Amtrak Guest Rewards - Using reverse trip on award ticket?

Does anyone have an experience trying to use an award ticket in reverse? I have a WAS-EWR ticket with me and am flying into EWR in the next few days and will travel EWR-WAS.

If I have to pay then I strongly prefer to fly so do not want to trek over to the train station only to be rejected.

Never done it myself, but the GR T&C sounds like it's possible to request a change-- in advance.D. Claiming Rewards
7. Returns and exchanges on the train will not be allowed and any changes to the ticket or reservation for Program Reward travel on Amtrak should be made at least 2 weeks prior to travel through the Amtrak Guest Rewards service center. Returns and exchanges may be made at the Amtrak station within 2 weeks of travel, but will be subject to availability and Point and monetary penalty. Members may exchange Program Reward tickets for Amtrak travel for equal or lesser value; upgrade service cannot be paid for.

Thanks. I figured the official rules would be like that but was wondering if they would let it slide.

However, my question is moot because all the travel on Sunday requires Reserved tickets. Is it peak season related or GOP convention?

Also, the reserved ticket is about $100 one way. That's not very competitive with Air Indy's $112 walk-up tickets and UA matches the fare too.

[QUOTE=gnaget]Thanks. I figured the official rules would be like that but was wondering if they would let it slide.

However, my question is moot because all the travel on Sunday requires Reserved tickets. Is it peak season related or GOP convention?
QUOTE]

Pretty sure it's GOP related.

Amtrak sent out an email that announced there was no unreserved service on this route during the convention.

But for the security restriction imposed by the RNC, which make all trains reserved trains, you would have been able to use your ticket in reverse.

As long as you are not changing the city pair, which you indicated is the case, the conductor wouldn't care that your ticket read WAS-EWR and you were trying to travel EWR-WAS. The value of the normal ticket is the same and therefore Amtrak wouldn't care.

If you ever did get a conductor that gave you a hard time, just tell him that the northbound conductor lifted the wrong ticket. :)

Amtrak sent out an email that announced there was no unreserved service on this route during the convention.

Here's Amtrak's press release on the RNC:


SECURITY, TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Amtrak is taking several measures during the week of the Republican National Convention in New York City to ensure smooth and safe travel for passengers.

Train Service

Amtrak will operate its normal schedule during the Republican National Convention. The majority of all trains operating in the Northeast Corridor (Boston-New York-Washington, D.C.) during this time will require passengers to make reservations ahead of time. The reservation requirement for the week of August 28- September 2 is designed to ensure passengers a seat on the train. It will also enable Amtrak to adjust train capacity according to passenger demand. Amtrak recommends that reservations be made at least 24 hours in advance of travel by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or logging onto www.amtrak.com.

The only trains not requiring reservations will be the three weekend roundtrip Keystone trains and the nine weekday roundtrip Keystone and Clocker trains, which service New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Multi-ride tickets (i.e. monthly commuter passes) will still be honored on trains that currently accept them.

Amtrak's existing policy requiring photo ID to purchase tickets will remain during the convention.

Baggage Screening

Passengers are required to have identification tags on all baggage, both checked and carry-on. Starting Monday, August 30 through Thursday, September 2 checked baggage at New York Penn Station will be screened by the Transportation Security Administration. Passengers are asked to allow extra time for this process. Also, carry-on baggage may be subject to on-board police check.

Access to New York Penn Station

Beginning Saturday, August 28 most entrance/exits at New York Penn Station will be closed. The following access will be available:

Only two entrances will be open: 7th Avenue at 32nd Street and at 34th Street during the convention.
Red Cap service will be available at these two locations and at the taxi stand.
Access between the 7th and 8th Avenue subway lines and Penn Station will remain open.
Access for mobility-impaired passengers will be available via the 34th Street entrance elevator.
Taxi pick-up and drop-off will be located on 32nd Street between 5th and 6th avenues.
Security Precautions

Stepped-up security measures will be in place on all trains to and from New York Penn Station during the week of August 28-September 2. All trains will undergo security sweeps prior to their initial departure and passengers should expect to see police inspections while en-route. Other measures such as the use of K-9 security teams may also be visible at New York Penn Station and other stations on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak is advising passengers of the potential for delays and to please allow extra time for your travels. Passengers are also urged to report any suspicious activity to a train or station employee. Amtrak Police can be reached at 1-800-331-0008 or contact local authorities by dialing 911.

