Amtrak Guest Rewards - First time on Amtrak

I'm planning my very first trip on Amtrak, and was hoping the community could help me out with a few questions.

1. I arrive at EWR by plane at 12 PM (no bags) and want to get on a train towards Maryland that departs at 12:57. Is this possible? or am I setting myself up for failure. Any instruction to help would be appreciated.


2. What is the best way to reduce the risk in case I miss the 12:57 train above. Are tickets refundable? or should I just buy the ticket once I get to the station and have an idea whether I'll make the train.

Thanks,

david

2. What is the best way to reduce the risk in case I miss the 12:57 train above. Are tickets refundable? or should I just buy the ticket once I get to the station and have an idea whether I'll make the train.Reservations are fully refundable as long as you haven't actually printed the ticket. Make your reservation beforehand, then print at the Quik-Trak machine when you get to the rail station. If you are running late, that reservation should auto-cancel. Just use the machine to make a new reservation and print.

Making a reservation ahead of time should at least give you the opportunity to get into a lower fare bucket.

Regarding your first question, this thread should help...http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards/1274054-southwest-arrival-ewr-35-minutes-enough-time.html

Reservations are fully refundable as long as you haven't actually printed the ticket. Make your reservation beforehand, then print at the Quik-Trak machine when you get to the rail station. If you are running late, that reservation should auto-cancel. Just use the machine to make a new reservation and print.

Making a reservation ahead of time should at least give you the opportunity to get into a lower fare bucket.

Regarding your first question, this thread should help...http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards/1274054-southwest-arrival-ewr-35-minutes-enough-time.html

Except, with e-tickets now, there will be no need to print an actual ticket from the QT machine. if you book your ticket online, you will receive an email with a .pdf that you can just print at home or show on your iPhone/smartPhone as your ticket.

However, please note, that if you are going to miss the train you are already scheduled for, you should call 1800usa-rail before the train is scheduled to depart so that you can be booked on the next train. Your reservation will automatically cancel after that.

The air train runs less frequently at night, so I would not count on getting onto the train in time. It is definitely doable but what I mean is that you have to take into account the flight arriving to the gate on-time, deplaning, getting to the air train stop at the terminal, waiting for the air train, the time the air train takes to get to the station, etc.

The next train south to Baltimore (you just said Maryland so I assumed BAL) isn't until 4:28, so as was stated before, I would just not get your ticket printed before you get to the train station at Newark. That way you don't lose some money in the event that you miss it.

Another option open to you (if you do indeed miss your train) is to take NJT north to Newark (NWK) and get a southbound Amtrak there.

The air train runs less frequently at night, so I would not count on getting onto the train in time. It is definitely doable but what I mean is that you have to take into account the flight arriving to the gate on-time, deplaning, getting to the air train stop at the terminal, waiting for the air train, the time the air train takes to get to the station, etc.

The next train south to Baltimore (you just said Maryland so I assumed BAL) isn't until 4:28, so as was stated before, I would just not get your ticket printed before you get to the train station at Newark. That way you don't lose some money in the event that you miss it.

Another option open to you (if you do indeed miss your train) is to take NJT north to Newark (NWK) and get a southbound Amtrak there.

He's arriving at noon and looking at the 12:57 pm train.

Given if you arrive late, it will most likely be due to the flight, calling before scheduled departure time might not be possible. I would suggest you book the later train and IF you get in on time try for the earlier train. If you have the choice of an unreserved train then you won't even have to call, just board. If they are reserved then call Amtrak and book the earlier. With eTickets, you won't need a new ticket, the QR code (aka BP) will work once they update your rez.

I'm planning my very first trip on Amtrak, and was hoping the community could help me out with a few questions.

david

First time trip on Amtrak as well - trying to book a trip from San Francisco to Sacramento the day after a wedding for the wife. There might be a chance she can hitch a ride from the attendees but won't know who has room till the wedding day, the night before. My questions:

1. With 10% refund fee (min $5), what are the chances of getting a ticket on that day either at the station or online?
2. Does ticket price increase (like airfare) for last minute booking?

