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Amtrak spring flash sale: One-way fares from Boston, Baltimore and New York for as low as $6
Feb. 19, 2024
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5 min read
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Amtrak just dropped a new flash sale for travel this spring that will reduce one-way Flex Fare prices by at least 25%. If you prefer the relative ease of rail travel and are looking to avoid airports for your spring break vacation with the family, this is a great offer with lots of enticing cities to choose from.
The sale applies to travel between March 1 and May 23. You must book by Feb. 23 to get the discounted fares. It also offers wide-ranging options, with reduced rates on one-way Acela business-class seats through the Northeast Corridor from cities like Baltimore, Boston and New York City; there's also availability on coach fares out of Chicago, Dallas and Miami, among other cities, making the one-way total as low as $6 per person.
Related: The complete guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards elite status
Deal basics
What: Amtrak
Routes: Across the Amtrak network
How to book: Directly through Amtrak's website or via the Amtrak app
Travel dates: March 1 to May 23 (must book by Feb. 23)
Sample fares
Here are some of the one-way fares we found in this sale:
- Boston's South Station (BOS) to Providence's Amtrak/MBTA Station (PVD), starting at $6 for coach and $31 for business class
- Baltimore's Penn Station (BAL) to Philadelphia's William H. Gray III 30th Street Station (PHL), starting at $12 for coach and $33 for business class
- PHL to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station (WAS), starting at $16 for coach and $41 for business class
- Chicago's Union Station (CHI) to New York's Moynihan Train Hall (NYP), starting at $91 for coach
- CHI to St. Louis' Gateway Station (STL), starting at $24 for coach and $82 for business class
- BOS to NYP, starting at $25 for coach and $48 for business class
- NYP to WAS, starting at $25 for coach and $58 for business class
- Dallas' Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station (DAL) to Los Angeles' Union Station (LAX), starting at $105 for coach
- LAX to Seattle's King Street Station (SEA), starting at $81 for coach and $103 for business class
Seating is limited and may not be available on all trains at all times; fares are subject to availability. Also, please note that Amtrak's sale fares cannot be modified and have a 50% cancellation fee if canceled before departure.
While researching this sale, we found a few round-trip itineraries that saved us even more money than the advertised one-way prices in this sale. For example, a coach ticket on this April trip from Baltimore to Philadelphia only costs $12 round trip.
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Another lower-than-advertised price we found during our search was for a coach itinerary from Boston to New York City in April for just $32 round trip.
While digging through March fares, we found a coach itinerary between Chicago and St. Louis that only costs $40 round trip. Once again, this price is lower than the advertised sale fare.
Maximize your purchase
Be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel, such as:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday spending
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (see rates and fees): 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases
- American Express® Green Card: 3 points per dollar spent on travel
- Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®: 2 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel
- Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard®: 3 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel
The information for the American Express Green, Amtrak Guest Rewards and Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
Not only does this sale offer many discounted travel options, but depending on your location and schedule, you could save even more money on a round-trip ticket. Some routes were already running out of tickets at the lowest prices, so don't wait too long before finding and booking your trip.
Related reading:
- The best credit cards for train travel
- Amtrak gifting status for 2024
- New Acela trains approved for high-speed testing along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor
- Amtrak introduces 3 new menu items for first-class passengers
- Amtrak is testing in-seat delivery, online ordering from the cafe car
- Amtrak to simplify fare structure, eliminate Saver seats
Featured image by The Washington Post via Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.