New York Pennsylvania Station is Amtrak's busiest station, serving over eight million arriving and departing Amtrak passengers annually. The station is also served by New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road, which together carry the majority of rail passengers in and out of New York. More than 1,000 trains move in and out of the station on a typical weekday, including 138 Amtrak trains.


The full press release can be found on the Amtrak site by clicking here. (http://www.amtrak.com/press/atk20040825084.html)

But for the security restriction imposed by the RNC, which make all trains reserved trains, you would have been able to use your ticket in reverse.

As long as you are not changing the city pair, which you indicated is the case, the conductor wouldn't care that your ticket read WAS-EWR and you were trying to travel EWR-WAS. The value of the normal ticket is the same and therefore Amtrak wouldn't care.

If you ever did get a conductor that gave you a hard time, just tell him that the northbound conductor lifted the wrong ticket. :)

Good to know, thanks.

The latter would have been my exact strategy. :) The only thing is that they check the ticket when you exit the EWR monorail system. Well, at worst they would have charged me the $5.

Good to know, thanks.

The latter would have been my exact strategy. :) The only thing is that they check the ticket when you exit the EWR monorail system. Well, at worst they would have charged me the $5.

Even that shouldn't matter, you're ticket still included the monorail surcharge, so the fact that you are using it backwards still shouldn't matter. Frankly I wonder just how hard they scrutinize the ticket/stub anyhow.

But bottom line is you paid the money via the Amtrak ticket, so it shouldn't matter one way or the other that you are using the ticket backwards.

I get these award tickets primarily in the event that I need to take the train to EWR (nominally 3 hours) from WAS. However, I figure that I might as well get a WAS-NYC ticket in case I want to use it to go to the city.

But whenever I use a NYC-WAS they bag me for the $5. Actually, last time I used it EWR-WAS there was an Amtrak employee at the monorail gate who told them not to charge me after I explained to her that it was an award ticket and used the argument that the routing was arbitrary.

$5 is not a big deal but it's annoying. The nominal value of a NYC-WAS ticket is higher than EWR-WAS.

p.s I wound up taking Indy Air. It only cost $62 one way as a walk-up. Very odd since it was $112 according to the website the night before.

Has anybody tried to use an award ticket for Acela Express in reverse? I might have to go from NYC to Washington and it would work best to get an award ticket on Acela Express for the way down and then fly back. I might end up needing just to take Acela Express back and am hoping I can just use my award ticket for NYC-Washington on the Washington-NYC trip instead or at another date; I won't know, though, until a day or two before the trip.

I assume that Amtrak award tickets have tons of language printed on them stating that they are award tickets, which would make this process a pain if I have to change the tickets two weeks in advance.

Thanks for any feedback.

I would imagine that your chances are not as good in getting away with it on the Acela.

If you have the points then get both and return the unused one. Anyway, according to the timetable, the time savings on Acela is marginal. If you are in a hurry then fly.

It's hard to say what might happen. If the train isn't sold out, then you might well get a conductor that will accept the ticket, even though you're traveling the wrong way and on the wrong train. If the train is sold out, then you might get put off or told to sit in the cafe car. After all Acela is an all reserved service and your train # is clearly printed on the ticket.

On the other hand, I've used a ticket for a reserved Empire Service train on the wrong train. Mind you I was supposed to get off the train I was on in Syracuse, then catch a later train to Buffalo. However, since it was pouring rain and we were running late, I decided to stay onboard the original train. The conductor accepted the other ticket from me.

I'd probably stop by the ticket counter though first and see if they can't do something for you though. Many of the normal rules that apply to Amtrak tickets outside of the NEC, don't apply to the NEC. So they may well be able to cut you a new ticket, even though it's a GR ticket.

Thanks for the feedback on use of award tickets-- very helpful information!

-NYCommuter