers were competing for seats during boarding in coach class.
An Amtrak train pulled up to the tracks at the station.

Amanda Shammas

Boarding the coach ride was a completely different experience, though it turned out to be an interesting one.

My train was scheduled to depart from Boston South Station at 5:30 p.m. I arrived a little early but wasn't sure where to go, so I asked an attendant for help.

Instead of just pointing me in the right direction, he called over a coworker and kindly asked him to pre-board me so I didn't miss my train.

I boarded and chose a window seat next to an outlet and right behind the bathroom.

After I got settled, I looked through the window and saw a growing line of passengers being held behind a rope on the platform. Then, as soon as the rope was removed, chaos erupted.

People ran toward the train, rushing in through every door. I even witnessed a woman yelling at someone for pushing her.

It felt like a hectic scramble for the best seats, which were all first-come, first-served — a far cry from the pre-selected seating offered in business class.

In that moment, I felt incredibly grateful for the attendant who had stepped in to help, as he'd saved me from a wild boarding experience and a fight for a good seat.

I appreciated how business class offered a curtain to block out the sunlight.
A window curtain on an Amtrak ride.

Amanda Shammas

I appreciated that business class had a curtain on the window to block out any sunlight.

It was a nice option for my morning ride after the sun had risen, and I liked being able to control the amount of light coming through.

My coach seat didn't have this feature. I didn't need one during my ride since the sun was almost entirely set when I started my journey, but if I were traveling during the day or early morning, the option would've been appreciated.

However, the seats themselves felt pretty much the same to me.
A business-class seat and a coach-class seat on Amtrak.

Amanda Shammas

According to Amtrak, the average coach seat measures 23 inches in width, and though its website doesn't provide exact measurements for business-class seats, they are described as "wide and comfortable."

I expected business class to feel noticeably more spacious, with more room between rows or gaps between the seats. However, the seats felt pretty much the same to me.

If there were any differences, it wasn't obvious. Both seats seemed decently sized, had a bit of bounce, and were reasonably comfortable.

They both reclined decently far back, and there was no divider or buffer between them in either class, which I was surprised about. I'd have hoped for a bit more space between seats in business class.

The tray tables also seemed to be the same size.
A tray table on Amtrak with a laptop on it.

Amanda Shammas

The tray tables on each ride appeared to be the same size. I tested them by placing my laptop on them each time, and they offered just enough space for that and not much more.

They were fine for holding a drink or watching TV, but they weren't practical for getting real work done.

The café cars had booth-style seating, which seemed more suitable for work, but I didn't end up using it.

I did feel like business class gave me more room to stretch out my legs.
The legroom in business class vs. coach class.

Amanda Shammas

According to Amtrak, business class seats offer about 42 inches of legroom and come equipped with a dropdown footrest behind each seat.

On my morning ride, I had no one seated next to me, so although the extra legroom was generous, I angled myself diagonally and used the footrest of the adjacent seat. This gave me even more space to stretch out.

In comparison, coach class seats have about 39 inches of legroom. At just over 5 feet tall, I don't typically need much space anyway, but I was disappointed to find that coach seats on my train lacked the footrests available in business class.

Despite my shorter legs, I still felt a bit cramped. Midway through the ride, once the train cleared out, I moved to a nearby four-seater for a bit more room to breathe.

Moving to the four-seater in coach gave me more room, but it lacked a tray table.
A red wine stain on Amanda's pants.

Amanda Shammas

Moving to the four-seater in coach class gave me more space to spread out, but it came at the cost of a tray table.

I had noticed that in the business-class car, the four-seaters had a table in between them, but in coach, the seats faced each other with nothing in between.

I didn't think not having a table would matter since I didn't need to do any work, but I quickly regretted it after ordering a beverage.

I was holding a cup of red wine when the train hit a few bumps, and it sloshed onto my leg, leaving a stain on my pants that I had to soak when I got home.

Business class offers passengers a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage.
A cup of coffee and a snack box on Amtrak.

Amanda Shammas

After my business-class trip, I found out that my ticket included a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage.

Since I didn't know that at the time, I ended up purchasing a coffee that should have been free. In hindsight, it was still a nice perk that was included.

In contrast, coach class didn't include any complimentary offerings. On that ride, I bought a glass of wine, which was served in a thin cardboard box.

I had brought my own snacks and used the box to hold them for convenience. This is another time when a tray table would've been useful, but I was enjoying the extra room.

Both seats were near an outlet strip and offered complimentary WiFi.
An outlet on Amtrak and a phone displaying the Amtrak wifi login.

Amanda Shammas

Both seats I tried had an outlet strip for charging my phone or laptop, and WiFi was available on both trips.

The outlet was convenient, but less accessible from the aisle seat, so I was glad to have a window seat both times.

As for the WiFi, it was exactly what I'd expect from train service. It was fine for basic messaging, web browsing, or scrolling through social media.

However, when I wanted to stream TV or get some work done, I had to switch to my phone's hot spot.

What really stood out to me was how much more private business class felt.
A few of down the aisle on Amtrak.

Amanda Shammas

In business class, even though the car was mostly empty, there was a group of people in suits with earpieces and badges.

From their conversations, it sounded like they were part of a security team for someone important on board. One of the conductors mentioned to me that the mystery guest was an international prime minister.

Though I wasn't able to confirm this, I'd believe it. After all, the space felt private and secure — there were conductors by the door, and tickets were scanned right away.

Coach, on the other hand, felt more relaxed. Granted, there didn't seem to be a VIP guest present during my trip, but my ticket wasn't scanned until about an hour into my ride, and the seating felt more fluid.

People were coming and going, couples would sit in my four-seater with me for a few stops, and then leave. It definitely had a more casual, flexible feel, which some people might prefer.

If you're looking for a quieter, more secure experience, business class stands out. Especially since you can pre-select a seat on the train.

Overall, business class could be worth the upgrade, depending on the circumstances.
Amanda sitting on Amtrak.

Amanda Shammas

After riding in both business class and coach on Amtrak, I realized the actual seats aren't all that different.

When I broke it down — seat size, tray tables, and legroom — it's very similar. Nothing stood out enough to justify the upgrade on comfort alone.

However, the real difference was the overall experience. Business class just felt smoother. Boarding was easier as the seat was pre-selected, so there was no rush for a spot. It felt quieter, less chaotic, and generally more relaxed.

I didn't have to deal with spilled red wine, noise, or the constant coming and going of people shifting around.

So is it worth it? That depends. For a shorter trip, I don't think I'd pay extra — especially since the seats didn't feel noticeably better. I can tough it out to save the money. But on a longer ride, I'd at least consider the upgrade if the price wasn't too steep.

Overall, if I were looking for a more peaceful and private travel experience, business class might be worth the splurge.

If I were just trying to get from point A to point B and didn't mind a bit of bustle, coach would get the job done just fine.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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