DivMiler
Lead Service Attendant
I'm traveling to Boston (BOS) on a Thursday in March, starting from Harrisburg (HAR). I also want to travel first class to experience it (I've only been on Acela once, in Business from Philadelphia (PHL) to Washington).
The website tells me that I can take a Keystone, leaving HAR at 8:00 a.m., change in PHL, and take Acela 2158, leaving PHL at 10:35 a.m. and arriving in BOS at 3:40 p.m. The current price for first class would be $298.
However, I can take the same Keystone at 8:00 a.m. from HAR all the way to New York (NYP), and take Acela 2160, leaving NYP at 1:03 p.m. and arriving at BOS at 4:40 p.m. The current price (for two separate tickets) would be $54 + $187 = $241 (and I'm ignoring the $5.40 AAA discount on the Keystone).
I don't have to be in Boston until later in the evening (I'm meeting my wife at a conference, and she will be in meetings all day anyway), so the difference in arrival time is no concern.
My main question is this: Is there any reason that I should spend close to $60 more for taking the Acela out of PHL? Is the "experience" worth it? (As I type this, I'm realizing my answer is "no", but on the other hand, I'm already paying more just to experience Acela FC).
I've already checked and see that PHL-BOS and NYP-BOS in first class both receive 750 AGR points, so I'll likely come out ahead in earning AGR points by changing in NYP.
Another question is: what should I expect on the Acela? Is lunch served on 2160, even though it leaves after 1:00 p.m.?
Thanks for your help!
The website tells me that I can take a Keystone, leaving HAR at 8:00 a.m., change in PHL, and take Acela 2158, leaving PHL at 10:35 a.m. and arriving in BOS at 3:40 p.m. The current price for first class would be $298.
However, I can take the same Keystone at 8:00 a.m. from HAR all the way to New York (NYP), and take Acela 2160, leaving NYP at 1:03 p.m. and arriving at BOS at 4:40 p.m. The current price (for two separate tickets) would be $54 + $187 = $241 (and I'm ignoring the $5.40 AAA discount on the Keystone).
I don't have to be in Boston until later in the evening (I'm meeting my wife at a conference, and she will be in meetings all day anyway), so the difference in arrival time is no concern.
My main question is this: Is there any reason that I should spend close to $60 more for taking the Acela out of PHL? Is the "experience" worth it? (As I type this, I'm realizing my answer is "no", but on the other hand, I'm already paying more just to experience Acela FC).
I've already checked and see that PHL-BOS and NYP-BOS in first class both receive 750 AGR points, so I'll likely come out ahead in earning AGR points by changing in NYP.
Another question is: what should I expect on the Acela? Is lunch served on 2160, even though it leaves after 1:00 p.m.?
Thanks for your help!