Amtrak debuts new self-check-in option on Acela trains
"Tickets, please," may become a thing of the past if Amtrak's newest initiative takes off.
Over the past few weeks, Amtrak has quietly rolled out a new self-check-in feature that allows you to quickly validate your train ticket once you step on board the train.
As part of the trial, a button in the Amtrak app will display "Check In" if your trip is eligible for this new self-service option. After tapping the button, you'll be asked to scan a barcode above your seat.
Assuming that you're sitting in your assigned seat, the app will successfully check you in. Then, once the conductor comes through the car, their scanner will automatically show that your ticket has been validated, meaning that you'll no longer need to raise your phone brightness and display your digital ticket to the conductor.
This new service first rolled out in December on a handful of Acela trains in the Northeast, but the feature has since expanded to additional trainsets in the Acela fleet.
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Right now, it's available on "more — but not all — of our Acela trains," an Amtrak spokesperson told TPG. Note that this feature is exclusively available in Acela first class, but it may expand to the business-class cabin in the coming months.
"Amtrak debuted a pilot voluntary self-check-in feature on select Acela First Class trains in December to evaluate if it could improve the onboard experience for our customers and employees. We look forward to evaluating its results to determine potential next steps," Amtrak's statement reads.
Last week, I took the Acela from New York to Philadelphia in the first-class cabin. I noticed this new feature in the app when I boarded the train, and I decided to try it out for myself.
Related: Your complete guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards
The hardest part was finding the QR code above my seat. Turns out, it was placed next to the personal air nozzle. (If Amtrak rolls this out more broadly, hopefully, it'll use a brighter color for the QR code to make it easier to find.)
My ticket was successfully validated in just a few seconds — the service requires a cellular or Wi-Fi connection — and I then waited for the conductor to come through the cabin a few minutes later.
When he approached my seat, he thanked me for using the new feature and said my ticket had already been marked as checked in.
The service couldn't have been more seamless, and it certainly saved me from the hassle of interrupting my work to find my ticket when he passed by my seat. I, for one, hope that Amtrak expands this beyond just the Acela first-class car.
In fact, this is just the latest in a series of improvements that Amtrak is trialing in the Northeast Corridor.
Late last year, Amtrak debuted a new in-seat delivery and online ordering functionality for select Acela trains. The service was pricey — it costs $2.50 for the delivery and transaction fee — but it certainly saved me time on a busy train on a Thursday afternoon.
Just like self-check-in, the online ordering program was designed as a pilot, and it ended early this year. Amtrak plans to collect feedback from the program to evaluate whether it'll pursue a full rollout across the entire Acela (and perhaps Northeast Regional) fleet.
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- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 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. |
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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
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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.