Demand on train tickets on USA.

[Golfire]

Hi, im traveling on apr 26 to USA, im going first at San Antonio for shopping and next day i'm going to Chicago in train, but i haven't got the train tickets yet because maybe i want to stay more days on San Antonio, i have the risk of tickets get sold out?

any suggestions of stops between San Antonio and Chicago would be appreciated XD.

[Arkenaw]

I didn't even know we had public trains here.

[Darsithis]

If you're referring to Amtrak I can't imagine that the train tickets would sell out.

[Shuji V2]

Try an airplane instead. It's cheaper and faster. Can't imagine you're actually willing to travel 30 hours by train when it can be done in 5 hours? :P

As for your actual question, I have no clue. But I'm just posting because you may have not explored such an ability yet.

[Darsithis]

Try an airplane instead. It's cheaper and faster. Can't imagine you're actually willing to travel 30 hours by train when it can be done in 5 hours? :P

As for your actual question, I have no clue. But I'm just posting because you may have not explored such an ability yet.

Amtrak is $133. Flights that I found right now are $283 so it's a pretty hefty difference.

[Vvulf]

What is the shopping attraction in San Antonio? I guess if you're only staying one day you won't have time to visit the Alamo or see a rodeo. I wouldn't worry too much about the train selling out, it's pretty unlikely since your visit doesn't coincide with any major holidays. As far as possible stops between San Antonio and Chicago, I assume you'll be on the Texas Eagle Amtrack and you can research where you might like to stop here:
http://www.texaseagle.com/

[Voodoou]

If you're referring to Amtrak I can't imagine that the train tickets would sell out.

this, also as stated Amtrak is MUCH cheaper, also last I traveled va train it was by far the cheapest way to move the most stuff. This was about 6ish years ago but the it was only 25 dollars per 50lb box and you could move 3 of those beyond your normal luggage allowance. However they do not want to moving electronics because of possible damage so if you take that risk hide them in boxes and wrap them in clothing or whatever is available.

[the game]

Back in 2001 when I was in the military I took Amtrak from Ohio to my first duty station at Ft Hood Texas. There's a train station there I believe it was in Temple, TX. I loved the trip. The train was quite relaxing, cheaper than plane tickets and imo it's a bit safer.

OP you'll enjoy the ride. I don't quite no any good stops in between san antonio and chicago as i didn't make any stops on my trip but I can tell you that you will enjoy it.

[magik8ball]

First off, when you buy plane tickets, turn on private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome). They often try to kill you on the price for plane tickets - usually the price is at least comparable.

Whenever I travel, I usually reserve space, but that's just me. It is likely tickets will be available so long as you're not traveling at a time when most people are traveling.

[Shuji V2]

Amtrak is $133. Flights that I found right now are $283 so it's a pretty hefty difference.

I've found flights for 95 dollars and train tickets for about 103 (cheapest for both). Both were one-way trip.

[Darsithis]

I've found flights for 95 dollars and train tickets for about 103 (cheapest for both). Both were one-way trip.

That is pretty cheap.

Personally, myself, I hate flying. It's stressful and sometimes nearly traumatic. I'd take a train, too. Plus there is more freedom to stop and do something in different areas. My partner and I drove from Chicago to San Diego this last summer. 5,000 miles round trip but it was awesome. We saw so much. Stopped in Flagstaff, AZ to visit the Grand Canyon before heading into California.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

That is pretty cheap.

Personally, myself, I hate flying. It's stressful and sometimes nearly traumatic. I'd take a train, too. Plus there is more freedom to stop and do something in different areas. My partner and I drove from Chicago to San Diego this last summer. 5,000 miles round trip but it was awesome. We saw so much. Stopped in Flagstaff, AZ to visit the Grand Canyon before heading into California.

Yeah, I hate flying too. Not the actual flying, but having to turn up 2-3 hours in advance, and the security checks, and the queueing for this, queueing for that. I want to turn up, get on the train, and sit down. I want to be able to listen to music the whole time if I want to.

[poser765]

Yeah, I hate flying too. Not the actual flying, but having to turn up 2-3 hours in advance, and the security checks, and the queueing for this, queueing for that. I want to turn up, get on the train, and sit down. I want to be able to listen to music the whole time if I want to.

Most US carriers will allow you to use your phone in airplane mode from door closing to door open. The rest of your post is pretty spot on. However, a couple hours early at the airport, and a what is more than likely a very NON invasive screening is, in my mind, FAR better than a day and a half train ride.

