Skip to content
Go to Home Page
News

Amtrak Makes Significant, Negative Changes to Its Cancellation Policies

March 23, 2018
•
4 min read
New Mexico Scenics
Amtrak Makes Significant, Negative Changes to Its Cancellation Policies
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Amtrak recently ended its discount for students and AAA members, and now the train operator is making more negative changes. This time to its cancellation and refund policies.

Amtrak was quite generous with cancellations in the past, offering a refund in the form of a voucher that was good for a year or sometimes even a full refund to the original form of payment.

Now, Travel with Grant reports that tickets issued on March 20, 2018, or after will be subject to more fees when trying to cancel or refund a ticket. A 25% cancellation fee now applies to most tickets, and different ticket types are subject to different time periods for full refunds.

Amtrak appears to be slowly changing its fares to mimic airline tickets — which makes sense considering ex-Delta CEO Richard Anderson took over the quasi-public railroad last year.

Each fare type now have the following rules:

  • Saver Fares (Reserved Coach, Acela Business Class)
    • Refunds: Full refund if canceled within 24 hours of purchase. Non-refundable 24 hours or more after booking.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value, no fees within 24 hours of purchase. 25% cancellation fee if canceled 24 hours or more after booking and prior to departure.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is forfeited and no funds can be applied toward future travel.
    • Passenger Type and promotional discounts are not valid with Saver Fares.
  • Value Fares (Unreserved Coach, Reserved Coach, Acela Business Class)
    • Refunds: Full refund if canceled eight days or more before departure; 25% cancellation fee charged if less than eight days prior to departure. Unreserved tickets incur 25% fee an hour or more after purchase.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value if canceled eight days or more before departure. 25% cancellation fee charged if less than eight days prior to departure. Unreserved tickets incur 25% fee an hour or more after purchase.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is forfeited and no funds can be applied toward future travel.
  • Flexible Fares (Unreserved Coach, Reserved Coach, Acela Business Class)
    • Refunds: Full refund, no fees.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value, no fees.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: Fares are 100% refundable, even after the scheduled departure.
  • Business Fares (Non-Acela Business Class)
    • Refunds: Full refund if canceled before departure.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value, no fees if canceled before departure.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is forfeited and no funds can be applied toward future travel.
  • Premium Fares (Acela First Class)
    • Refunds: Full refund if canceled before departure.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value, no fees if canceled before departure.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is forfeited and no funds can be applied toward future travel.
  • Sleeper Accommodations
    • Refunds: Full refund if canceled within 24 hours of purchase. After 24 hours of purchase, 25% cancellation fee charged if canceled 15 or more days prior to departure. No refunds if less than 15 days prior to departure.
    • eVouchers Available: Full value, no fees if canceled within 24 hours of purchase. After 24 hours of purchase, 25% cancellation fee charged if canceled prior to departure.
    • No Change Fee
    • "No Show" Policy: If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is forfeited and no funds can be applied toward future travel.

If you want a refund for tickets purchased through Amtrak before March 20, you'll have to call Amtrak customer service at 1-800-USA-RAIL or 215-856-7924. You can read more about Amtrak award tickets cancellation policies here.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Featured image by Robert Alexander/Archive Photos/Getty Images.

Featured image by Getty Images

TPG featured card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.5 / 5
Go to review
Apply for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply now
for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

at Capital One's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate
5X milesEarn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2X milesEarn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Enjoy a $250 travel credit & earn 75K bonus miles
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
670-850Excellent, Good

Pros

  • Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
  • You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
  • Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners

Cons

  • Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Top rated mobile app