I upgraded my Amtrak seat to a 23-square-foot roomette by bidding $110. Here’s what the 15-hour train ride was like.

I upgraded my ticket through Amtrak’s BidUp program. About 37 hours before my trip, Amtrak provided a price range for bids and asked how much I’d like to wager for an upgrade.

Since I was traveling in coach, I had the opportunity to bid on a business-class seat, a roomette, or a bedroom.

A few hours after wagering $110, the minimum bid I could place on a roomette, I received an email telling me that Amtrak had accepted it and upgraded my ticket.

I spent a total of $226 on my trip, which includes the $110 I paid for the upgrade. If I’d booked a roomette initially instead of upgrading, I would’ve likely paid over $500.