I traveled in first and business class on trains across Europe. There was just a $3 difference, but the cheaper one was better.

Joey HaddenJul 30, 2024, 22:07 IST

Business Insider's reporter compared every aspect of first and business class on two different Trenitalia trains in Europe.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I rode a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train from Venice to Rome in business class in October 2022.
A few days later, I rode a Trenitalia EuroCity train from Milan to Zürich in first class.

In October 2022, I traveled around Italy and Switzerland by train and tried business and first-class cars in hopes of having luxurious, comfortable travel experiences.

First, I took a 4-hour business-class train from Venice to Rome, which covers 327 miles.

A few days later, I rode in first class on a 3.5-hour train from Milan to Zürich, which is about 135 miles.

I booked both trains through Trenitalia, Italy's largest operator that runs several fleets. The trains provided varying experiences for premium classes like business and first. Here's how they compared.

For my business-class experience, I rode a train from the Frecciarossa series.

The author gets ready to board a business-class car on the Frecciarossa.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For my first-class ride, I was on EuroCity, a collaboration with several European train companies including Trenitalia.

The Eurocity train arrives in Milan.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

To travel by train in Europe, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days.

The author's tickets on a train ride in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For my business-class Trenitalia trip, I paid an additional $10 to upgrade my Eurail ticket. For my first-class ride, I paid an additional $13 to upgrade.

The author's business (top) and first-class (bottom) tickets to ride.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I was surprised to find that the business-class ride on the Frecciarossa gave me a more luxurious experience than the first-class ride on the EuroCity train.

The author rides Trenitalia trains in business (L) and first (R) class.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On both trains, the configuration was two seats on one side of the aisle and one seat on the other.

Inside a business-class car on a Frecciarossa train in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On the business-class ride, I thought we had adequate legroom.

Legroom on the business-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'm not sure exactly how much legroom I had for the EuroCity ride, but it felt less.

Legroom on the first-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In business class, I sat in what I thought was the most comfortable train seat I've ever experienced.

The author's seat in business class.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the first-class seat was similar in size but less comfortable. It didn't seem to recline and, to me, felt thinner and stiffer than business class.

The author sits in first class.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought both train cars provided adequate overhead bin storage for luggage.

Overhead bins on the business-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While the first-class ride had less luggage space underneath seats, additional storage was at the end of the car.

Storage space on the first-class ride.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On both trains, the seats had a table in the middle that folded out on either side for additional space.

A seating section with tables in business class.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Although I don't know for certain, I thought the tables on the first-class ride were smaller since mine wasn't large enough to fit my laptop.

A seating configuration with a table in first class.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Both trains included a shared trash can for each grouping of seats.

The in-seat trash can on the business-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the first-class trash can was tiny.

The trash can closed (L) and opened (R) on the first-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Both trains also had working outlets to charge devices at each seat.

An outlet on the business-class train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After the business-class train departed, attendants greeted passengers with complimentary snacks and drinks.

Snacks and beverages from the business-class train attendants.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On the first-class ride, attendants only came by at the beginning to collect tickets.

Inside the first-class train car.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After a couple of hours of waiting for someone to take my order, I went to the café car instead and purchased snacks.

The cafe car (L) and the author's food purchase at her seat (R).Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the bathroom felt spacious and clean in business class, with blue lighting and a large mirror above the sink.

Inside the business-class bathroom.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On the first-class ride, I didn't notice anything special about the bathroom.

The author uses the first-class bathroom.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I ultimately decided that the elevated bathroom, couch-like seat, and attendants serving snacks and drinks in business class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa train made me feel more like a luxury traveler.

Snapshots from the author's business-class ride.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I ultimately decided that the elevated bathroom, couch-like seat, and attendants serving snacks and drinks in business class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa train made me feel more like a luxury traveler.

At the same time, I was surprised to find that my first-class ride on Trenitalia's EuroCity train didn't feel much different from coach experiences I've had, save for the larger seats.

Snapshots from the author's first-class ride.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

At the same time, I was surprised to find that my first-class ride on Trenitalia's EuroCity train didn't feel much different from coach experiences I've had, save for the larger seats.

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I traveled in first and business class on trains across Europe. There was just a $3 difference, but the cheaper one was better.

For my business-class experience, I rode a train from the Frecciarossa series.

For my first-class ride, I was on EuroCity, a collaboration with several European train companies including Trenitalia.

To travel by train in Europe, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days.

For my business-class Trenitalia trip, I paid an additional $10 to upgrade my Eurail ticket. For my first-class ride, I paid an additional $13 to upgrade.

I was surprised to find that the business-class ride on the Frecciarossa gave me a more luxurious experience than the first-class ride on the EuroCity train.

On both trains, the configuration was two seats on one side of the aisle and one seat on the other.

On the business-class ride, I thought we had adequate legroom.

I'm not sure exactly how much legroom I had for the EuroCity ride, but it felt less.

In business class, I sat in what I thought was the most comfortable train seat I've ever experienced.

I thought the first-class seat was similar in size but less comfortable. It didn't seem to recline and, to me, felt thinner and stiffer than business class.

I thought both train cars provided adequate overhead bin storage for luggage.

While the first-class ride had less luggage space underneath seats, additional storage was at the end of the car.

On both trains, the seats had a table in the middle that folded out on either side for additional space.

Although I don't know for certain, I thought the tables on the first-class ride were smaller since mine wasn't large enough to fit my laptop.

Both trains included a shared trash can for each grouping of seats.

I thought the first-class trash can was tiny.

Both trains also had working outlets to charge devices at each seat.

After the business-class train departed, attendants greeted passengers with complimentary snacks and drinks.

On the first-class ride, attendants only came by at the beginning to collect tickets.

After a couple of hours of waiting for someone to take my order, I went to the café car instead and purchased snacks.

I thought the bathroom felt spacious and clean in business class, with blue lighting and a large mirror above the sink.

On the first-class ride, I didn't notice anything special about the bathroom.

I ultimately decided that the elevated bathroom, couch-like seat, and attendants serving snacks and drinks in business class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa train made me feel more like a luxury traveler.

At the same time, I was surprised to find that my first-class ride on Trenitalia's EuroCity train didn't feel much different from coach experiences I've had, save for the larger seats.