Travel by Pullman
Went by the Travel by Pullman site today and noticed that they are taking reservations/selling tickets for their inaugural runs from New York to Chicago and Chicago to New Orleans.
The sleeper cost in a drawing room (DBL bedroom w sink and toilet) from NYP to CHI is approximately $1950 one way which IMO is quite steep. My wife and myself are planning a trip to CHI next June and were considering it but the service is not flexible enough to meet our needs. A trip cost of $4000 (w/o any food or drink) is also not very attractive. If I am not mistaken you can only board the Pullman consist (sleeper, observation/lounge and dining cars) at the stations where the train departs. IMO this is a very big disadvantage. Since we live in NJ we would first have to travel to NYC to go to Chicago. This adds hours and additional cost to the trip.
I can appreciate that this new service is a luxurious way to travel and probably superior to Amtrak but is it worth 8-10X the Amtrak price?? The American Orient Express tried the superfare luxury travel route and it did not work out. While I wish Pullman well they would have been far better off selling a comparable sleeper service to Amtraks. The CL always sells out and there would be enough overflow to fill their sleepers.
The amount of wealthy passengers in NYC probably will insure that the Pullman Co. kickoff will most likely be successful but IMO for this service to last the one station boarding requirement is going to sink the service. For a $4k one way fare (for two) they should be ready to pick up passengers all along the way. After giving it careful thought it didn't make sense for us to spend over $8K for an 15 hr.overnight trip to Chicago and back. Instead we are staying with Amtrak and have booked a bedroom for $780 R/T, which is low bucket. Compared to the $600 R/T coach airfare (about $700 with all fees/taxes) Amtrak is very competitive, restful, relaxing and FAR more comfortable. What's your opinion on this private luxury sleeper service?
Went by the Travel by Pullman site today and noticed that they are taking reservations/selling tickets for their inaugural runs from New York to Chicago and Chicago to New Orleans.
The sleeper cost in a drawing room (DBL bedroom w sink and toilet) from NYP to CHI is approximately $1950 one way which IMO is quite steep. My wife and myself are planning a trip to CHI next June and were considering it but the service is not flexible enough to meet our needs. A trip cost of $4000 (w/o any food or drink) is also not very attractive. If I am not mistaken you can only board the Pullman consist (sleeper, observation/lounge and dining cars) at the stations where the train departs. IMO this is a very big disadvantage. Since we live in NJ we would first have to travel to NYC to go to Chicago. This adds hours and additional cost to the trip.
I can appreciate that this new service is a luxurious way to travel and probably superior to Amtrak but is it worth 8-10X the Amtrak price?? The American Orient Express tried the superfare luxury travel route and it did not work out. While I wish Pullman well they would have been far better off selling a comparable sleeper service to Amtraks. The CL always sells out and there would be enough overflow to fill their sleepers.
The amount of wealthy passengers in NYC probably will insure that the Pullman Co. kickoff will most likely be successful but IMO for this service to last the one station boarding requirement is going to sink the service. For a $4k one way fare (for two) they should be ready to pick up passengers all along the way. After giving it careful thought it didn't make sense for us to spend over $8K for an 15 hr.overnight trip to Chicago and back. Instead we are staying with Amtrak and have booked a bedroom for $780 R/T, which is low bucket. Compared to the $600 R/T coach airfare (about $700 with all fees/taxes) Amtrak is very competitive, restful, relaxing and FAR more comfortable. What's your opinion on this private luxury sleeper service?
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