Canceling a reservation

[cpl100]

We will be unable to use our tickets from FL to DC on the auto train in April. I hope we can get a refund. Has anyone had to cancel their tickets? Is it best to call or do it online? Thanks.

 

[zephyr17]

Call. The website doesn't apply any of the COVID related fee waivers. Those generally apply to changes,though, and they've gotten stricter about extending them to cancellations.

 

[cpl100]

Please tell me more about what you mean when you say they have gotten stricter. Thanks.

 

[zephyr17]

Please tell me more about what you mean when you say they have gotten stricter. Thanks.

Well, for awhile they were frequently waiving fees/penalties for cancellations as well as changes, even though I understand the policy always was it was just for changes. More recent reports indicate that they are not waiving cancellation fees/penalties in most cases now.

In any case, even for changes to get the waiver you has to call, the website would apply fees/penalties. It took an agent to apply the waiver.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I always call to cancel. You might get the full value back if you accept a voucher in lieu of credit minus penalty/fee to your credit card.

 

[Shortline]

My last few cancellations, they no longer let me take a voucher in lieu of penalties. Just lost that portion. However, I may be wrong but I think they are still allowing changes without penalty, if you can reschedule for another day down the road. Might save you from losing whatever the penalty amount is for cancellation now.

 

[joelkfla]

My last few cancellations, they no longer let me take a voucher in lieu of penalties. Just lost that portion. However, I may be wrong but I think they are still allowing changes without penalty, if you can reschedule for another day down the road. Might save you from losing whatever the penalty amount is for cancellation now.

The website still says no change fees, now on tickets purchased thru 2/28/23. But IIRC, it used to explicitly say that included trips booked with points, and it no longer includes that wording.

 

[zephyr17]

Remember, you can book any itinerary as a "change". It doesn't have to be the same route on another day, or even bewteen the same points. You can "change" to any Amtrak trip.