New York is arguably the most well-served city from Boston, as far as transportation is concerned. This is a blessing for those of us from the five boroughs, north/central New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties, as it means endless services for us to get home. New York is also a common weekend trip for those who live in Boston, so the route is quite high in demand. For most of us, there are three ways to do this route: bus, train and plane. But which makes the most sense to take, and why? I've taken all three modes of transport on this route at least once, and here is my take.
Coach bus
Pros: The price is by far the lowest of the three options. Prices often dip below twenty dollars, making it a popular option for college students.
Cons: Basically everything else. There is minimal legroom, making a several hour ride nearly impossible to tolerate. Buses are filled with a fair amount of college students, but also some extremely sketchy adults, so finding a comfortable seatmate can be weird. Most buses in New York arrive at Port Authority, which means that those of us taking the commuter rail to the suburbs have to connect to Penn Station or Grand Central via subway, another inconvenience. The worst part, however, is the traffic when going through New York, which, at its worst, can delay a bus' arrival several hours. Those who take the bus should not make plans for the rest of the day because the delays are that significant.
Amtrak (Northeast Regional)
Pros: The coach seats are akin to business class seats on a domestic US flight. Sufficient legroom and seat width. There's minimal traffic, which means insignificant delays if anything. And for those originating from Manhattan, New Jersey, or Long Island, you can connect directly at Penn Station. Most people on board are professionals or college students, so you have a better chance of finding a good seatmate.
Cons: It still takes four to five hours, which is a lot of time. The price, if you book early, can be worth it, but if you book late it can get pricey (booking to Back Bay Station can reduce your price over booking to South Station).
Plane (BOS - JFK)
Pros: If you have carry-on luggage only, it's the quickest way. If security isn't too backed up and there aren't any delays, the entire journey from check-in to disembarkation could be just three hours. If you book the route through American or Delta and use an Alaska frequent flier number, you get 500 miles automatically despite the distance between the two cities being significantly less than that. Free soft drinks are also a bonus on a flight, while you'd have to pay onboard Amtrak or buy at the bus station prior to departure on a coach.
Cons: The seats are small, although this isn't terrible for the 45-minute flight. Going through security (especially at busy JFK) is a hassle and is not worth it for the short flight. Obviously, flying is the most expensive of all the options, and it's often not worth the money.
Winner: Amtrak
Sure, it takes longer than flying, but it offers the comfiest seats and best legroom and (unlike the bus) arrives within a reasonable time from what is advertised. It doesn't completely break the bank either, so it's a perfect middle ground for anyone commuting between the two cities.
