Ever since Brightline started offering train service between Orlando and South Florida, I've been hooked.
Not having to take the mind-numbing boring drive rife with traffic and slow downs is worth it every time, and I've become a convert to the train. I've taken at least a half dozen roundtrip rides, and it's an incredible innovation for anyone looking to get between the two areas.
Read more: I Rode on Brightline, Florida's New High-Speed Train
While I won't ever go back to driving myself, I did make one big change in how I approach my plans.
I started off always booking the Premium seats, but tried the economy Smart seats and don't see a good reason to go back.
Premium vs Smart tickets
Brightline has two classes of seats: Premium and Smart. Think of them as business class and economy.
A Smart ticket gets you leather seats, complimentary WiFi and multiple power and USB connections at each seat.
Premium service adds complimentary snacks and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) and access to a Premium Lounge. Snacks and drinks are included both on the train and in the Premium Lounge.
In addition, the Premium car has a row of single seats, whereas the Smart cars are all double seating on each side of the aisle.
One other important difference is checked bags cost extra for Smart fares, but one bag is free per passenger with premium.
Depending on how far in advance you book your tickets and how much demand there is for that time, the prices can vary.
For a ride between Orlando and Miami, a one-way Smart ticket starts at $54 per person, while a one-way Premium ticket starts at $144 per person. I did find a 4:50am ticket going for $49 per person for a Smart fare, but the Premium was still $144.
If you book your ticket closer to the day of travel, or if there is high demand for a seat and tickets are selling quick, prices can go up quickly. I found peak pricing for a Smart fare to be $154 per person and $224 per person fo Premium.
Why Premium isn't worth it for me
My first few rides were all in Premium because I thought the added benefits were important to me.
Specifically, I booked it to get access to a single seat so I didn't have to sit next to anyone, along with the free food and drink that came with it.
I always enjoyed my rides in Premium, and the Premium Lounge was a nice touch when I got to the station early and had a lot of time to waste until the train left.
After a few rides on Brightline, I started to consider if the benefits were really worth the extra cost.
I booked Smart fares for the last few rides on Brightline and I really don't see a good reason for me to go back.
While I have had to sit next to a stranger more often than not on my train rides while in Smart class, the reality is the person sitting next to me was only a necessity for the South Florida leg. The vast majority of the ride (Orlando to West Palm or even Boca Raton) is quite empty. Brightline hasn't made headways into the commuter market in Central Florida as it has in South Florida. So at worst, I'm sitting next to a stranger for an hour of my 3 and a half hour ride.
The complimentary food and drink are nice, but I found the food choices to be nothing special. It's better than nothing, but it's just snacks and sandwiches I never thought much of.
The included beers and cocktails are fun, but I'm certainly not drinking enough to "get my money's worth" out of it. Maybe one or two drinks, but I don't indulge on the train because I'm either driving when I get off the train, or I'm trying to do work.
One of the major reasons I love taking Brightline instead of driving is I get the commute time back to work on Royal Caribbean Blog and Cruise Blog. With the high-speed internet, it's like being in the office in terms of productivity.
As for the luggage, the truth is I bring my luggage onboard with me to the train and there's no cost. I roll my full-size suitcase onboard, stick it in the luggage rack, and then take it off the train. Quite easy, and no need to check bags.
I quickly came to the conclusion that the Premium fare benefits are nice to have, but considering the cost difference you can expect, I don't see a need to book it.
The exception might be later this summer when I take my family on Brightline to go to Miami for our Icon of the Seas cruise. All those snacks and drinks make the ride more fun for the kids, and my wife prefers to check luggage when possible.
You shouldn't look at the Premium and Smart fares as being as different as coach and first class airfare. While the Premium benefits are nice, I find the Smart fares to be "good enough" and the added benefits not worth the price difference.
