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Amtrak winter flash sale: One-way fares for as low as $4

Nov. 08, 2023
•
5 min read
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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If you plan on traveling by train this winter, this flash sale from Amtrak is for you.

Through Nov. 15, Amtrak is offering discounted fares across all its routes for travel from December through mid-March.

Even though the sale is advertised as being across the Amtrak network, the cheapest one-way coach fares, which start at $4, are for travel along the Northeast Corridor. Routes in the Midwest start at $34, and West Coast fares are available on the low end at $22.

Deal basics

amtrak flash sale banner
AMTRAK.COM

What: Amtrak

Routes: Across the Amtrak network

How to book: Directly through Amtrak or via the Amtrak app

Travel dates: Dec. 4, 2023, to March 15, 2024

Sample fares

The following one-way fares were priced as listed at the time of publication. We cannot guarantee they will be available when you book.

  • Washington, D.C.'s Union Station (WAS) to Baltimore's Penn Station (BAL), starting at $4 for coach and $14 for business class
  • Providence's Amtrak/MBTA Station (PVD) to Boston's South Station (BOS), starting at $4 for coach and $15 for business class
  • Philadelphia's William H. Gray III 30th Street Station (PHL) to BAL, starting at $4 for coach and $33 for business class
  • WAS to PHL, starting at $8 for coach and $41 for business class
  • New York's Moynihan Train Hall (NYP) to BAL, starting at $12 for coach and $55 for business class
  • PHL to NYP, starting at $16 for coach and $38 for business class
  • WAS to NYP, starting at $17 for coach and $59 for business class
  • Portland, Oregon's Union Station (PDX) to Seattle's King Street Station (SEA), starting at $22 for coach
  • NYP to BOS, starting at $25 for coach and $48 for business class
  • BOS to BAL, starting at $28 for coach and $62 for business class
  • WAS to BOS, starting at $29 for coach and $62 for business class
  • Chicago's Union Station (CHI) to St. Paul-Minneapolis' Union Depot (MSP), starting at $34 for coach
  • CHI to Denver's Union Station (DEN), starting at $58 for coach
  • MSP to SEA, starting at $83 for coach
  • Dallas' Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station (DAL) to Los Angeles' Union Station (LAX), starting at $136 for coach

Seating is limited and may not be available on all trains at all times; fares are subject to availability.

amtrak schedule
AMTRAK.COM

Though this sale advertises one-way fares, you may be able to find two discounted one-ways to make a round-trip journey. For example, based during a test search, I found a one-way from NYP to BOS for $16 (even lower than advertised) and a $25 fare on the way back. This brought my round-trip total to $41.

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amtrak coach prices
amtrak coach prices
1 of 2
AMTRAK.COM
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1

The sale fares are indicated in green with the word "Sale."

NYC to BOS
AMTRAK.COM

As part of Amtrak's newly announced simplified fare structure, sale fares incur a 50% cancellation fee if canceled before departure and cannot be modified.

You'll note that Value fares are slightly more expensive than the sale fares, though they still cost less than Flex fares. Value fares are non-changeable, but passengers can cancel before a trip and receive a 75% refund; this essentially amounts to a 25% cancellation penalty. Flex fares are fully refundable and changeable for free if canceled before departure.

Keep in mind that Amtrak has waived change fees until Dec. 31.

coach seat prices
AMTRAK.COM

You can also book this sale using Amtrak Guest Rewards points. For example, the above route is bookable at its cheapest for 1,426 points round trip but requires returning on the 7:55 p.m. train.

fare options in points
AMTRAK.COM

Maximize your purchase

Be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel, such as:

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

Depending on your desired travel dates and routes, you can book this deal for deeply discounted Amtrak travel. One-way fares range from $4 to $136 for coach travel through March 15, 2024.

Related reading:

Featured image by CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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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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.