H426 Chicago to El Paso - First time rail travel
 

I'm going to take a train other than the L in Chicago for the first time in my life travelling from Chicago to El Paso. My friends think that I'm crazy, but I've never done it before. I was able to book my fare with a nice discount using code H426 so let's hope I don't encounter any problems when I go to get the ticket! :-) Any advice for a first time rail traveller will be helpful. The 48 hour trip does seem a bit daunting, and I'm wondering if there are electrical outlets onboard for my laptop :-) Wish me luck! ^

Partytildawn,

I rather doubt that you'll have any problems picking up your tickets, but personally I would use a Quik-Trak machine. That way you don't use an agent who might just question you. I seriously doubt that you would be questioned about the use of the code, but using the machine would guarentee that you don't get question.

As for power on the train, first off bring a surge protector with you. Both for protection and as an extension cord. Now there are some cars that have been refurbished, which now have outlets at every seat. However the vast majority of the cars still don't.

Your safest bet is to try and request from the car attendant who will assign you your seat as you board to sit in either row 19 or 55. Some attendants will happily accomodate you, while others seem to have their own agenda and won't.

If you don't get power near your seat, then you can always head to the Sightseer Lounge car to recharge your laptops battery.

Finally you might want to check out On Track On Line's hints and tips for riding Amtrak. It's chocked full of information about riding Amtrak.

Needed: A student advantage #?
 

Hi, i just discovered this wonderful site and can't believe how knowledgeable some of you are about travel! just wondering if anyone would share their student advantage number so i can book an amtrak ticket today? Thank you!

Welcome to Flyertalk, Lexis9526!

If I recall correctly, as it's been a while since I used the SA discount, you don't need to actually have a number, do you? If you're traveling between stations with the kiosks to check-in, you shouldn't require it as you won't run into anyone asking to see it. But try the discount codes first as some of them will produce better discounts than SA.

Thanks bhatnasx! When I try to book a ticket online, it asks me for the code when I'm about to pay. Will it be bypassed if i use the machines in NY penn station?

I don't have a valid Student Advantage card - mine actually expired a few weeks ago. If I did though, I don't think I'd share it online & wouldn't recommend anyone else doing that either. If you travel by train a lot, just sign up for one. It's 20 bucks & you can save that much easily. As stated earlier in this thread, one doesn't really need to be an active student. Just put down a school & a graduation year in the not too distant future & you can get one - it's completely automated with no verification process.

Student advantage # for a non-train traveler
 

I don't really travel much by train, maybe once every 2 years so I can't really afford a SA card. Thanks though. (Is it bad to post the #? And why?--i'm just curious).

I don't think it would really be all that big of a deal if someone PM'ed you their number, however, I don't think it's a good idea to publically post your number. I haven't read the T/C's of S.A., however, I'm sure there's something in there that says you can't just give out your number to other people. The numbers are all unique 16 digit numbers. If you read through the first few pages of this post, you'll see what happens when too much information became public (i.e. how by posting how to decode & guess Amtrak ticket numbers, it spread to another site & then the benefit of getting free S.A. cards was shut down).

I wouldn't give out my number to someone I didn't know personally, much less post it on the largest travel website in the world, or even in a thread that's already had 13K+ views - just not too good of an idea, IMHO.

10% off for online bookings
 

Promo Code H431

* Get 10% off when you book your ticket online.
* Valid for purchases from 9/12 - 12/15

Details here.

Why V805 doesn't work for me ???
 

I'm french and I plan to travel between CHICAGO and NEW YORK (Penn Station) the 22nd of November. I try to use the V805 code but it doesn't work. Could someone explain me why it doesn't work and if not could you help me and provide me with other valid codes (I've already have the H431).

Thanks in advance (and feel free to ask me codes for France trains when you'll come in our country).

Best regards

Pierre-Laurent

Welcome to Flyertalk, Pierre-Laurent! :)

There are a couple of possible reasons - though I'm not sure which is correct:

1) That code is only valid on NEC (North East Corridor) Trains - which are generally routes along the east coast of the US. Chicago isn't along the east coast.

