Rail Travel

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are among the only domestic airlines that do not charge for checked baggage, according to airfarewatchdog.com. (This site is a great resource for anything airline related-- fees, fares, etc.) Some airlines are now charging as much as $25 for checked baggage... one way! This could be remedied by boycotting these airlines, however, many would argue that it is unrealistic to expect all air travelers to fly using just two airlines. I can relate to this. In my own experience, I have found that unless you book tickets on Southwest far in advance, they tend to be more expensive than the airlines featured on Cheaptickets.com (which include Delta, U.S. Air, Continental). Therefore, if you're booking within a few weeks of your departure, it may be cheaper to book with Cheaptickets.com and pay baggage fees than to book with an airline that does not charge for baggage. One issue with JetBlue is that it does not fly out of outlying airports. (For info, click here.)

For an alternative to air travel all together, MSNBC.com recommends trying rail travel. Upon reading this, I did further research and looked into Amtrak. I found that the accommodations appeared comfortable and similar to that of a cruise ship cabin (perhaps a bit more cramped). They offer en suite bathrooms and dining facilities on the trains. Another positive aspect to rail travel is that it is a "green" alternative to flying. Amtrak reports that its carbon footprint is considerably less than that of car or air travel. An economically inspiring aspect to rail travel is the fact that it will stimulate a once-declining industry in the United States: rail roads. (Amtrak was named in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

I think that rail travel is a great alternative to air travel-- if you have the time. Obviously, rail travel will take longer to "get you where you're going." However, you will see MUCH more in your travels. Amtrak also offers various discounts including AAA, military and senior citizens.

In the end, I suppose your choice between air and rail travel will all depend on where you're going and how long you have to get there. My advice is: take your time. See as much as you can. When will you get the chance to do it again?


For a map of nationwide Amtrak fares, visit: amtrak.com
To plan your trip, check out this interactive map from amtrak.com: See map