There's a trend developing at Amtrak that I don't like. To prevent folks like me from helping folks like you make the most of Amtrak discount codes, which let you save 20% or more on rail journeys across the USA, they've started getting creative. They're lowering some fares through very time-limited sales, or forcing you to talk to a reservations agent to use discount codes in the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor rather than letting you book with them through the Internet.
The killer here is that the agents can enforce rules that Amtrak's website doesn't lock down. For instance, many codes sponsored by one particular city will work for an entire railway line if you can book them online, but if you're talking to an agent, they'll only let you book a discounted trip to that one individual city.
I've also been hearing reports of Amtrak changing or removing codes shortly after this column comes out. That's disappointing, as the goal of both the codes and this column is to get more people riding the train. But if one code doesn't work, what can I say? Try another.
Codes work often, but not always. They generally require a 3-day advance purchase and don't work during certain holiday periods. This year, that includes Feb. 15; Feb. 18; Mar. 21; Mar. 24; Aug. 29; Sept. 1; Nov. 25-26; Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 1.
So what are these marvelous codes? They slash Amtrak's prices. To use a discount code, start booking a ticket on www.amtrak.com or call tel. 800/USA RAIL, depending on whether it's on online or phone code. If you can possibly book online, do so: reservations agents tend to slap more restrictions on codes than the website does. On the page with the list of trains, marked "2 -- Select Train" -- there's a promotion code field near the bottom. Enter the code before you click the "View Fare" button. Finally, get your tickets mailed to you or pick them up from a Quik-Trak machine at a station.
When searching for budget fares on Amtrak, your first stop should always be Amtrak's weekly specials page, where they sell tickets on specific routes from a few days to a month in advance at up to 90% off. If you can't find your route on the weekly sale page (and remember, it changes every week), don't despair. Discount codes cover many of Amtrak's most popular routes. Sometimes they're also combinable with senior, children's, or AAA discounts. So pile on the discounts to get the absolute lowest fares.
Code-less Sales
One way Amtrak has been restricting their discounts has been through code-less sales -- just reducing prices now and then. They've always done this with their weekly specials page. But they're really digging in for '08.
Through March 31, weekend travel on the Adirondack train from New York City anywhere up to Montreal (and back) is $75 round trip, which is about a 40% discount. You don't need a code to get this fare; it'll just show up when you book.
They're also advertising "weekend getaway fares" throughout the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor. These are real sales - $49 for New York to DC is a discount -- but there's no word on how long these sale fares will last.
Everybody Must Get Codes
Maybe I'm overplaying it. There's still a bunch of usable online codes. The main problem is that are no longer any online-bookable codes in the busy Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington, D.C.
The biggest percentage savings in the nation is probably on the Cascades trains through Oregon and Washington, up to Vancouver, BC. The transit-friendly city of Portland, OR sponsors code H750, which lets you buy one ticket and get one free if two people are riding together anywhere on that line through May 23 -- and yes, that includes trains (but not buses) to Canada.
Lonely travelers to the Northwest need not fear: Seattle has you covered. Use code V777 for a 25% discount on any Cascades train if you're traveling alone, through May 16th.
On the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin trains from San Diego up past Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the city of Santa Barbara is sponsoring H752. That nabs you a cool 20% off those fares, through Dec. 8.
Active military and reservists get 20% off the fare on the San Joaquin and Pacific Surfliner trains within California through May 22. Use code V834 and bring your military ID with you when you board the train.
Through Feb. 29 only (yes, there's a Feb. 29 this year), couples get 50% off the second fare (in other words, 25% each for two people) on the Texas Eagle train from Chicago to Los Angeles through Texas, or any points in between. Use code V788 for this discount.
In the Midwest, you can use code V664 to get 20% off all fares on the three rail services between Chicago and various Michigan cities, called the Blue Water, Pere Marquette and Wolverine. That's good for sale and travel through March 31.
On the Downeaster train from Boston's North station to Portland, ME and points in between, couples traveling through March should use V181 to get half off their second ticket. If you're a patient traveling to medical appointments, V279 gets you 25% off any Downeaster fare.
Further south, codes V640 and V644 get you 15% off any of the Silver Service trains from New York City all the way down the east coast to Miami. That's train numbers 91, 92, 97, and 98. Thank the convention bureaus from Kissimmee and Miami, FL for this one, but the codes also work to all other destinations on these trains through April 30.
AAA members can also get 50% off a second ticket, or 25% off business class and sleeper seats on most trains except California and Northeast Corridor trains. Use code V644 and be prepared to produce your AAA membership card on demand. That code is for booking through Feb. 28 and travel through March 15.
The New Phone Codes
If you didn't find your journey above, you'll have to call the 800 number and ask to speak to a representative. I found I couldn't even get Amtrak's automated agent, "Julie," to accept the codes below.
You'll love train travel in New York State and Canada by using code V464 for 20% off your tickets -- but only over the phone, not online. V464 appears to work with any of the Empire Service trains within New York State, the trains to Montreal and Toronto, and even the Lake Shore Limited train to Chicago. It's good all the way through September 2008.
If you're headed to Vermont, call and ask for V209. That gives you 20% off any fare to the Green Mountain State on trains through Oct. 31, 2008.
If Rhode Island is your destination, V731 is your telephone-only code. That code gives you 20% off the regular fare on non-Acela trains to any Rhode Island station, for trains all the way through Dec. 12.
For a very limited time, V759 will give you 20% off all trips to Philadelphia. That's only for trains between Feb. 28 and March 11, though.
Four stations in the Northeast have destination-specific discounts for couples and groups. All four codes work on standard non-Acela trains for travel through Dec. 13, and they all take 50% off the second ticket for a pair traveling together. From north to south, they are Newark, NJ: V863; Wilmington, DE: V256; BWI Airport: V722; and Baltimore: V828.
Sun seekers should pick up a free Orlando Magicard at www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard. You can use it to book yourself a ticket over the phone with V673 through May 31. That will get you 20% off tickets on the Auto Train and Silver Service to the Orlando area. That's a better discount than V640/V644 above, but you have to book it over the phone.
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