River in Sight

I haven't seen this mentioned on here before - when I went to book a ticket today, I was presented with the option to buy "Quik-Trip Travel Protection" for $6.50 (this was on a $99 Acela ticket). For the $6.50, I would get..

• Trip Delay Protection (for delays of 6 hours of more)
• $1,000 of baggage protection for electronics or sporting goods
• 24/7 travel support

The screen looked quite similar to what US Airways offers during their ticket purchase process. Anyway, of course I declined this protection as I don't see any real value - as anyone seen this before or is it new to Amtrak? I'm booking tickets on Amtrak.com all the time and I'm almost certain this is new.

ByeByeDelta

Hmmm... There is no value for Acela - you can't check bags and how often is the train 6+ hours late?

For long distance trains, Amtrak does a good job with checked baggage. I've never heard any complaints. While delays of 6+ hours can happen, I would say the occurrence of such delays has decreased dramatically in the past year or two.

I wonder what the 24/7 travel support covers.

AlanB

jkm,

It's brand new. I just noticed it for the first time today also, and I had booked something last week and on this past Sunday, so it's new as of Monday.

fairviewroad

I wonder if the "protection" is priced relative to the cost of the ticket. For instance, could you buy "protection" on a short-distance $25 Regional ticket for, say, $1.45? (Not that there would be much point to that) Conversely, on a $500 L-D sleeper ticket, would the cost be $40-ish?

And I wonder what "trip delay protection" means? Do they come whisk you off the train once it hits the 6-hour late mark and escort you to a private jet? I mean, if your connection is guaranteed Amtrak is already going to take care of you in the event of a long delay...unless, of course, this new policy means that if you miss a guaranteed connection, you're on your own unless you bought this, um, "protection", which is now sounding more and more like the kind of protection you pay to Vinny in South Philly (no offense intended).

I guess the 6-hour delay "protection" could mean you get your money back if the train is that late. I guess if the price was right, I'd roll that set of dice...

River in Sight

Fairview Road - I just booked a booked a long distance sleeper ticket for this week for $170 or so (I'm not going very far). I was offered the Quik-Trip for $8.50 - maybe yesterday it was also $8.50, not $6.50, and I just got confused.

Anyway, I read the details.. At the six hour delay mark, you're entitled to $150 for meals and accommodation. The 24-hour travel hotline was kind of vague, but it said that it was a number that you could call to get advice on medical emergencies and the like. Finally, there is the $1,000 coverage for electronics and sporting equipment.

I can't really see how people would find much value with this - Amtrak trains are late 6 or more hours relatively rarely nowadays. On the flip side, I could certainly see this being ripe for fraud - if someone bought a ticket for travel from two downline stations after the train had already left its origin, they might know ahead of time that it'd be six hours late.

For instance, let's say that the Cap Limited leaves Washington this afternoon and runs into some mechanical trouble. Someone could monitor this, I would think, and if it became clear that the delay would be more than 6 hours they could buy a cheap ticket from South Bend to Chicago - along with this coverage.

Not something that I would do, personally, but it seems that this company has left a loophole unless Amtrak.com is smart enough to not offer this service in those circumstances.

fairviewroad

Thanks for the additional details, jkm024.

The $150 offer is OK, I suppose. The only time I was on a 6+ hour late train, everyone on board was offered a free meal anyway. And while I've never needed it, Amtrak (like airlines) has been known to place people in a hotel in the event of a missed connection. So again, I hope that this isn't a sign that Amtrak will no longer take care of its customers unless they purchase this added "protection."

The baggage protection item is strange...how many people check their electronics in the first place? Sporting equipment, I guess that means skis or high-priced raquets...again, don't see this as being useful for a lot of people. I wonder if you have to declare those items when checking to be eligible for the reimbursement? Otherwise it would seem to open the door to fraudulent claims.

As to buying the "protection" for trains that are already late...I'd imagine the offer would no longer be valid for trains that are en route...that would seem to be a simple thing to program into the system. Even so, it's hard to imagine that many people would try to game the system, as you'd have to pay very close attention, and be in position to be able to travel right away. And, last-minute fares would tend to be most expensive anyway so it would be only rare cases where you could actually "profit" from this.

soitgoes

Amtrak has partnered--like the airlines--with third party insurers to peddle their products for them:
http://www.etravelprotection.com/amt...psId=001002628
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten.../1237405732517

alanh

The main catch is that the benefits for delayed trips are for actual out of pocket meal, lodging, and alternate transportation expenses. If Amtrak comps you meals or hotels, you don't qualify.

You don't just get a $150 check, you have to show receipts.

RRrich

So if you miss a GUARANTEED CONNECTION, Amtrak will comp you and the insurance is not useful. OTOH if you miss a NON guaranteed Connection, then yo are on your own - will the insurance reimburse you? You will have receipts.