I took Florida's Brightline practice from Fort Lauderdale to Miami for $39. The 'first-class expertise' was approach higher than sitting in visitors.

• I took the Brightline practice from Fort Lauderdale to Miami in premium class for $39.
• The seats have been snug and the “first-class expertise” got here with some stable perks.
• General, it is somewhat cheaper than a rideshare and higher than sitting in visitors. 

As a former Floridian and frequent traveler, the Florida-based practice service Brightline lately caught my consideration.

I needed to attempt the inner-city practice service from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, as I am no stranger to I-95 and the visitors that comes with navigating these in style locations.

So, I booked a one-way ticket and sprung for Brightline’s premium class, which advertises a “first-class expertise.” It was $39 (plus tax), solely about $17 greater than the fundamental good class.

I wasn’t precisely positive how luxurious a 45-minute practice experience could possibly be, however I shortly came upon.

Initially, reserving my ticket was simple

Brightline earned factors from me for its handy and seamless reserving course of. 

I booked my tickets by means of the Brightline app, however they may also be bought with a guest-services agent on the practice station, through the self-service kiosk, or the Brightline web site.

The method was fairly much like reserving some other journey ticket. I selected my ticket sort (a method or spherical journey), cities I used to be touring to and from, dates, and variety of passengers.

As soon as I discovered a time that labored, I selected the fare sort, supplied my traveler data, and chosen my seat. 

Earlier than confirming my buy, I might choose any extra wants for my journey comparable to Uber rides, parking passes, or checked luggage. My ticket was emailed to me and obtainable on the app. 

The ticket got here with nice perks earlier than I even set foot on the practice

At no extra value for the standard experience, transportation to and from the practice stations (inside 5 miles) was obtainable by means of Brightline’s partnership with Uber. I chosen the timeframe most handy for me throughout the reserving course of and Brightline dealt with the preparations. 

As soon as a experience was secured, I obtained a telephone name and textual content message alerting me of the Uber’s arrival time and driver data. I obtained a hyperlink to trace the motive force, too. 

Premium tickets additionally include lounge entry, which could be utilized as much as two hours earlier than practice departure. I needed to scan my boarding go to enter, much like the method at an airport lounge.

The premium lounge had a beer and wine station, juice, espresso, and a fridge crammed with water and soda. Snacks like recent fruit, muffins, pastries, yogurt, and deviled eggs have been additionally obtainable. 

The lounge was extremely spacious and I notably favored the charging stations constructed into the furnishings.

Company within the premium lounge additionally bought precedence boarding. An attendant happened 10 minutes earlier than departure to escort us to the platform.

The premium service continued on board as effectively 

A couple of minutes after boarding, I used to be greeted with a cool towel infused with important oils. Subsequent, I used to be supplied a breakfast field or charcuterie field plus my a selection of espresso, tea, juice, water, beer, wine, or cocktails.

I grabbed an orange juice and ginger ale, plus a charcuterie field that had Ghirardelli chocolate, grapes, Asiago cheese, dried meat, and crackers.

Shortly after, somebody additionally got here by with a cart crammed with extra choices, together with a variety of name-brand snacks and candies like Pringles and M&Ms. 

The seats have been fairly snug and there have been just a few choices on board

The premium practice automotive had a number of seating configurations. Passengers might choose a person seat, double seat, or quad seating. I sat in a double seat.

A number of the preparations got here with full-size tables with pop-out charging ports. Others have been normal outfitted with charging ports, a full-size tray desk, and a pop-out telephone holder.

My seat had a fold-down tray desk that was handy, particularly for the snacks and drinks supplied. I assumed the reclining seats have been extraordinarily snug — as a plus-size traveler, that is an enormous bonus.

General, Brightline premium was definitely worth the worth 

Brightline’s service is great for individuals who wish to keep away from unpredictable visitors, wish to keep away from parking charges if touring for a sporting occasion, or desire a handy strategy to city-hop on a whim. The trains even have restrooms on board.

For comparability functions, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are roughly 30 miles or 45 minutes aside. Relying on the time of day, rideshares between the cities could be pricey. The day earlier than my journey, I paid $58 plus a tip for a one-way Lyft that took 49 minutes to go 31 miles.  

General, I feel Brightline is value taking if you should get from one Florida metropolis to a different. 

At present, passengers can e book a one-way or roundtrip ticket to or from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Seaside, Aventura, Boca Raton, and Orlando.