Amtrak Guest Rewards - Reduced fares for same day travel

guys

I checked amtrak for a fare yesterday in the northeast and today it's 30% lower for travel in the afternoon. Does amtrak reduce fares if plenty of seats are available? If so, is it likely the fares will go back up closer to the hour of travel or they are likely to stay lowered? I'm only asking is that there's a 10% change of me canceling my trip hence want to wait till about an hour before the train departure time

thx

There have been reports, here and elsewhere, that Amtrak is more actively managing ticket prices now.

Why not book the ticket and cancel? There's no charge if you cancel before printing it out.

Really? didn't know that - ok will do that

ALso, do i need a printout of the ticket or can i just email it to my smartphone and show the ticket inspector?

Thx

You will need the physical ticket. Aside from a couple of routes, there are no e-tickets yet on Amtrak.

My long-distance roomette trip tomorrow was booked two months ago at a fairly high bucket. Roomette fares were at the max until this morning, when they dropped to a much lower bucket. I just called to reprice and scored a $71 refund. ^

If i don't print, will i get 100% refund or 90% refund back?

Thx

If i don't print, will i get 100% refund or 90% refund back?

Thx100%. Full rules here:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267362242

100%. Full rules here:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267362242

Refund and Exchange Policy

Once the value of a refund has been calculated, based on the rules applying to the fare paid, passengers have two options to receive the refund value:

eVoucher: Passengers may receive the calculated refund value in the form of an eVoucher or in some limited situations, in the form of a non-refundable paper Exchange Voucher. Both are valid for future travel purchases and can only be redeemed at an Amtrak ticket office. Visit eVouchers for more details about this new ticket exchange option.
Refund: When some or all of the amount paid for a conventional ticket is eligible for a refund, passengers may receive the calculated refund value, less a 10% refund fee, in the form of cash, check or as a credit to the credit card used to pay for the travel, depending on the form of payment that was used for the ticket being refunded. The maximum amount of the refund service charge will be $100 per refund transaction on any single reservation. The 10% refund service charge applies to the actual amount refunded. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to speak with an Amtrak Reservations Agent for details.

It looks like 100% if in the form of a voucher, 90% if actual refund. Am I reading this wrong?

It looks like 100% if in the form of a voucher, 90% if actual refund. Am I reading this wrong?

So long as you call in prior to the departure time of the train, IME, I've always gotten 100% as a refund on my card.

I see what you mean about the 10% in the T&C; I don't think I've ever been hit by it...?

So long as you call in prior to the departure time of the train, IME, I've always gotten 100% as a refund on my card.

I see what you mean about the 10% in the T&C; I don't think I've ever been hit by it...?

The penalty is only assessed if you need to refund a ticket that you've already printed out. As long as it hasn't been ticketed and is only an electronic reservation, you can refund it in full any time.

The penalty is only assessed if you need to refund a ticket that you've already printed out. As long as it hasn't been ticketed and is only an electronic reservation, you can refund it in full any time.

Yeah, that's exactly right. I wonder why they don't spell it out a bit more clearly in the T&C list. Or maybe they did, and I'm just being a scatterbrain as usual! :rolleyes:

Yeah, that's exactly right. I wonder why they don't spell it out a bit more clearly in the T&C list. Or maybe they did, and I'm just being a scatterbrain as usual! :rolleyes:I also don't see where in the T/C's the no-printout/no-penalty rule is listed.

I also don't see where in the T/C's the no-printout/no-penalty rule is listed.

It's alluded to by the fact that the refund penalty verbiage specifies refunds to tickets.

If you haven't printed your ticket, then technically, you do not have a ticket. You simply have an electronic reservation. The reservation is not ticketed until you print the ticket out. If you do not have a ticket, then you don't fall under the ticket refund rules.

It just so happens that there are no published rules governing the refund of unticketed electronic reservations. Fortunately, by default, we get the full amount refunded. ;)

It's alluded to by the fact that the refund penalty verbiage specifies refunds to tickets.

If you haven't printed your ticket, then technically, you do not have a ticket. You simply have an electronic reservation. The reservation is not ticketed until you print the ticket out. If you do not have a ticket, then you don't fall under the ticket refund rules.

It just so happens that there are no published rules governing the refund of unticketed electronic reservations. Fortunately, by default, we get the full amount refunded. ;)

It will be interesting to see if this changes when they move to e-ticketing on all routes.

It will be interesting to see if this changes when they move to e-ticketing on all routes.

Oh gosh, I hope not. But since they're going to start issuing the etix (with ticket no.) right on the spot, I don't see how they would avoid it. Plus, it would be a nice chunk of change for them as far as additional (incidental) revenues go.