Current Fares

[Rail Freak]

Is there a traditional time of year where Amtrak sets fares for the next year or some other time frame? ( can one get a jump on the next fare increase?)

:huh:

 

[AmtrakWPK]

They do that a couple of times a year, I think. The one distressing thing I heard yesterday from a station agent here in Florida is that as of Sept.30, they are discontinuing the Florida Resident Annual Railpass. If that is the case, we will probably each buy one just prior to that date. If you don't have one you might consider it, especially if what he said is true.

 

[Rail Freak]

They do that a couple of times a year, I think. The one distressing thing I heard yesterday from a station agent here in Florida is that as of Sept.30, they are discontinuing the Florida Resident Annual Railpass. If that is the case, we will probably each buy one just prior to that date. If you don't have one you might consider it, especially if what he said is true.

Question 1 what is meant by pass not good at board only or departure only stops?

Question 2 Florida has only the SS & SM correct?

Question 3 If taking the SS or SM, the pass would cover the coach fare for in state say to JAX & from there to NY would have to be reserved ( my coach and upgrade costs)

:unsure:

 

[AmtrakWPK]

The detrain only or board only comment means you can't get around the detrain-only or board-only requirements at those stations simply because you have a Florida Railpass. In other words, you can't board at a detrain-only stop just because you have a railpass, etc. That really is primarily along the southeast coast, from West Palm down to Miami. Southbound you can get off the train, but you cannot board at any of those stations. The reverse holds true northbound. The Pass is also good for the thruway bus from Ft. Myers on up thru Wildwood, Ocala, Gainesville, etc. Now, there is a possibility that the conductor would let you board or detrain at Lakeland when the official rules say otherwise - you can't buy a ticket Lakeland to Tampa or Tampa to Lakeland, but the Conductors have usually been OK about allowing Railpass Passengers to travel between those stations. They COULD prohibit it, but usually they don't. The rule about Detraining or boarding along the southeast coast of Florida is so that Amtrak is not used as a commuter system. They have Tri-Rail for that. That is not the case between Lakeland and Tampa .. I suspect the rule about entraining or detraining at Lakeland is to avoid a computer meltdown and for less confusion among passengers who don't really understand that 91 and 92 go through Lakeland TWICE each, each day, and they don't want the passengers confused about whether it's their stop or not. Inbound, you get off, outbound you get on, and there are two different station IDs for the same station, one for outbound and one for inbound. I personally think it sucks if the primary reason for this foolishness (no traveling between Tampa and Lakeland) is that they can't make their reservations system understand things well enough to let folks use 91/92 to commute between the two, since it would raise revenue, although since it IS an LD train, the Lakeland to Tampa segment would always be a risk, as far as getting there at the scheduled time.

 

[sky12065]

Is there a traditional time of year where Amtrak sets fares for the next year or some other time frame? ( can one get a jump on the next fare increase?):huh:

Within the week my wife and I will be traveling from the Albany/Rensselaer station to Flagstaff AZ. We made the reservations several months ago because I needed a handicapped room (their are very few available) and when I first called Amtrack I was quoted the price for the round trip then made the reservation, which by the way they usually advise you to do to lock in the price.
A few days later my wife called to check to see if the trip price was still the same or if it had gone down. She was informed that it had gone down substantially so I then called myself and cancelled the reservation then called back about 10 minutes later to make a new reservation. I was then told the price was HIGHER than my cancelled reservation was and was now substantially higher that I was quoted just minutes before.

I believe a similar thing happened years ago in another long distance trip we made. Anyway, when I questioned the agent I was told that this is not unusual... yes, even calls made within minutes of each other.

So I can say from experience that you can't know when prices would be increased or depend on any reliability of prices... at least on long distance trips anyway. :unsure:

 

[MrFSS]

Is there a traditional time of year where Amtrak sets fares for the next year or some other time frame? ( can one get a jump on the next fare increase?):huh:

Within the week my wife and I will be traveling from the Albany/Rensselaer station to Flagstaff AZ. We made the reservations several months ago because I needed a handicapped room (their are very few available) and when I first called Amtrack I was quoted the price for the round trip then made the reservation, which by the way they usually advise you to do to lock in the price.
A few days later my wife called to check to see if the trip price was still the same or if it had gone down. She was informed that it had gone down substantially so I then called myself and cancelled the reservation then called back about 10 minutes later to make a new reservation. I was then told the price was HIGHER than my cancelled reservation was and was now substantially higher that I was quoted just minutes before.

I believe a similar thing happened years ago in another long distance trip we made. Anyway, when I questioned the agent I was told that this is not unusual... yes, even calls made within minutes of each other.

So I can say from experience that you can't know when prices would be increased or depend on any reliability of prices... at least on long distance trips anyway. :unsure:

Lesson to be learned - never cancel the one you have in hand until AFTER you have made the new, lower priced one.

 

[Rail Freak]

Is there a traditional time of year where Amtrak sets fares for the next year or some other time frame? ( can one get a jump on the next fare increase?):huh:

Within the week my wife and I will be traveling from the Albany/Rensselaer station to Flagstaff AZ. We made the reservations several months ago because I needed a handicapped room (their are very few available) and when I first called Amtrack I was quoted the price for the round trip then made the reservation, which by the way they usually advise you to do to lock in the price.
A few days later my wife called to check to see if the trip price was still the same or if it had gone down. She was informed that it had gone down substantially so I then called myself and cancelled the reservation then called back about 10 minutes later to make a new reservation. I was then told the price was HIGHER than my cancelled reservation was and was now substantially higher that I was quoted just minutes before.

I believe a similar thing happened years ago in another long distance trip we made. Anyway, when I questioned the agent I was told that this is not unusual... yes, even calls made within minutes of each other.

So I can say from experience that you can't know when prices would be increased or depend on any reliability of prices... at least on long distance trips anyway. :unsure:

I shoud be more specific, When the lowest bucket prices are set!

 

[dan72]

I'd say, as soon as you know the date of your trip and are able to book, go ahead and do it. Odds are that you will get the lowest bucket - especially if you are able to book 6-10 months in advance.

Dan