Originally Posted by
Phlebas
Does the trick where you (1) buy online, (2) never pick up the ticket from the Quicktrak machine, and then (3) get a full refund to your credit card automatically, work with fares like these that state they are nonrefundable? Thanks.
Yes, except the credit is not automatic. You have to cancel online before the train departs or call after the train departs for them to process the refund.
(I could have sworn I heard somewhere that Amtrak automatically cancels and refunds unticketed reservations 48 hours after scheduled departure, but I have been told that is incorrect. A test a few months ago indicated it was incorrect as well.)