Amtrak flexible tix
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Anonymous
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I'm considering a trip to NY in 2 weeks, found a ticket for $36, or a $40 "flexible" ticket, says there is no change fee. It would be for me and a kid. What's the catch? Should I just be happy about such inexpensive tickets, or is there soemthing Im missing? Any challenge with my kid and me sitting together?
(not an experienced train traveler) |
Anonymous
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Grab that flexible ticket, it's totally worth it!
Okay, here's the deal with Amtrak tickets: for a little bit more, you can get a flexible fare. Which means if you cancel your ticket, you get 100% of your fare refunded. Which is GREAT. And Amtrak refunds are really fast--they all hit my account like within 24 hours. Great. Here is the catch: Amtrak fares go up the closer you get to your travel date/the more full the train is. So, while you will get a full refund of your 40 dollars, the other train that you book same-day might cost like 100 dollars per passenger. BUT, remember that kids are half-fare until...12 years old? (definitely check that bc I don't know). Which is a great savings and makes Acela even really reasonable. NOW here is the real Amtrak baller strategy for maximizing your flex tickets if your plans are possibly going to change. You book two flex tickets at the cheap fare way in advance. On your actual travel date or close to it, when you know which train you want, you cancel within 2 minutes of train departure time and get that full refund without having to pay the higher same day fare. It's really great for those of us who are like, IDK how I'm going to feel on Sunday, maybe I want to take the 10 am train back home, maybe I'd rather take the 2 pm acela. With amtrak flex fares you can be as flakey as you want, I love it, plus it's better for the environment. And F the airlines and their basic economy BS tickets where they charge you for bags AND they still cancel your tix if your not there 45 min ahead of time. |
Anonymous
| Amazing, thank you!! Any insight on the different trains, NE Regional, Silver Meteor, Crescent? |
Anonymous
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The main difference is acela vs everything else. Acela goes faster and makes fewer stops and seating in all cars is assigned. For the other routes, I try to get one that starts in DC (or in NY for the reverse, but there are fewer that start there I think). If you pick a route that starts in DC, it's likely to go on time. If you pick one that starts in new Orleans or something, it will likely be off schedule by the time it gets to DC. Also, if the train starts in DC you are more likely to get 2 seats together, though I imagine no matter what you will get someone to move so you can sit next to your kid and they don't have to.
Only other thing to know: if you are going to sit in the quiet car, you really do need to be very quiet. It's a great way to travel --have fun! |
Anonymous
I agree with all this. I would stick with NE Regional with a train originating in NYC or DC, and Acela when traveling from NYC to DC because those trains that go to New Orleans, Chicago, etc (the Silver Meteor, the Crescent), can be very delayed. Also, Acela has assigned seating, but if the NE Regional train doesn't have any seats together, talk to the conductor, they will help you find seats together or ask people to move on your behalf, and train riders tend to be really chill about moving seats for families to sit together. Another plus for train travel versus airplanes. Trains have outlets at seats, there are cafe cars (although always bring your own snacks because you never know), and Acela at least definitely has wifi. So that's nice, too. |
Anonymous
| When heading to NYC, try to pick a train that starts in DC, not one that starts further south. Trains starting in DC are less likely be delayed |
Anonymous
| There are also footrests. The may be flipped under the set in front so don't miss them. |
Anonymous
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I got kicked off Amtrak with my child coming back from NY.
I inadvertently got on the wrong train. Exact same route, not faster or anything, but left 30 mins before the one I had picked online. I was at the station early so figured why not. Well when they scanned our tickets he legit made us get off in Trenton NJ and wait for the right one. I didn’t know it was such an issue, now I do. So do the flex ticket if you think there is any likelihood you might want to get an earlier or later train. Also I think the guy was on a power trip but that’s just my opinion. Train wasn’t full. |
Anonymous
| In N.Y. and in DC, you can use a Red Cap. He or she gets you on the train early, ahead of the masses. You get the seats you want. Just tip $5-10. The Red Cap also handles your luggage. Look for the sign that says Red Cap. They are Amtrak employees. |
Anonymous
Do you not know what inadvertent means? |
Anonymous
It's like a flight, they have a manifest. This was an extremely privileged and naive take. |
Anonymous
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Just know if you decide to change trains at the last minute with a flex ticket you will pay the difference in the current fare. The price is usually significantly more but sometimes you can luck out and actually find a cheaper ticket last minute, ending up with a refund.
If you really want flexibility at lower prices, you may want to purchase multiple flex tickets for different times in advance then cancel the ticket you won’t use closer to travel time (literally can be minutes before departure for a full refund) |
Anonymous
If you have multiple tickets for the same day, the system won’t flag it like the airlines do? |
Anonymous
Not PP, and don't have any experience, but from what I have seen, Amtrak's systems are not nearly as advanced as airlines. It seems perfectly plausible that Amtrak has no way of tracking this sort of thing. For one thing, they don't get as much passenger information- just a name and age. |