Amtrak Guest Rewards - Tips on booking the Acela Express

I will be traveling to NYC and Boston. Having studied in Boston and worked for Wall Street firms, I have fond memories of the Acela Express and want to take it to Boston.

Anyplace where I can find tips? How far does one generally book Acela Express tickets and can you book one ahead and generally get on an earlier train? I will probably take the train midday on a Monday or Tuesday so do not expect it to be hectic.

I will be traveling to NYC and Boston. Having studied in Boston and worked for Wall Street firms, I have fond memories of the Acela Express and want to take it to Boston.

Anyplace where I can find tips? How far does one generally book Acela Express tickets and can you book one ahead and generally get on an earlier train? I will probably take the train midday on a Monday or Tuesday so do not expect it to be hectic.

There's a whole forum here dedicated to Amtrak (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards-399/). Ask a mod to move the thread...you'll get lots of responses.

Acela trains are reserved. Meaning you have to have a ticket for the train you are riding. I would look now at booking your train. The fare buckets only go up, so you can lock in your price. If you decide to take an earlier train, you will probably find that the cheaper buckets are sold out and you'll have to pay the fare difference.

You can book tickets now for Acela trains this afternoon if you wanted, so you can book as long as there are seats left. The longer you wait though the higher the price may be.

I don't believe you can take an earlier train, without changing the ticket and paying any fare difference, you reserve a seat on a particular train. You can not just show up for an earlier train with a ticket for a later one.

Moving this thread over to the Amtrak forum for the experts there to address. Thanks! :) /JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator

You can book tickets now for Acela trains this afternoon if you wanted, so you can book as long as there are seats left. The longer you wait though the higher the price may be.

I don't believe you can take an earlier train, you reserve a seat on a particular train.
You can take an earlier train. You simply need to have the ticket changed and pay, if there is one, the add/collect for the fare difference, if there is one.

You should book your tickets online and for one way segments only. You can then easily change a reservation where you have not printed out the ticket by calling, using the iPhone app, going online, or if you must seeing an agent. The quik tix machines seem to have an issue changing a reservation if the fare has changed. I will frequently take an earlier train, and make the reservation change as I head to the station. You then scan the bar code on your original print out at the machine and retrieve your ticket. If you book roundtrip, when you print your tickets for the first segment the return will print out, and to change you will need to see an agent - after waiting on line.

Sign up for Guestrewards if you do not belong already. Points add up quickly on the Acela, and there is a double points promotion now that you need to register for.

As others have mentioned there are 5 fare buckets. Fares go up as tickets are sold and never go down even where there are cancelations.

Spring for first class. Use the lounges in NY, Boston and DC. Tip the first class crew when you get off.

Use a redcap - you will get to pre- board and have a choice of seats. Well worth the tip even if you have no luggage.

Tip the first class crew when you get off.



Totally optional.

Spring for first class.Disagree. For $70, you get a slightly larger seat, a bad meal, and a car full of people who talk on their cell phones the entire ride. I throw away my first class upgrade certificates and ride in the quiet car instead.

As others have mentioned there are 5 fare buckets. Fares go up as tickets are sold and never go down even where there are cancelations.


Actually this has changed in the last 3-6 months. It appears that acela trains are all being opened up in a sort of middle bucket and then prices are going down closer to travel.

At least this has been my experience in taking three separate weekend trips BOS - PHL (roundtrip) since January.

prices are going down closer to travel
Absolutely the opposite of my experience (although I do not take Acelas on weekends, only on weekdays).

I agree with BeantownFlyer's recommendations in most respects, except for these: Spring for first class.

Tip the first class crew when you get off.

Use a redcap - you will get to pre- board and have a choice of seats. Well worth the tip even if you have no luggage.
First class is not worth paying for. If you have upgrade certs, then by all means utilize them, but I agree with Blumie that a middling meal, a couple of drinks, and a nearly-imperceptibly larger seat are not a reason to pay the very high premium over business class. A seat in the lounge, at least in NYP (I don't know what BOS's lounge is like), is not much of a draw--packets of pretzels, free soda, and a windowless, crowded room with a TV that's playing too loud.

As for tipping first class crew, I do not do it, don't see the need to do it, and don't like the hands-out attitude of the staff.

Paying a redcap is not necessary to get a good seat, at least in NYP; use the "mezzanine strategy" (see other threads for a description) and you will always get a seat as good as the redcap can get you.

Disagree. I throw away my first class upgrade certificates and ride in the quiet car instead.

Really, are you crazy? You're welcome to send them to me! :D

I enjoy first class on the Acela, especially on the longer trips to Boston - the meals aren't that bad and it's great to enjoy some drinks.

I use the upgrade certs on the PHL-MET leg. Honestly, the lack of getting pushed and shoved when boarding F instead of J makes it worth it in and of itself.