I gave Amtrak first class another shot on a new train fleet. It was better in every way — but still not worth the price.
I booked first-class tickets on Amtrak Acela trains three years apart. Neither was worth the price, but my experience on the NextGen fleet was better.
Business Insider's reporter tried Amtrak's first-class seating on the Acela train twice. The first time was in 2022, costing $270, and the second was in 2025 for $450. Despite the price difference, the 2025 experience was better. The 2025 train, called NextGen Acela, had a modern, sleek design and comfortable seats with extra legroom.
Both trains offered similar perks, like larger seats, access to lounges, priority boarding, attendant service, and meals. The NextGen Acela had a brighter, more stylish café car and faster WiFi. The reporter still thought the price was too high, but the 2025 experience was better than the 2022 one.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