[Darsithis]

Yeah, I hate flying too. Not the actual flying, but having to turn up 2-3 hours in advance, and the security checks, and the queueing for this, queueing for that. I want to turn up, get on the train, and sit down. I want to be able to listen to music the whole time if I want to.

Right? And many of these trains have (for cheaper than the equivalent airfare) more luxurious accommodations, sleeping cars, quiet cars, non-quiet cars, dining...it's just superior if you're not on a schedule.

OP: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Satell...=Texas%20Eagle

That would be a train run from San Antonio to Chicago. Looks like it stops in a lot of places where you might be able to change out your ticket and visit. One of the great things about America is the enormous diversity of the natural country. You go from desert to mountains to lakeshore to fields of farms to flat land.

[poser765]

Right? And many of these trains have (for cheaper than the equivalent airfare) more luxurious accommodations, sleeping cars, quiet cars, non-quiet cars, dining...it's just superior if you're not on a schedule.

OP: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Satell...=Texas%20Eagle

That would be a train run from San Antonio to Chicago. Looks like it stops in a lot of places where you might be able to change out your ticket and visit. One of the great things about America is the enormous diversity of the natural country. You go from desert to mountains to lakeshore to fields of farms to flat land.

Dallas to Chicago is like 300 bucks for a roomette. A coach ticket is a lot cheaper, but really not that comfortable when you consider the time you will be on board. Granted the train will be far more of an adventure, but damn, it's not going to be a walk in the park. I would much rather fly and have more time in Chicago.

[Themius]

Amtrak is $133. Flights that I found right now are $283 so it's a pretty hefty difference.

hmm.. interesting usually trains are cheaper. I know if I were to take a train to California from New York it is slightly more to much more than a plane ticket.

[Golfire]

Well thank you everybody for the information, i chose train because i'm more in an adventure/relax mode, watching the country at least on train sounds wonderful to me, just don't want to buy the ticket and get in a huge hurry, as from shopping attraction at San Antonio i heard that you can get amazing deals on San Marcos outlets so that's what i'm talking about.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Right? And many of these trains have (for cheaper than the equivalent airfare) more luxurious accommodations, sleeping cars, quiet cars, non-quiet cars, dining...it's just superior if you're not on a schedule.

OP: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Satell...=Texas%20Eagle

That would be a train run from San Antonio to Chicago. Looks like it stops in a lot of places where you might be able to change out your ticket and visit. One of the great things about America is the enormous diversity of the natural country. You go from desert to mountains to lakeshore to fields of farms to flat land.

Yeah, there aren't any quiet coaches in planes. And you can actually see the country from a train. This is what you see from a plane:



Quite pretty at times, but rather boring after the first 30 seconds.

Planes have their place, like travelling to places where you can't go by train or by car. But if you aren't on a schedule, you can start your holiday the moment you get on the train. You have to wait until you get off the plane (after travelling to the airport, waiting at the airport, waiting on the plane, flying, waiting on the plane while people try to find their jackets and carry-on bags, waiting at passport control, waiting at baggage reclaim and waiting for your transport away from the airport) to start your holiday if flying.

It is only a 1.5 hour flight from here to the airport nearest the grandparents, but if I want to get there before mid-afternoon I have to leave the house before 7am.

In Europe you can use electronic devices and mobile phones in Airplane Mode when at cruising altitude (i.e. when they turn off the seatbelt light). They have to be turned off (for no reason at all other than some paranoid legislators in the 1980s said so) for take-off and landing.

[poser765]

In Europe you can use electronic devices and mobile phones in Airplane Mode when at cruising altitude (i.e. when they turn off the seatbelt light). They have to be turned off (for no reason at all other than some paranoid legislators in the 1980s said so) for take-off and landing.

Just to clear things up, this is no longer the case. The FAA released the ban on portable electronic devices back in I think it was November. It was left up to individual carriers to seek approval for allowing of those PEDs. I can tell you for certain that AA, DAL, and UA have allowed them as well as their respective feeder airlines. I would say it's safe to assume just about all US airlines allow PEDs below 10000 feet now.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Just to clear things up, this is no longer the case. The FAA released the ban on portable electronic devices back in I think it was November. It was left up to individual carriers to seek approval for allowing of those PEDs. I can tell you for certain that AA, DAL, and UA have allowed them as well as their respective feeder airlines. I would say it's safe to assume just about all US airlines allow PEDs below 10000 feet now.

The FAA has no authority over European based airlines and the laws in the EU.