Several airlines have been derided as “Amtrak of the Sky” or “Amtrak of the Skies.” Amtrak is a passenger railroad service that has a mediocre reputation.
“Tower Air: Amtrak of the Skies” was posted on the newsgroup alt.vacation.las-vegas on December 30, 1997. “i paid extra for my window seat on this damn amtrak of the skies us airways” was posted on Twitter by Binkie ElectrikRed on August 1, 2019. “Southwest, the Amtrak of the skies…” was posted on Twitter by N. Fishlancer, Esq. on June 18, 2010. “#AllegiantAir. Amtrak of the sky” was posted on Twitter by Wes Matejka on August 9, 2013. “If ever an airline deserved to die, it’s #usairways: the #amtrak of the skies” was posted on Twitter by Matthew Heller on August 14, 2013. “Ah Delta, the Amtrak of the skies…” was posted on Twitter by Piction Fiction on December 1, 2013.
“Amtrak with Wings” (applied to Delta Air Lines in 1987) is a similar airline nickname.
Wikipedia: Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak (reporting marks AMTK, AMTZ), is a passenger railroad service that provides medium and long-distance intercity service in the contiguous United States and to nine Canadian cities.
Google Groups: alt.vacation.las-vegas
First Timers’ Trip Report - Day One
Bette
Dec 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM
First Timers’ Trip Report—Day One
Synopsis:
1. Tower Air: Amtrak of the Skies.
2. Lines, lines, everywhere a line. . .
3. Beware the soup table! 😊
Bright and early Christmas morning (actually not really bright: it was 7:30 a.m., cold and rainy in Connecticut), we set off for our Las Vegas Wedding Adventure.
I never thought I would find *anything* to beat Amtrak for a *truly* detestible travel experience but boy, was I wrong.
Twitter
Binkie ElectrikRed
@BinkieER
hot damn ho here we go again ! i paid extra for my window seat on this damn amtrak of the skies us airways and somehow i end up in the
1:01 AM · Aug 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
N. Fishlancer, Esq.
@too_ten
Southwest, the Amtrak of the skies…
8:47 PM · Jun 18, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Wes Matejka
@WesleyMatejka
#AllegiantAir. Amtrak of the sky. Never again. saved a few $ on the flight but spent $300 + wasted a invaluable day off sitting in airport
2:30 PM · Aug 9, 2013·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Matthew Heller
@mbheller
Livid at #DoJ for opposing AA- #usairways merger. If ever an airline deserved to die, it’s #usairways: the #amtrak of the skies
1:40 PM · Aug 14, 2013·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Piction Fiction
@Piction_Fiction
Replying to @AnnCoulter
@AnnCoulter Ah Delta, the Amtrak of the skies…
8:31 PM · Dec 1, 2013·TweetCaster for Android
Twitter
Mike Seely
@mdseely
.@SouthwestAir Came up with a great new corporate slogan for you guys after yet another flight delay yesterday: “The Amtrak of the sky”
7:55 AM · Aug 5, 2014·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Spank Hill
@allison_mick
.@AmericanAir is the Amtrak of the skies. Delta is the Greyhound. Spirit is the Fung Wah bus.
12:43 PM · May 26, 2015·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Valley Jim
@ValleyJimm
Replying to @JimNorton
@united is the amtrak of the skies. @JimNorton is the Del Griffith of comedy. #ilikeme #mywifelikesme
6:39 PM · Jun 25, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
olivia deng
@oliviadeng1
Overheard at the airport - “United Airlines is turning into the #Amtrak of the sky” #notfalse
8:32 PM · Dec 22, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Bespoke Couture
@Bespoke_Couture
Did someone say the Amtrak of the Sky’s, really America you need to get on board with the rest of the world and improve your rail transport
Quote Tweet
GQ Magazine
@GQMagazine
· Jan 22, 2017
In other words, hell http://gq.mn/EDeldDR
10:50 PM · Jan 22, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Beau
@ExpatinOz1
#NewUnitedAirlinesMottos United Airline. The Amtrak of the skies.
3:11 AM · Apr 15, 2017·Twitter for iPad
Twitter
KAG2020
@TRAMBO_PATRIOT
Replying to @TheBloodyHounds @twiez07 and 3 others
Delta is the Amtrak of the skies. JetBlue is much better although they screw up too.
8:10 PM · Jul 16, 2017·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
crazy little chicken the movie
@_moonworm_
spirit is the amtrak of the sky
7:41 PM · Jan 13, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Dan Silvers (Mr Ags)
@blackswampradio
@AmericanAir is the Amtrak of the sky.
10:59 PM · Feb 20, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Dan Spencer
@cayankee
American Airlines has become the Amtrak of the skies. They can’t get anywhere on time and do not care. #AmericanAirlinesSuck
11:13 AM · Mar 12, 2018·Echofon
Twitter
NYC EMS Watch
@NYCEMSwatch
Replying to @NBCNewYork
Delta Airlines ...the Amtrak of the skies.
9:13 PM · Sep 25, 2018·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
@rjburnsva
Replying to @thepointsguy
If airlines get bailouts they must give up equity - all of it. Airlines become Amtrak of the skies.
5:38 PM · Mar 21, 2020 from Lansdowne, VA·Twitter for iPad
Twitter
Imoh
@imoh9
Replying to @BradStoney1776
Spirit airlines the greyhound/Amtrak of the skies
5:31 PM · Jul 16, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
BTO
@toverdrive_m
Replying to @catturd2
maybe they can focus on caring for on time flights and customers as well. “UA make a that a focus.” UA is nothing but gov’t airlines. The Amtrak of the sky. They lose money big gov’t there to back fill the losses.
2:10 PM · Apr 7, 2021·Twitter Web App