2) November 22 is close to Thanksgiving, which is November 28, so they may have that date as a blackout date.

You can use H431 & choose the AAA discount & pay with a credit card. For the date you're traveling, it drops the price down to $68.85 for a one-way best available fare. No one is going to ask to verify your AAA membership. The reason you should pay with a credit card (which you pretty much have to if you're buying tickets online) is because that way you can get your tickets printed out at the kiosk at the train station & never have to interact with anyone, thereby reducing your risk for having to have you AAA memberwship checked (which no one has ever done anyways). That's about the same price as 20% off of the lowest fare. If you're heart's not set on the train, there are one-way flights from MDW-LGA on American non-stops for $132.00 on the 22nd dependin on your schedule.

Seeking PromoCode
 

Hi,
Anyone knows any promotional code that I can use to travel between Chicago and LasVegas, NewMexico ? I am planning to travel on the Thanksgiving weekend. I'd really appreciate your help and thankyou in advance.

Hi Hurrey, Welcome to Flyertalk!

Thanksgiving weekend will most likely be considered a blackout weekend for most routes. Have you tried H431 and/or V148 - those may work for you. You can combine H431 with the AAA discount if it's not blacked out on your travel dates - not sure about V148 (or if it's even valid on those routes).

Thankyou bhatnasx,
I tried both of those codes but none worked for me because of blackout dates. There is some function on that weekend which I have to attend and that is why I can not change the dates but thankyou very much for you reply and your time.

If you give us your travel dates & destinations & start points, we may be able to help you out with some other pricing strategy/options (sometimes it is cheaper to fly than to take the train). I'm not promising anything, but I'll try to help you figure out the cheapest way to get from point A to B to C for you...

i want to go from Wilmington to New York Penn Station on saturday 10/30 and come back monday 11/1. Are there any that would apply to that situation?

It drives me nuts that the fare is over $100 for a 90 minute train ride.

Well if you have your heart set on an Amtrak ride, then I'd use V814, which will net you 20% off the basic fare on an unreserved train. RT fare is $92.80.

It would cost you about 60 bucks or so to do this using SEPTA/NJT, but that would also require two transfers and probably an extra hour in travel time. Not sure if it's worth it for you though.

Try code V618 - on unreserved fares, it'll bring the total to about 92 bucks roundtrip. This is better than the H431 & AAA combined. I'm guessing that's the best you'll be able to do with what's available.

Edited to add that AlanB's fare brings up the same price (we were probably posting around the same time :)). These are your best options.

Thanks for your help!

amtrak codes
 

thank you so much, when i find promotional codes i will post them in thanks. i'm trying to get from napa, ca (swine country) to seattle for under $146 roundtrip, im going to keep trying codes until i find one that work. maybe even bring a friend with me if there's a buy one get one?

any response would be great...

H431 brought it down to $146 (thanks!)


http://anti.wartorn.org

Florida - "After the Storms" 20% Discount
 

Discount Code
V671

* Get 20% off travel to and from Florida.
* Valid for purchase from 9/17 - 10/25.
* Good on all Silver Service trains and Auto Train.

Amtrak passengers traveling to and from any Florida destination on the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Palmetto and Auto Train routes, are offered a 20% discount off of the best available coach fare.

After the recent storms that battered many Florida communities, Amtrak is making it easy to visit family, friends and the many Florida attractions that were not impacted by the weather. There are “After the Storm” special deals available throughout the state, and Amtrak is offering you a very special deal to get you there. This offer is available for a limited time, so book now for Florida.

Terms and Conditions

The 20% Florida Recovery discount is valid for sale between September 17 through October 25, 2004; and available for travel from September 20 through October 28, 2004. The Florida Recovery discount is good on all Silver Service trains and Auto Train. There is a 3-day advance purchase requirement, and this offer is not combinable with the 10% internet booking discount.

