Save big on holiday travel this season with Amtrak’s winter flash sale offering discounted fares across the country to popular destinations from New York and Boston to Chicago and beyond.
21.10.2023 - 16:09 / thepointsguy.com / Roger Harris
Amtrak is revamping its fare structure.
The rail carrier announced Wednesday it is launching a new set of fares later this fall that reduces the number of available fare categories from three to two.
The new fare structure includes two fare types: Flex and Value. It eliminates Amtrak's existing third Saver fare type.
The newly updated Flex fares will be refundable and have no change fees. As the name suggests, the Value fares cost less than Flex fares — but they'll come with more restrictions. They'll be nonchangeable, though passengers can cancel before a trip and receive a 75% refund; this essentially amounts to a 25% cancellation penalty.
The new fare types will roll out across most coach and Acela business-class tickets. Rooms on long-distance trains and trains on the Capitol Corridor and Pacific Surfliner will have different fare rules, an Amtrak spokesperson told TPG. Tickets for Acela first class and business class on other trains already are refundable.
"This streamlined fare structure with more affordable and flexible fares is part of Amtrak's continued commitment to upgrading the customer experience at every step along their journey," Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a statement.
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With its fare overhaul, Amtrak's new Value fares will combine elements of its existing Value and Saver fares. Now, however, refunds from canceled Value fares will be processed back to the original form of payment — meaning no more eVouchers.
Previously, Amtrak's Saver fares were only refundable within 24 hours of booking, though passengers could receive a 75% nonrefundable eVoucher for canceling the trip. However, since Amtrak suspended change fees during the pandemic, customers could cancel a Saver fare and receive an eVoucher for the full value with no 25% penalty. This created a loophole that allowed Amtrak customers to reprice their tickets when fares dropped.
For example, if a customer bought a Saver fare of $79 but later noticed the fare dropped to $58, the customer could cancel the trip and get an eVoucher of $21 to apply toward a future trip. This loophole likely would've ended since Amtrak had planned to reinstate change fees in 2024, but now the new fare structure codified the 25% change penalty on the Value fares that will replace Saver fares.
Amtrak's current iteration of Value fares are fully refundable 15 days or more before departure; they would only incur the 25% fee if canceled less than 14 days before departure.
Related: Amtrak orders more new trains to meet growing demand
Amtrak's updated Flex fares closely resemble its existing Flexible fares, though Amtrak has touted that its new Flex
Save big on holiday travel this season with Amtrak’s winter flash sale offering discounted fares across the country to popular destinations from New York and Boston to Chicago and beyond.
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Amtrak is making it easier—and more affordable—to book rail travel within the United States. The brand has introduced a new and simplified fare structure with more flexible and affordable options.
Based on extensive customer research, and in an effort to better meet customer needs, Amtrak has introduced a new, simplified fare structure with more flexible and affordable options. The simpler fare structure launched this week and builds on other recent improvements Amtrak has made to the booking experience.
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After taking some time to recharge from a busy summer, you might be ready to think about your next adventure. If you're already nostalgic for T-shirts and swimsuits, you're probably eager to flock somewhere where the sun’s still shining. Or maybe you’re somewhere that shows no signs of cooling soon and want a taste of true autumn up north. Wherever the destination, you have unlimited options with this season’s top-notch travel deals.
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