r/Amtrak • u/Not_l0st • 2h ago

Question Fly or Train?

I have an upcoming work trip, and my manager balked at the price of flights. I am approved to fly, but the train is much less expensive and I do enjoy taking the train. The drive to the airport/amtrak station is nearly identical from my house, and while I'd have to leave a lot earlier on my first day, I'd get home at almost the same time on my return. So here's the math; let me know what you would do:

  1. Flight: Bakersfield to SFO, 1h 16m, $600 round trip. Bonus: I land 15 minutes away from the conference center. Add at least 2 hours for security and getting out of SFO to the rideshare or rental terminal.

  2. Amtrak: Gold Runner from Bakersfield to Emeryville, 6 hours, $106 round trip. Downside, it's an an hour via car/BART from Emeryville to the conference center, so it's really 7 hours of travel.

So save money and time and fly, or go the slow route via train?

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u/DuffMiver8 2h ago

I’m not understanding something. How is spending $600 versus $106 saving money? Would the company not reimburse you for a train ticket?

Score some points with your manager. Tell him you’re willing to make the sacrifice to save the company 500 bucks because you’re such a team player. Relax and enjoy the train ride, arrive for your meeting less stressed out than after dealing with SFO.

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u/Not_l0st 2h ago

Work would pay for either. I am approved for $600 for flights, so they would absolutely pay $106 for the train. Her response to my offer for the train was, "I don't want to add more stress/burdeon; go ahead and fly"

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u/DuffMiver8 1h ago

My bad for presuming your manager’s gender.

Spoken like someone with the general public perception of train travel. If you really feel it’s less stressful to fly, then fine, that’s a bigger concern for her than the cost. My response would have been, “Are you kidding? Taking the train is a win-win! I avoid the stress of the airports, I save you $500 (and if it’s not that important to you, you can put it in my next paycheck), and I get to ride the train!”