3 simple ways to cut costs on Amtrak tickets

Whether you love it or not, Amtrak provides a convenient option compared to flying, especially if you're avoiding air travel at the moment.

Amtrak runs most medium- and long-distance passenger trains in the U.S., allowing it to set its own fare prices. If you've traveled by train, you know that some tickets can rival the cost of a plane ticket.

However, if you're an astute train traveler, there are plenty of opportunities to save a good chunk of change on your ticket. Here are three straightforward methods to reduce costs on your next Amtrak journey.

Join the Rail Passengers Association

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For only $6 a month, I gain access to discounted Amtrak fares as a member of the Rail Passengers Association. I learned about this program in 2019 when I mentioned to a colleague how frequently I used Amtrak. I quickly realized its advantages once I signed up and began saving money on often pricey Amtrak tickets between New York City and Washington, D.C.

Members enjoy a 10% discount on Amtrak tickets and up to 20% off select regional trains. While it might not seem like much, those savings can really add up over time.

If you're interested in becoming a member of the Rail Passengers Association, you can start your membership for just $5 a month (or $50 per year) for students or seniors, or $6 ($60 annually) for individual memberships. After joining, make sure to add your membership number to your Amtrak account to unlock your discounts.

Plan your trip several weeks ahead

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Amtrak isn’t the best option for finding last-minute deals. During a recent Thanksgiving trip from my home in New York to Washington, I briefly thought about extending my stay, only to find that the cheapest ticket was over $200 after checking Amtrak.

The company's website actively encourages passengers to purchase tickets in advance and even offers discounts for doing so. Travelers booking Saver fares at least seven days before their journey can save up to 20% compared to standard coach fares.

For instance, you can find one-way tickets from Atlanta to New Orleans for just $39 and from New York to Chicago for $90.

This ongoing promotion is available on numerous routes, including the California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, Auto Train, Blue Water, Pere Marquette, Wolverine, Lincoln Service, Saluki, Illini, Carl Sandburg, and Illinois Zephyr.

Obtain an Amtrak credit card

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While having an Amtrak credit card won't directly give you discounted fares, it does come with benefits that could help offset the cost of your train ticket, especially if you travel frequently.

Amtrak provides two cobranded credit cards: the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® and the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®. Both cards offer appealing welcome bonuses, but I'll highlight some key benefits of the Preferred card.

The information regarding the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card and Amtrak Guest Rewards card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details on this page have not been verified or supplied by the card issuer.

The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card earns 3 points for every $1 spent on Amtrak travel (including onboard purchases), 2 points on all travel, dining, transit, and rideshare expenses, and 1 point on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from a 20% rebate on onboard purchases, receive a complimentary companion coupon at account opening and each renewal, get a lounge pass upon joining and at each anniversary, and are entitled to a one-class upgrade at account opening and every anniversary. Additionally, cardholders can earn 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent each calendar year (up to four times).

Perhaps the most valuable benefit is the one-class upgrade, which allows you to move from a coach seat to a business-class seat. The best use of this upgrade may be to elevate from an Acela business class seat to Acela first class.

Amtrak often runs promotions on Acela, with tickets on certain routes available for as low as $39 one-way in business class. However, Acela first class tends to be notoriously expensive, costing up to $500 depending on your route and travel date. You can greatly enhance your business-class experience by using a one-class upgrade, which grants lounge access, a hot meal, a car attendant, and seating in a 1-2 configuration.

While train travel in the U.S. may not compare to that in Europe or Asia, Acela first class can offer a delightful experience if you take advantage of the upgrade.