$1k is on the high end, if you were traveling Dec. 23rd or something like that. The last time I did this the price was $680 per person, which again is more expensive than a flight, but for me was totally worth it and so much more enjoyable than a flight I don't know if I'll ever fly home again. However, to each their own. I fully understand this isn't for everyone.

For most short-to-medium-length flights, first class merely upgrades you from a seat that is massively larger than a small child to a seat that is even more massively larger than the child. You’re still stuck on a plane with a fasten seatbelt lights for exactly the same amount of time. (Maybe longer because first class often comes with early boarding.)

One of the things that needs to change is that the pricing becomes more reasonable.

I believe that the US has terrible passenger rail, so it makes sense for things to be overly expensive, but in Europe this is a major problem too. One fair fix would be to start taxing flying more (e.g. fuel is untaxed right now) and actually give tax benefits to trains.