Mistake fares?
Nov 10, 2015, 6:32 am
#1
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Mistake fares?
Do these ever happen? I'm trying to figure out how to hack Amtrak for a cross country trip next year. Loads of time and guessing hot deals will be best bet, but if there's a place to look for this, where would it be? Here? Any history?
Nov 10, 2015, 3:38 pm
#4
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The best tool I've seen for looking at large groups of dates at one time is called "Amsnag" - http://biketrain.net/amsnag/amSnag.php
That said, I've not heard of mistake fares either, but sometimes you might be able to get a full size bedroom for nearly the same price or cheaper than a roomette if you happen to catch the buckets right.
That said, I've not heard of mistake fares either, but sometimes you might be able to get a full size bedroom for nearly the same price or cheaper than a roomette if you happen to catch the buckets right.
Nov 10, 2015, 10:47 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
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The best tool I've seen for looking at large groups of dates at one time is called "Amsnag" - http://biketrain.net/amsnag/amSnag.php
Nov 12, 2015, 12:23 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
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The closest thing to a "mistake fare" would probably be how under the soon-to-be-overhauled AGR program, people used to concoct "circle" trips that passed through multiple zones but were only charged one zone because of where their trip began/ended. Most of those loopholes were eliminated a few years ago. And the whole zone system will be gone as of next year.
As far as true "mistake fares", like others I have never heard of one on Amtrak. Unlike air fares, which seem to change constantly, most Amtrak fares follow a fairly standard bucket system, which means Amtrak programmers are not constantly entering new fares into the system, which is how most airline mistake fares seem to be generated.
As far as true "mistake fares", like others I have never heard of one on Amtrak. Unlike air fares, which seem to change constantly, most Amtrak fares follow a fairly standard bucket system, which means Amtrak programmers are not constantly entering new fares into the system, which is how most airline mistake fares seem to be generated.
Nov 12, 2015, 12:37 pm
#7
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While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage.
)
While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage.
)
Nov 12, 2015, 1:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SEA
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I noticed this a while back. Definitely a mistake, although not something that can be taken advantage of. If only it would've priced like a regular Northeast Regional ticket.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...a-chicago.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...a-chicago.html
Nov 14, 2015, 6:56 am
#9
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While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage. )
While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage.
)FWIW, I just checked 10/5/16 and NYP-WAS is selling at $53 and NYP-ALX is selling at $68, and I assume that far out, both are selling at low (A) bucket, so it should be an apples-to-apples comparison.
Nov 14, 2015, 10:42 am
#10
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In a given bucket (A/B/C/D/E), is NYP-ALX actually cheaper than NYP-WAS? Or is it just that at the time you were looking, the long-distance train was selling at low bucket and the Regional was fuller and selling at a higher bucket?
FWIW, I just checked 10/5/16 and NYP-WAS is selling at $53 and NYP-ALX is selling at $68, and I assume that far out, both are selling at low (A) bucket, so it should be an apples-to-apples comparison.
Yes, I expect that the long-distance train had a lower fare bucket than the Regionals. But if one never bothered to search for NYP-ALX, the lower-fare option would not have been discovered, as NYP-WAS is not sold on the long-distance trains.
Originally Posted by jackal
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While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage. )
While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage.
)FWIW, I just checked 10/5/16 and NYP-WAS is selling at $53 and NYP-ALX is selling at $68, and I assume that far out, both are selling at low (A) bucket, so it should be an apples-to-apples comparison.
Nov 16, 2015, 12:27 pm
#11
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While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage. )
While I have likewise never heard of "mistake" fares on Amtrak, do not overlook the possibility of "point-beyond" ("hidden city") fares. In the past, I have occasionally found NYP-ALX fares on long-distance trains (that do not carry passengers locally between NYP and WAS) that were lower than NYP-WAS fares on the Regionals.
As far as I know, Amtrak tariffs do not prohibit a passenger's use of point-beyond fares for travel to an intermediate point along the ticketed route. (Just don't check any baggage.
)
Nov 16, 2015, 3:02 pm
#12
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This is true. But for the novice rider, don't try this in the opposite direction. With e-ticketing, if you're a no-show you run the danger of having your ticket canceled. Granted, this is unlikely to happen during the short distance between ALX-WAS. But if you use this particular "hack" then you would probably just be better off in actually boarding in ALX (easily accessible via the Metro).
Nov 20, 2015, 8:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,618
Hi -
I did not see this thread so I posted a ticket I bought on amtrak.com. I bought a ticket between two points over 200 miles apart. $1.00 on the way out, $0.90 on the way back ( I remembered to ask for my AAA discount!).
Sure sounds like a mistake fare to me. I have a paper copy of my ticket.
I did not see this thread so I posted a ticket I bought on amtrak.com. I bought a ticket between two points over 200 miles apart. $1.00 on the way out, $0.90 on the way back ( I remembered to ask for my AAA discount!).
Sure sounds like a mistake fare to me. I have a paper copy of my ticket.
Nov 28, 2015, 10:06 am
#14
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Sorry, was away from internet a while. Where was that ticket???
Thanks all for the amsnag and hidden ticket ideas. I'll mess with these in following months.
I, for some reason, have a perverse desire to end my RTW trip by hiking the AT and then going by land to Colorado (a wedding) and maybe to the NW after (haven't decided where to live yet) as cheap as possible. Whilst it would be stupid cheaper to do mega buses for $1 etc I think I don't want to punish myself that badly. Another interesting option would be to go by Via Rail but I'm guessing it's a similar story to Amtrak.
Thanks all for the amsnag and hidden ticket ideas. I'll mess with these in following months.
I, for some reason, have a perverse desire to end my RTW trip by hiking the AT and then going by land to Colorado (a wedding) and maybe to the NW after (haven't decided where to live yet) as cheap as possible. Whilst it would be stupid cheaper to do mega buses for $1 etc I think I don't want to punish myself that badly. Another interesting option would be to go by Via Rail but I'm guessing it's a similar story to Amtrak.
Nov 28, 2015, 11:11 am
#15
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