Thanks.

2. Does ticket price increase (like airfare) for last minute booking?

For reserved trains, yes, because Amtrak sells out the lowest fare bucket first, then moves to the next-highest, and so on. Unlike airlines, they do not change seat prices dynamically depending on demand--the prices for each fare bucket are set for months at a time.

I have no experience with the route you mention, so I don't know what your chances are of getting a last-minute ticket. Hopefully, someone else can chime in there.

If you want a reserved train, it may be a better idea for you to just go ahead and buy the cheapest ticket available, with the risk of a 10% penalty, than to chance having to pay a much higher fare if you book last-minute. Check the fares for today's/tomorrow's trains to see what the highest fare is, then compare to the current fare you're offered for your travel date.

First time trip on Amtrak as well - trying to book a trip from San Francisco to Sacramento the day after a wedding for the wife. There might be a chance she can hitch a ride from the attendees but won't know who has room till the wedding day, the night before. My questions:

1. With 10% refund fee (min $5), what are the chances of getting a ticket on that day either at the station or online?
2. Does ticket price increase (like airfare) for last minute booking?

Thanks.
Most service between the Bay Area and Sacramento (Capitol Corridor) is unreserved. You can book on the day of travel at the same fare as advance purchase.

Traveling from San Francisco, your Amtrak fare includes a bus transfer from one of multiple SF locations (Ferry Bldg, Fisherman's Wharf, etc.) to Emeryville in the East Bay where you board the train.

First time trip on Amtrak as well - trying to book a trip from San Francisco to Sacramento the day after a wedding for the wife. There might be a chance she can hitch a ride from the attendees but won't know who has room till the wedding day, the night before. My questions:

1. With 10% refund fee (min $5), what are the chances of getting a ticket on that day either at the station or online?
2. Does ticket price increase (like airfare) for last minute booking?

Thanks.

First off, Amtrak does not have train service to/from SF. You must take a bus (or BART) to the east bay, either Jack London, Emeryville, or Richmond. There are two reserved trains, California Zephyr & Coast Starlight that run once a day, and Capitol Corridors which are unreserved and run many times a day. If you have AAA and buy three days in advance you get a 10% discount. CC tickets are good for a year from date of issue.

If you op for the bus connection, you will need to make your way to the Ferry Terminal Building. Of course that is presuming they don't have a service disruption or traffic issues. If you opt for BART, buy a ticket for Richmond where the two share a station. If someone is willing to drive you to the east bay, Jack London station is pretty easy to get in and out of.

Hope this helps.

Thanks all for your valuable inputs and ideas. I now have better idea of options available.

Yes, I know that the trip starts at Financial district area (we are staying at Stanford House - Marriott) so she can take a cab to the bus station that gets her to Emeryville. This will be Sunday am so I am not expecting that much traffic to the station.

I checked fare for tomorrow and next day, the fare is the same (whopping $31 so the penalty to cancel will be $5 should I get the ticket now).

Or just wait and get the ticket that am.

Thanks all for your valuable inputs and ideas. I now have better idea of options available.

Yes, I know that the trip starts at Financial district area (we are staying at Stanford House - Marriott) so she can take a cab to the bus station that gets her to Emeryville. This will be Sunday am so I am not expecting that much traffic to the station.

I checked fare for tomorrow and next day, the fare is the same (whopping $31 so the penalty to cancel will be $5 should I get the ticket now).

Or just wait and get the ticket that am.

You can definitely get the ticket that morning. You can buy the ticket in-person at 101 The Embarcadero (brown building directly south of the Ferry Building), or buy online at least 15 minutes before bus departure and pick up the ticket at 101 The Embarcadero. For an online ticket, you can either buy a QuikTrip ticket, where you print out the confirmation and scan it at the kiosk, or choose the pick up ticket from ticket agent option, where you present the ticket agent behind the counter with your picture ID to get your ticket.

After getting your ticket, the actual bus stop is on the curb, with a bus sign that says Amtrak.