Amtrak quietly extends change-fee waiver for reservations through 2023

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

Though Amtrak initially only waived its change fees for reservations made through last fall and then this month, Amtrak quietly extended the deadline through the end of the year, an Amtrak spokesperson confirmed to TPG.

This means that all Amtrak reservations made by Dec. 31 can be changed without an extra fee, regardless of fare type. Note that this change has not yet been updated on Amtrak's website, which still reflects the previous extension through this month.

Amtrak previously waived change fees for reservations made by Oct. 31, 2022, when it also extended “the removal of some restrictions on Multi-Ride tickets on the Northeast Corridor” through the same date.

This applies to all Amtrak travel, including cash fares and trips booked with Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

The waiving of change fees applies to Amtrak classes across the board, including Saver tickets, the cheapest fare type.

Under normal circumstances, Saver fares are nonrefundable outside of the 24-hour period from the time of booking, and travelers must pay a fee of 25% of the total ticket price to make a change more than 24 hours after purchase.

When conducting a test booking for this story, Amtrak’s website still notes that a “Cancel/change fee may apply” to Saver fares, but that is not the case for travel booked for the rest of the year.

Amtrak previously waived change fees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed change fees for Saver coach fares in September 2021.

Just note that even though you can change your Amtrak reservation without a penalty, expect to pay a fare difference if your new ticket is more expensive. This is similar to the way that most airline fare changes work.

“A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary,” per Amtrak. “The change fee waiver does not apply to a previously purchased fare rebooked for the same train, date and origin/destination to a lower fare.”

Bottom line

To modify your Amtrak reservation online, log in to your account and go to the “Modify Trip” tab, or log in to the Amtrak app and find your reservation on the home screen.

You can also change your travel by calling an Amtrak customer service agent on the phone. However, we recommend changing your itinerary online or through the app for the quickest way to do so since you’ll likely be put on hold if you call by phone.