What happened to AAA discount on Amtrak?

What happened to AAA discount on Amtrak? Amtrak no longer offers discounted fares for students and AAA members—both of which had 10% discounts— and increased the senior discount eligibility age from 62 to 65. The discount programs changed between January and February, with no official announcement from Amtrak.

Do people tip on Amtrak?

Aboard the train. On board, you do not tip the conductor or the crew operating the train. Even in coach, however, there will be a car attendant who cleans up and keeps coffee and tea available, and so if you are on board the whole day, most people will offer the attendant at least a few dollars.

Does Costco have discounts on Amtrak?

No. Currently, we do not offer any discounts on train travel in the U.S. However, select rail options can be included in our Europe vacation packages.

How do I upgrade to First Class on Amtrak?

You can upgrade your seating from Coach to First Class and Business Class seats on Amtrak.com, through our mobile applications, at a staffed station or over the phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL. On trains with First Class private rooms, you may be able to upgrade to a Roomette or Bedroom, availability permitting.

Is the AAA discount discontinued on Amtrak?

Amtrak no longer offers discounted fares for students and AAA members—both of which had 10% discounts— and increased the senior discount eligibility age from 62 to 65. The discount programs changed between January and February, with no official announcement from Amtrak.

Is there an alternative to Amtrak?

Amtrak's competitors and similar companies include Genesee & Wyoming, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National Railway, Kansas City Southern, BNSF Railway, Arriva and Valley Transportation Authority. Amtrak is a provider of intercity passenger rail services.

What is the cheapest day to buy Amtrak tickets?

Before you start clicking links, make sure to check Amtrak's Weekly Specials, on sale between Tuesday and Friday each week. These are deeply discounted fares (often up to 80% off) that can be for any train in the country.

How far in advance should I buy train tickets?

Always Book Early Cheap train tickets are usually released by train operators in advance of the journey. Normally, this is around 12 weeks in advance, as the timetable for any particular day is normally confirmed 12 weeks in advance.

Is it worth getting a room on Amtrak?

In October of 2021, I spent two nights on overnight Amtrak trains traveling between Miami and NYC. I stayed in a 20-square-foot roomette for $500 and a 40-square-foot bedroom for $1,000. The extra space in the bedroom was more comfortable for the long journey and worth the price.

Can you get on and off of Amtrak with the same ticket?

You do need to book each segment(on origin to destination) separately. When I visit Southern California, I often book same day Amtrak ticket LAX to Fullerton just to go to a favorite restaurant right near the station. Then I book a separate ticket to return to LAX from Fullerton.

Do senior get a discount on Amtrak?

And since Amtrak travelers 65 years of age and over are eligible to receive a 10% discount on most trains, it becomes an affordable alternative.

How much should you bid for an upgrade Amtrak?

Bids are placed with a sliding scale tool that has a minimum and a maximum offer amount—this is usually somewhere between $60 and $200 per upgrade. The higher the bid you can offer, the stronger the chance is that you'll win the upgraded seat.

What is the difference between a roomette and a sleeper on Amtrak?

Roomettes (1 to 2 people) Two seats convert into one single bed and another bed folds down from above to form an upper bunk. You'll find roomettes in sleeper cars, or train cars that only contain sleeping accommodations. All sleeper cars have a shower room and bathroom.

Why is Amtrak so expensive?

Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.

Is Amtrak cheaper than flying?

While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.