Revised Cancellation and Refund Policy eff 3/20/2018
Mar 26, 2018, 10:52 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
What happens if you make a change and the new fare is lower? Do you get the full difference back on an eVoucher or is there a penalty?
I ask because I am busy "exchanging" my booked Saver trips for the sale Amtrak is running right now, which yields me $7 per trip but adds up when you have 10 or 15 fares booked that qualify. Will they in future take a percentage of that as a penalty?
I ask because I am busy "exchanging" my booked Saver trips for the sale Amtrak is running right now, which yields me $7 per trip but adds up when you have 10 or 15 fares booked that qualify. Will they in future take a percentage of that as a penalty?
Mar 27, 2018, 8:56 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Well lets face it. Amtrak is trying to get rid of people who book multiple reservations because they don't know what their plans are. Based on what I've read from whats been posted so far on this forum, many of you are doing this. I've myself run into situations where I can't get a reservation on a specific train and then BAM, it completely opens up 1/2 hours before departure time because of mass cancelations from people holding reservations for "just in case."
I'm no bean counter, but I'm guessing Amtrak is loosing a pretty penny because of multiple bookings and canceling without a financial impunity.
I'm no bean counter, but I'm guessing Amtrak is loosing a pretty penny because of multiple bookings and canceling without a financial impunity.
Mar 28, 2018, 6:45 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,435
I thought Amtrak already prohibited "impossible bookings" like two one-way trips without time for a return, which is what it sounds like you're describing. If so, then what you're saying is that it's easier to be draconian to everyone than to have the software enforce existing policy.
Mar 28, 2018, 11:33 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
I have heard the thing about impossible bookings but it has never been the case for me that the software prohibited me from booking something that would qualify, although I haven't done it very often. I always wondered why the system allowed something that was prohibited.
Mar 29, 2018, 1:08 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 367
I have heard the thing about impossible bookings but it has never been the case for me that the software prohibited me from booking something that would qualify, although I haven't done it very often. I always wondered why the system allowed something that was prohibited.
(Times are a rough example, not based on any research into the timetable.)
May 2, 2018, 3:17 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
It looks like you can either get a refund with penalty (eg 25% on Value tickets within 8 days) or you can receive full credit on an eVoucher.
May 12, 2018, 10:23 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
For those of you with the Amtrak card... Amtrak cancellation fee is 10% of the points redeemed, but you get 5% of the points back on any redemption with the Amtrak card. Does that make the cancellation fee effectively 5%?
May 15, 2018, 2:24 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, US
Posts: 424
Unfortunately no. I have the credit card, and I recently cancelled a reward booking. The point rebate disappeared right away. (I don't even see the rebate and then a reversal. It's just as if the rebate was never given in the first place.)
Jun 12, 2018, 9:08 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Delta PM, HH Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Etihad Gold, Amtrak Select
Posts: 131
Two cents here -- understand the abuse by tour operators in booking/hoarding space. That should definitely be penalized.
However, in regards to Amtrak's only profitable line, the Northeast Corridor, the change fees negatively impact their riders in an already highly competitive market. We know that Amtrak combats directly with the airlines for travel between key NE cities, BOS, NYC, PHL, WAS. In fact, they have corporate reps who have incentive programs for companies that spend over $100k in travel within this region alone.
One incredible competitive advantage to Amtrak that our teams utilize is the ability to book, adjust, or cancel reservations last minute. With these new cancellation fees and penalties, there is no longer an incentive to book Amtrak over the airlines -- it's often easier for me to standby or use status to adjust my airline booking.
However, in regards to Amtrak's only profitable line, the Northeast Corridor, the change fees negatively impact their riders in an already highly competitive market. We know that Amtrak combats directly with the airlines for travel between key NE cities, BOS, NYC, PHL, WAS. In fact, they have corporate reps who have incentive programs for companies that spend over $100k in travel within this region alone.
One incredible competitive advantage to Amtrak that our teams utilize is the ability to book, adjust, or cancel reservations last minute. With these new cancellation fees and penalties, there is no longer an incentive to book Amtrak over the airlines -- it's often easier for me to standby or use status to adjust my airline booking.
Jul 22, 2018, 7:46 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Amtrak, AA, USA, DL, UA, MW, SWA, MW, AirTran, Priority Club, Marriott, Hilton, Chc Prvlgs, BW
Posts: 101
Two cents here -- understand the abuse by tour operators in booking/hoarding space. That should definitely be penalized.