Thanks & Welcome to Flyertalk! ^

Dates & which station in SEA you're trying to get to would be useful in order to help you out. Also, have you tried combining AAA fares with the codes? Some are combinable.

woodbridge, va to new york city-Penn
 

Hi I am new to this and am looking to find the cheapest fare to new york to see the world series (if new York doesn't blow it tonight). I want to take my three year old son. All I can find is 199 round trip. For bothof us. Anything better? We would go this friday and return on monday. Times are flexible. Go Yankees!

Welcome to FT!

Have you tried dropping the prices down yourself first using the codes on the first page?

Portland Travelers
 

As far as i know, H451 will give you a companion fare as long as your travel begins OR ends in Portland, Or (PDX) only. Discount is good until may 2005 and is not combinable with any other discounts. Happy travels :cool:

Thanks, chadnw & welcome to Flyertalk!

Here's info on the code you posted - from the T/C's, it looks like it's only available for travel terminiating in PDX according to the T/C's, but those sometimes aren't set up right...

http://www.travelportland.com/big_deal/amtrak.html

I'm looking for any discount codes for the Pacific Surfliner for 10/29/04.
Anyone know of one for more than 10% off?
Thanks.

H431 or V148 plus Auto
 

Try H431 (20%) or V148 plus Auto Club (19%). Holiday blackouts apply and promotions have limited runs. H431 runs out by 11/19; V148 goes into early 2005.

boston to st. louis
 

i plan on travelling in the first few days of december to st. louis and returning to boston a week later.
does anyone know of any codes i may be able to plug in to receive a discount?
thanks for your help.
jamien

A couple other ideas I wanted to let you know that I wish I had known earlier - and they may have already been posted here or there but in general they are good deals.

1. EBay - there are often several buy-one-get-one coupons out there that are valid in various markets. This is a great deal even above and beyond the % discounts if you can find one - they look to go about $30 - $40 but it can still save you $150 - $200; in my DC - NY regional, it could have saved me nearly $50 or $60 even after you factor in the EBay purchase price when compared against a 20% off fare for 2 people. I suspect even better, if you can find one on Coupon Connection that is worth a shot too.

2. SPG - when talking about a "best case" discounted fare of about $150 in any given situation, it may be worth looking at using SPG points. You can transfer various number of points; in my case had I known, it would have cost me 10,000 SPG points to get a $260 set of (2) train tickets. Probably not the *best* value as some in the SPG forum would argue, but if you have the miles...use em.

Just a couple suggestions other than just using discount codes.

:)
Thank You!

Here is the URL specifically related to Promo Codes:
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...ibsref=ampromo

But the link you have is useful too. :)

Need help for NYC to Montreal
 

Hi,
I need help for a NYC to Montreal trip. It is $55 each way. I will go after the 18th of December and will come back on Christmas day. I tried some of the coupons listed. Nothing worked so far. Any ideas? Thanks a lot...

That's probably the cheapest you can get for NYC to Montreal. 55 each way is pretty damn cheap! I think you may be traveling on blackout dates. If you use the AAA discount, it drops the RT price to 99.00 - no one will ever check to see if you have AAA. Flying will cost you well over 200.00.

It would be nice to find a discount code for weekday Acela. AAA used to work off the business class fare, but no longer.

I don't even bother with the Acela anymore unless it is an absolute must so I rarely look at the discounts. I rarely travel the NY-DC distance in full. NY-DC you save 20 minutes. If I do TRE-BWI....its like 10 or 15. Hmmmmm Crashela for $200 or Regional for $50. It's not my money but I don't see paying that much more for the privilege. With the 20% discounts on the Regionals....it gets to be an easy decision for me.

And I can't stand the junky, clunky regionals...frankly, as someone else said, for $92/99 in business class and and/or $50 more in first, the Acela is a very ood value. Still, if I can save some money, that would be nice.

I've never seen a discount that's valid on weekday Acela trains - I've seen group codes that are, but only during non-peak travel & only on certain dates - I don't think they do too much in terms of discounts on Acela, probably because they don't need to.

need a help to find the cheapest tickets
 

Dear all,

I will go to Alexandria VA on November 9, 2004 from NYC leaving at 6 am and come back in the evening. I never take Amtrek before and would like to know from you experienced folks how to get the cheapest tickets in order to save a dime as possible as I can.