Can you sleep on economy VIA Rail?

What is the difference between VIA Rail economy and economy plus?

VIA Rail’s Economy Plus? Oh, honey, it’s Economy, but like… fancy.

Think Economy is coach; Economy Plus is…premium coach! You get more legroom. Finally, you can stretch out like you own the place. Complimentary drinks! So fancy, I can almost hear the clinking glasses!

• Legroom: Economy whispers “cramped”; Economy Plus shouts “spacious!” (Okay, maybe it just murmurs).

• Seats: Wider seats? Who knew comfort could be measured in inches? VIA apparently.

• Drinks: Free non-alcoholic bevies. Hydration is key. Skip the sugary sodas!

• Food: Meals on longer routes. Pre-selected. Hope you like what they’re serving!

Regular Economy? Standard seating. The bare minimum. Like the airline, but on tracks.

You are paying a premium to avoid feeling like a sardine. Is it worth it? Only your legs can decide. Remember the days when train travel wasn’t cramped? Yeah, me neither.

Do Via Rail economy seats recline?

Okay, so, Via Rail economy… recline, huh? Yeah, they do.

I was on the train last summer, July 2024 to be exact, heading from Toronto to Montreal. Man, that ride… long.

Sat in economy, because, well, money.

I was so tired. Hadn’t slept in like, 2 days.

And yeah, the seat did recline. Not like, flat-bed style.

Maybe like, a decent 40 degrees?

I think it was comfortable enough to actually doze off for a bit. I am sure of it.

The leg rest was a nice touch. But kinda flimsy, lol.

Legroom was surprisingly good! I’m 5’10, didn’t feel cramped.

I remember the guy in front of me reclining his seat all the way during dinner, which was rude af.

Things I appreciated on that Via Rail trip in Economy:

• The recline. Saved my back!
• That legrest thing. Helpful, even if cheap.
• The legroom. Major plus.
• The window. Watching the Ontario landscape whiz by made the trip bearable.

Things I hated:

• The guy in front. Reclining during my meal time? Seriously?
• The food prices. Highway robbery!
• How loud the announcements were. Woke me up all the time.
• The smell of old socks. Not kidding.

Basically, yeah, Via Rail Economy reclines. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Necessary to sleep. But maybe next time I’ll bring a nose plug.

How strict is via rail with luggage?

Suitcase… yeah, medium. Fine. I guess.

Duffel bag… squishable. It’ll probably work.

Weight limits… sometimes I wonder if anyone actually checks.

Nobody really seems to care.

• Baggage size is pretty relaxed.
• It can be a crapshoot.
• Weight is rarely enforced.
• Personal experience: Took a huge duffel. Never a problem.
• Reddit stories say the same.
• I travelled Montreal-Halifax. They definitely didn’t care.
• As long as you can handle it, you’re probably good.
• It’s kinda nice.
• Just don’t bring, like, an elephant.

Seriously though… what even IS “medium”?

Maybe I should just travel lighter.

Nah. Too much effort.

What is the difference between economy and economy plus on VIA Rail?

VIA Rail’s Economy Plus? A slight edge.

• Seating: Think more space. More room. Seats? Wider. Legroom? Generous.

• Experience? Barely upgraded.

Consider it. Or not.

What is the difference between escape and economy on VIA Rail?

Ah, VIA Rail. Luxury liner of the prairies! (Okay, maybe not).

• Escape fares? More like fare-well to your money. Non-refundable, non-exchangeable. It’s like buying a mystery box. You get what you get, and you DON’T throw a fit. Unless you do. I mean, I would.

• Economy is…slightly less grim. Think of it as almost-having-a-safety-net. Partially refundable! Exchangeable! For a price. It’s like saying, “Sure, we’ll let you change your mind, but only if you pay us for the emotional distress of it all.”

Basically, Escape is the YOLO fare, Economy is the “wait, maybe I shouldn’t have YOLO’d” fare. Personally, I ALWAYS choose whatever gets me closest to the cafe car. Priorities, people.

More to Ponder (because why not?):

• VIA Rail’s pricing strategies are, shall we say, creative. They remind me of airline pricing, just…on a train. The logic escapes me. Is that why they call it Escape fare? Ouch.

• Did you know VIA Rail uses some of the oldest passenger rail cars in North America? Adds to the charm, right? Think of it as vintage travel.

• Always check for discounts. Seriously. Student discounts, senior discounts, discount discounts…you never know what hidden treasures await. I once found a coupon for 10% off if you could yodel. Worth a try!

What are the best seats on an economy flight?

Ugh, economy seats. The horror. Best seats? Aisle, always. Need to stretch my legs. Hate being squished. Window’s okay for naps, but I’m a fidgeter. So aisle it is.

Exit row? More legroom, right? But extra responsibility, they say. I’d rather just have space. And those darn tray tables…

Front row? Maybe? Less people kicking my seat. Less noisy kids behind me. But sometimes the toilets are close. No, not front row. Definitely aisle. That’s it.

This time, I’m flying Southwest. Their boarding system is weird, but usually, I manage to snag a good aisle seat. Fingers crossed. Got my noise-canceling headphones. Crucial.

Aisle seats are where it’s at. Always choose an aisle seat unless you’re a deep sleeper.

• Aisle seats: Easy access to the restroom, more legroom sometimes (depending on the plane), and less likely to get bumped by people walking by.
• Avoid: Seats near the lavatories. Constant traffic. The smell. Ew.
• Exit rows: More legroom, but often more expensive and you need to be able to assist in emergencies. Not for everyone.
• Window seats: Fine if you sleep well, but getting up to go to the bathroom means disturbing everyone.

Flying in 2024 sucks. Prices are insane. I hope this flight isn’t delayed. Seriously, that would ruin my weekend. I need a vacation.

Is via rail economy comfortable?

VIA Rail economy can be surprisingly decent. Legroom is pretty good. No squished knees!

• Seat Pitch: Expect generous space between seats. We’re talking enough room to (almost) stretch out those legs.
• Footrests: Most seats include those nifty pull-out footrests. Hello, semi-reclining!
• Recline: Seats do recline, but don’t expect full-flat luxury. It’s a gentle lean-back.

Think airplane economy… but slightly better. Is it first class? Of course not. It is certainly better than Greyhound, usually. Ultimately, the comfort level often relies on things such as the length of journey. A short hop is fine. A cross-country trek? Maybe consider an upgrade. It’s a bit like choosing between instant coffee and a proper latte. Both serve a purpose.

My grandma always said, “Comfort is relative, dear.” And she’s generally right. Now, where did I put my glasses? Wait, wrong train of thought.