Booking process changes
Sep 15, 2013 | 8:27 am
#1
Original Poster
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Location: NYC
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What's this new flexible, saver, etc. stuff during the online booking process?
What's this new flexible, saver, etc. stuff during the online booking process?
Sep 15, 2013 | 8:40 am
#2
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Location: NYC
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And are low bucket (not NER 14-day) fares no longer refundable?
And are low bucket (not NER 14-day) fares no longer refundable?
Sep 15, 2013 | 9:05 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
Seems that way. Also looks like low bucket is no longer upgradeable to business class online.
Sep 15, 2013 | 9:19 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS Titanium / Marriott Plat / IHG Plat / HH Gold
Posts: 403
Looks like voucher only.
I'm not an expert on all the refund / voucher rules in existence but what I will say is that this new interface is a huge improvement over the old one. Really nice seeing everything on one screen, especially for those that are usually traveling LD in sleepers.
Sep 15, 2013 | 9:21 am
#5
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This blows. Nice of them to give us some advance warning.
This blows. Nice of them to give us some advance warning.
Sep 15, 2013 | 9:28 am
#6
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Seems that way. Also looks like low bucket is no longer upgradeable to business class online.
You have to click Value before Premium.
Originally Posted by ne52
Originally Posted by vatraveler
And are low bucket (not NER 14-day) fares no longer refundable?
Seems that way. Also looks like low bucket is no longer upgradeable to business class online.
Last edited by vatraveler; Sep 15, 2013 at 9:46 am
Sep 15, 2013 | 5:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
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A question for AGR Insider:
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Then, on the same screen they say this:
Under the recent policy, these seats would be 100% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, then refundable with a 10% penalty after that. Now, it seems to be either 100% refundable up to date of travel, or subject to a 10% penalty at all times.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Value Fares
Value Fares are refundable with a 10% fee. Value Fare reservations can be canceled and modified for the full value of the ticket saved as an eVoucher that can be used for future Amtrak travel or as a money back refund after a 10% refund fee. The Value Fare is available on all trains or buses.
Value Fares are refundable with a 10% fee. Value Fare reservations can be canceled and modified for the full value of the ticket saved as an eVoucher that can be used for future Amtrak travel or as a money back refund after a 10% refund fee. The Value Fare is available on all trains or buses.
Refundable Seats - Saver, Value and Flexible Fares
Coach class tickets sold as a Saver fare are non-refundable. Coach class tickets sold as Value and Flexible fares are fully refundable prior to train departure and a 10% refund fee applies after train departure.
Coach class tickets sold as a Saver fare are non-refundable. Coach class tickets sold as Value and Flexible fares are fully refundable prior to train departure and a 10% refund fee applies after train departure.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?
Sep 15, 2013 | 7:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,050
A question for AGR Insider:
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Then, on the same screen they say this:
Under the recent policy, these seats would be 100% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, then refundable with a 10% penalty after that. Now, it seems to be either 100% refundable up to date of travel, or subject to a 10% penalty at all times.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Then, on the same screen they say this:
Under the recent policy, these seats would be 100% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, then refundable with a 10% penalty after that. Now, it seems to be either 100% refundable up to date of travel, or subject to a 10% penalty at all times.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1237437856314
On this page, at least, they took out any statement about "value" fare being fully refundable.
I think the "flexible" fare is the old "A" bucket, the "saver" fare is the old "E" (or "F") bucket, and the "value" may be anything in between. I was able to get a full refund for a "D" bucket ticket just recently, but it seems like that's going away.
I am floored, to say the least.
Sep 15, 2013 | 7:17 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,226
The new website is utterly grotesque. It's impossible to believe that anyone who ever booked a ticket on-line would prefer this.
Once again, software programmers/web developers demonstrate their complete disconnect from society.
Once again, software programmers/web developers demonstrate their complete disconnect from society.
Sep 15, 2013 | 8:29 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 14,059
To call it grotesque when it looks like and behaves like every other site you've used in the past 10 years is a bit of melodrama.
Sep 15, 2013 | 8:51 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Sep 15, 2013 | 9:49 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,133
Looks okay on the mobile site, but I agree that it is hideous on the full one.
Sep 16, 2013 | 7:38 am
#14
Company Representative - Amtrak
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (Select Executive)
Posts: 528
The page is going to be updated today with more clarity, but here's the summary I got:
Value: fully refundable up to 24 hours prior to departure, after that it's 10% refund fee even after departure
Flexible: fully refundable at any point prior to or after departure - so they never have any fees
Saver: non-refundable, but the customer would get a eVoucher for the value
Value: fully refundable up to 24 hours prior to departure, after that it's 10% refund fee even after departure
Flexible: fully refundable at any point prior to or after departure - so they never have any fees
Saver: non-refundable, but the customer would get a eVoucher for the value
A question for AGR Insider:
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Then, on the same screen they say this:
Under the recent policy, these seats would be 100% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, then refundable with a 10% penalty after that. Now, it seems to be either 100% refundable up to date of travel, or subject to a 10% penalty at all times.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?
The website changes imply changes in the refund policies, and are ambiguous in how those policies are described. For example, Amtrak says this about Value Fares for coach travel:
Then, on the same screen they say this:
Under the recent policy, these seats would be 100% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, then refundable with a 10% penalty after that. Now, it seems to be either 100% refundable up to date of travel, or subject to a 10% penalty at all times.
So, which is it? Are Value Fares 100% refundable prior to departure, or are Value Fares subject to a 10% refund fee, or neither?