Amtrak Guest Rewards - Free Student Advantage enrollment?

I'm attempting to renew my Student Advantage membership. According to this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2485003&postcount=7), I can get a free Student Advantage membership by inputting an Amtrak ticket number in the promotion code field.

Unfortunately, all of my Amtrak ticket numbers are coming back as an "invalid promotional code."

My last ticket was on Acela on 3/23/06--is this too old? Any idea why this isn't working? Did they quit the promotion?

Thanks,
Jackal

According to this post ... Did they quit the promotion?l
I really don't know, but note the date of that post is August 2, 2003 - over 3 years ago! :eek: It's possible that the info is no longer valid!

Yeah, I saw that and was hoping that wasn't the case...

It's not that they quit the promotion, it's just that they closed the loophole!
Amtrak sells (used to sell?) Student Advantage memberships. They issued them on normal Amtrak ticket stock and there was no way for Student Advantage to verify that the number was actually from a prepaid membership. After the loophole was widely abused, it was closed.

Ah, so it wasn't ever a promotion--it was taking advantage of a flaw in their computer system! I get it.

Before I drop the $20 to renew my membership (or the $50 on a four-year so I can travel Amtrak cheaply for several more years--even after I graduate), any other promotions (or loopholes) I should know about?

Ah, so it wasn't ever a promotion--it was taking advantage of a flaw in their computer system! I get it.

Before I drop the $20 to renew my membership (or the $50 on a four-year so I can travel Amtrak cheaply for several more years--even after I graduate), any other promotions (or loopholes) I should know about?


It was a promo - once it was publicized here on FT, it hit FatWallet & then got really out of hand!

It was a promo - once it was publicized here on FT, it hit FatWallet & then got really out of hand!

I wouldn't really call it a promo. It was a glitch. The Student Advantage system couldn't differentiate between Amtrak ticket numbers for "tickets" used to purchase a Student Advantage membership and for ordinary tickets used for train travel.

Ah, so it wasn't ever a promotion--it was taking advantage of a flaw in their computer system! I get it.

Before I drop the $20 to renew my membership (or the $50 on a four-year so I can travel Amtrak cheaply for several more years--even after I graduate), any other promotions (or loopholes) I should know about?

Personally, unless you use the Student Advantage for other things, I wouldn't bother keeping it, because you can do better with H570 and H571 discounts that offer 25% and 20% discounts respectively, and can be booked as late as the day of travel (unlike three days ahead with Student Advantage). Of course, Student Advantage discounts can still be used on holidays whereas most (if not all) Amtrak discount codes can't be.

H570 and H571 discounts that offer 25% and 20% discounts respectively
Any idea what the codes are for? I'm a little nervous about "stealing" codes I'm not authorized to use. That just goes against my grain. If they're perfectly legitimate, though, then thanks for the tip.

Can any of these discounts (SA, H570/571/etc.) be used for the North American Rail Pass? I'm debating doing that this winter...see if I can cover every major Amtrak line in the country in 30 days! :-)

Any idea what the codes are for? I'm a little nervous about "stealing" codes I'm not authorized to use. That just goes against my grain. If they're perfectly legitimate, though, then thanks for the tip.
Most any of the discount codes (H570, H571, etc...) that you see listed here on FT can be used by ANYONE :D ! (The exceptions will be specified.) Don't worry about "stealing" them.

Can any of these discounts (SA, H570/571/etc.) be used for the North American Rail Pass? I'm debating doing that this winter...see if I can cover every major Amtrak line in the country in 30 days! :-)
I don't know, but I think the only "discount" for the NA Rail Pass is a senior discount! :( AFAIK, there are only 2 fares, adult and senior.

I wouldn't really call it a promo. It was a glitch. The Student Advantage system couldn't differentiate between Amtrak ticket numbers for "tickets" used to purchase a Student Advantage membership and for ordinary tickets used for train travel.


True - but it was a promo in the sense that one could get a free SA membership if they were a student using Amtrak. It was just a glitch that any AGR ticket number would work (to the point where you could just make up a AGR ticket number without ever traveling).

Any idea what the codes are for? I'm a little nervous about "stealing" codes I'm not authorized to use. That just goes against my grain. If they're perfectly legitimate, though, then thanks for the tip.

I'm not sure about H571, but H570 was intended to encourage AGR members who hadn't taken the train in a while, to consider returning and riding Amtrak. However any AGR member can use the code, but you must comply with the restrictions of making your reservation with a live agent and picking up your tickets from an actual agent. And that agent is supposed to verify that you do indeed have and AGR card in your name. Otherwise he/she is not supposed to issue the tickets.

Can any of these discounts (SA, H570/571/etc.) be used for the North American Rail Pass? I'm debating doing that this winter...see if I can cover every major Amtrak line in the country in 30 days! :-)

I would be highly surprised if any code ever works on the NAR Pass, as the pass is already providing a hefty discount over normal ticket prices.