Being that right now, I'm riding in the business class car on #90, I thought I'd share my observations about the value of paying extra for the service. The rail fare was $94.50 (AAA discount), the accommodation charge was $53. We get standard 2+2 Amfleet I business class car, plenty of legroom, no legrest. It's a 12 hour trip for me.
Business class has the following advantages:
Wi-fi at my seat (Amfleet II coaches aren't wired for wi-fi, so I'd have to go to the cafe car.)
The car is only half full (maybe even less than half full), so I can sit by myself, and (sof far) even spread out and take up 2 seats (though I realize that it could fill up, and I'd have to move my stuff and let someone use the seat.)
There's also the free drinks, the pillow, and the New York Times. (Kind of odd to get a fresh New York Times on an early AM departure from Savannah, Georgia.), but they're less important to me than the fact that the car isn't crowded and I've got the wi-fi at my seat.
I always thought that the Palmetto ran Amfleet II coaches, which always made me think twice about whether business class was worth it, but today, I boarded a coach after taking a stretch at Rocky Mount, and it was an 80 seat Amfleet I coach! And it was packed full. That means they probably had wi-fi at the seat, but it also makes me glad I booked business class. Is it common for the Palmetto to have Amfleet I coaches in the consist?
By the way, we rolled into Rocky Mount 15 minutes early, and I found that you can get ice cream in the little shop in the station. $1.25 for a decent sized cup or cone, but only 4 flavors.
Business class has the following advantages:
Wi-fi at my seat (Amfleet II coaches aren't wired for wi-fi, so I'd have to go to the cafe car.)
The car is only half full (maybe even less than half full), so I can sit by myself, and (sof far) even spread out and take up 2 seats (though I realize that it could fill up, and I'd have to move my stuff and let someone use the seat.)
There's also the free drinks, the pillow, and the New York Times. (Kind of odd to get a fresh New York Times on an early AM departure from Savannah, Georgia.), but they're less important to me than the fact that the car isn't crowded and I've got the wi-fi at my seat.
I always thought that the Palmetto ran Amfleet II coaches, which always made me think twice about whether business class was worth it, but today, I boarded a coach after taking a stretch at Rocky Mount, and it was an 80 seat Amfleet I coach! And it was packed full. That means they probably had wi-fi at the seat, but it also makes me glad I booked business class. Is it common for the Palmetto to have Amfleet I coaches in the consist?
By the way, we rolled into Rocky Mount 15 minutes early, and I found that you can get ice cream in the little shop in the station. $1.25 for a decent sized cup or cone, but only 4 flavors.