I wanted to see just how different Amtrak's coach and business classes are. And it turns out, not much.
First, I spent 10 hours traveling in business class from NYC to Niagara Falls for $168.
Passengers boarding the Amtrak Maple Leaf train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I took Amtrak's Maple Leaf train, which runs from NYC to Toronto and has coach and business-class seating. A coach ticket would have been $100 cheaper.
A representative of the train line told Business Insider that business-class perks on all Amtrak trains include more spacious seating, a complimentary nonalcoholic beverage, a 25% point bonus for Amtrak Guest Rewards members, and full refunds for rides canceled before departure.
Three years later, I took a four-hour ride from Vancouver to Seattle for $50.
The Amtrak Cascades train arriving in Seattle.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I was aboard the Amtrak Cascades train, which runs from Vancouver to Eugene, Oregon, and also offers coach and business-class seating.
No business-class tickets were available when I booked this ride a month in advance. But according to a quick Amtrak search for rides a month from now, they cost about $120.
On the business-class ride, there were two rows of seats on one side of the aisle and single seats on the other.
Inside the business-class car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
On all Amtrak trains, business class offers more privacy for some guests with single-row seating. Since seats weren't assigned, I grabbed a spot in the single row and appreciated having the space to myself.
On my train to Seattle, the coach car had two sets of seats on either side of the aisle.
Inside the coach car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Coach offered less privacy with pairs of seats on either side of the aisle, but at least there were no middle seats.
This ride also didn't have assigned seating, so I grabbed a spot in an empty row and had it to myself for the entire ride.
The business-class seat was bigger and slightly more comfortable than the coach seat.
Seats in business and coach Amtrak cars.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Both seats felt roomy enough for me, though the one in business class was a bit larger. While I appreciated the cushioned armrests and extra legroom in business class, it wasn't much more comfortable than coach.
Both seats reclined and had power outlets, tray tables, and overhead reading lights.
Neither ticket included a meal, but I got a free Coke in business class.
The reporter got refreshments from the café cars.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Though Amtrak's first-class tickets include a meal, business-class passengers get only a complimentary beverage. Coach passengers don't get complimentary refreshments.
To retrieve my free soda on the business-class ride and purchase breakfast on the coach ride, I visited the café cars, where snacks and microwavable meals were for sale.
There wasn't much of a difference between coach and business-class bathrooms.
Inside the bathroom in the coach car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Both bathrooms had a power outlet. The bathroom I used on the coach train was larger than the one in business class, but I'm not sure whether the business-class car also had a larger bathroom that I missed.
Both classes included complimentary WiFi.
The reporter worked on her laptop on both rides.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
On a long ride, I like to get some work done. WiFi is key to my job, so I appreciated that both rides had free internet access.
Ultimately, business class wasn't worth the upgrade.
The reporter will book coach tickets on future Amtrak rides.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
After taking my coach ride and having a similar experience to business class, I regretted dishing out the additional $100 on my first Amtrak journey. In the future, I'll stick to coach bookings.