However, in regards to Amtrak's only profitable line, the Northeast Corridor, the change fees negatively impact their riders in an already highly competitive market. We know that Amtrak combats directly with the airlines for travel between key NE cities, BOS, NYC, PHL, WAS. In fact, they have corporate reps who have incentive programs for companies that spend over $100k in travel within this region alone.
One incredible competitive advantage to Amtrak that our teams utilize is the ability to book, adjust, or cancel reservations last minute. With these new cancellation fees and penalties, there is no longer an incentive to book Amtrak over the airlines -- it's often easier for me to standby or use status to adjust my airline booking.
However, in regards to Amtrak's only profitable line, the Northeast Corridor, the change fees negatively impact their riders in an already highly competitive market. We know that Amtrak combats directly with the airlines for travel between key NE cities, BOS, NYC, PHL, WAS. In fact, they have corporate reps who have incentive programs for companies that spend over $100k in travel within this region alone.
One incredible competitive advantage to Amtrak that our teams utilize is the ability to book, adjust, or cancel reservations last minute. With these new cancellation fees and penalties, there is no longer an incentive to book Amtrak over the airlines -- it's often easier for me to standby or use status to adjust my airline booking.
An Amtrak p.r. official once called the NEC "marginally profitable."
If the NEC is "profitable," why does it require a federal appropriation?
The infrastructure needs are astronomical, in the trillions of dollars.
There's no way the NEC could be "self supporting" if all costs are included.
Yes, we should calculate ALL costs of the NEC.
That's what Amtrak's bean counters do to the LDs. All costs are thrown at them to make them appear financially negative.
Jul 23, 2018, 5:05 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
It's not settled "fact" that the NEC is "profitable."
An Amtrak p.r. official once called the NEC "marginally profitable."
If the NEC is "profitable," why does it require a federal appropriation?
The infrastructure needs are astronomical, in the trillions of dollars.
There's no way the NEC could be "self supporting" if all costs are included.
Yes, we should calculate ALL costs of the NEC.
That's what Amtrak's bean counters do to the LDs. All costs are thrown at them to make them appear financially negative.
An Amtrak p.r. official once called the NEC "marginally profitable."
If the NEC is "profitable," why does it require a federal appropriation?
The infrastructure needs are astronomical, in the trillions of dollars.
There's no way the NEC could be "self supporting" if all costs are included.
Yes, we should calculate ALL costs of the NEC.
That's what Amtrak's bean counters do to the LDs. All costs are thrown at them to make them appear financially negative.
- On Operating Revenue alone (excluding capital expenses; this is also the basis of the "Farebox Recovery Ratio", the NEC overall earned $366.8M profit on $884.2M of revenue. By this metric, both the Acela and the Regional are "profitable", but the Acela is far more profitable than the regional (FRR of 212% vs 147%).
- In comparison, the State Supported lines had a net operating loss of $70.7M, while the Long Distance lines had a net operating loss of $406.6M.
But all of this is irrelevant to luggagebin's main point: change fees are a disincentive to book Amtrak over the airlines, in particular for business travelers and especially those with airline elite status. Will it be enough to reduce ridership on the NEC? Maybe, maybe not... there are still other reasons why the train might be preferable (less prone to weather disruption, more convenient terminals, more "work time" in transit, etc).
Jul 29, 2018, 6:35 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Just curious now that this new policy has been in effect for a while.... Have people been able to Change (rather than Cancel) a ticket for a trip that you basically have to cancel by making the change for an arbitrary future date (thereby husbanding the full value of the original ticket, rather than 75% of it), and then changing that new ticket to something else once real plans become clearer?
Jul 29, 2018, 6:48 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: I-95
Programs: DL, B6, UA, AGR
Posts: 117
I was able to do something fairly similar the other day, noticed a price decrease on the fare for an upcoming BOS-PVD ticket, changed the reservation to 65 (which was the same price) got issued an eVoucher for the difference and then changed the reservation back to 175 at the reduced rate.
Jul 30, 2018, 8:14 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
Just curious now that this new policy has been in effect for a while.... Have people been able to Change (rather than Cancel) a ticket for a trip that you basically have to cancel by making the change for an arbitrary future date (thereby husbanding the full value of the original ticket, rather than 75% of it), and then changing that new ticket to something else once real plans become clearer?