Ticket Question

[sp001]

Hi All,
I am new here. I recently booked a round trip ticket online. I got a great price and was really excited about my trip. Something came up and I need to change my departure to an earlier time.
Imagine my surprise when I go online and it says I can't do that!! Come to find out my tickets are value rate tickets and you cannot change the date or time! WHY??? I am willing to pay the difference if there is one! This is crazy!!
I can't cancel either because I would have to pay a 25% cancel fee!!

This is unbelievable!! Is there anything else I can do??? I really need to leave earlier.
TIA

 

[SubwayNut]

Nope, not without sacraficing 25% of your intial ticket value. (This is better than the cheapest airline tickets that don't let you change the tickets at all).

I normally spend the few extra dollars and book the more expensive Flexible tickets so I can change my plans and departures (I do this fairly frequently actually), or just cancel if I need too.

 

[sp001]

If I had realized ALL the restrictions I would have booked the more expensive ticket. I just don't understand what they are gaining by not letting me change the time! Makes no sense to me!!

What happens if I bid to upgrade and get it, then can I change the time?

 

[zephyr17]

What happens if I bid to upgrade and get it, then can I change the time?

No. Your bid would be for the departure you are currently ticketed on.

If I had realized ALL the restrictions I would have booked the more expensive ticket. I just don't understand what they are gaining by not letting me change the time! Makes no sense to me!!

Haven't you ever bought an airline ticket? Restricted "discount" fare tickets are neither new nor unusual. They are pretty much the standard and have been for decades. Amtrak just follows common industry practice with discount ticket restrictions and dynamic, yield managed pricing.

Amtrak, in point of fact, is less restrictive than most airlines. The 25% penalty is low compared to airlines. Flexible tickets are usually only a little more expensive than Value fares, as opposed to the huge difference in airline fares between restricted discount fare classes and full fare, unrestricted "Y" class coach.

Next time pay the modest difference Amtrak charges between Value and Flexible.

For now, either pay the 25% penalty and reticket or take the train you are currently ticketed on. Your choice.

You may find that an agent may be more flexible by calling to modify the ticket rather than doing it online.

 

[zephyr17]

PS, the difference in terms between Value and Flexible is presented in a crystal clear fashion in the online purchase dialog prior to finalizing the purchase. It is totally up front and not buried in fine print.

So, no I really cannot imagine your surprise. There really isn't any excuse for pleading the 25% cancellation penalty and no changes was in any way a surprise.

Me? I'd pay the four bucks.

 

[BCL]

Haven't you ever bought an airline ticket? Restricted "discount" fare tickets are neither new nor unusual. They are pretty much the standard and have been for decades. Amtrak just follows common industry practice with discount ticket restrictions and dynamic, yield managed pricing.

Depends on the airline. Southwest has no change fees regardless of the ticket type. Heck - once I even found a cheaper fare for the same flight and manage to get a credit. United doesn't have change fees for most fare categories, but for Basic Economy they still allow for same-day standby to get on an earlier flight.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Depends on the airline. Southwest has no change fees regardless of the ticket type. Heck - once I even found a cheaper fare for the same flight and manage to get a credit. United doesn't have change fees for most fare categories, but for Basic Economy they still allow for same-day standby to get on an earlier flight.

Yes, I have been able to get credit for cheaper fares on airlines as well.

However, many airlines do not allow for changes with their lowest (saver fares). For all intents and purposes (I.e. for everyday fares), the "Value" fare on Amtrak is the airline equivalent to a "saver" fare.

(Yes, I'm aware Amtrak does have a "Sale" fare now, which has a 50% cancelation fee, but those only pop up when Amtrak actually runs a sale, thus not a fare you can purchase everyday).

 

[BCL]

Yes, I have been able to get credit for cheaper fares on airlines as well.

However, many airlines do not allow for changes with their lowest (saver fares). For all intents and purposes (I.e. for everyday fares), the "Value" fare on Amtrak is the airline equivalent to a "saver" fare.

(Yes, I'm aware Amtrak does have a "Sale" fare now, which has a 50% cancelation fee, but those only pop up when Amtrak actually runs a sale, thus not a fare you can purchase everyday).

Sure. But airlines as a rule have some pretty onerous cancellation policies unless one pays full fare. And full fare for most airlines is a heckuva lot more than Amtrak's idea of full fare. I remember trying to price that once when I thought I might need the flexibility and the fare was something like 5x the current nonrefundable fare.

Gone are the days when all Amtrak trips (paid with cash or an eVoucher) could be cancelled with 100% of the fare back as an eVoucher. I didn't do that often. Might have done it once with a ticket booked with a promo code. Maybe another time when I never got checked (and I wasn't hiding) by a conductor for the entire ride on an unreserved route. Several conductors said I was free to do whatever I wanted with an unscanned ticket. I didn't ride that route much so I got an eVoucher right at Quik-Trak (went back to my account since I booked online). I used the credit to ride later on.

 

[glensfallsse]

Depends on the airline. Southwest has no change fees regardless of the ticket type. Heck - once I even found a cheaper fare for the same flight and manage to get a credit. United doesn't have change fees for most fare categories, but for Basic Economy they still allow for same-day standby to get on an earlier flight.

You'd be surprised what the airlines *might* let you do, even with a low-rate fare, if you call up beforehand and give it a try. I had a bargain-basement ticket on AA a few years ago and couldn't make the trip due to sickness. It was a no-refund, no-changes ticket. I called up that morning to try anyway. They let me keep the ticket for future usage as long as I used the exact same routing (had to be through Philadelphia), would travel only at the least popular times of the week and arranged the travel only by calling them. I left at 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, but I traveled on that ticket.
Of course by now, who knows if that policy has also changed.

 

[BCL]

You'd be surprised what the airlines *might* let you do, even with a low-rate fare, if you call up beforehand and give it a try. I had a bargain-basement ticket on AA a few years ago and couldn't make the trip due to sickness. It was a no-refund, no-changes ticket. I called up that morning to try anyway. They let me keep the ticket for future usage as long as I used the exact same routing (had to be through Philadelphia), would travel only at the least popular times of the week and arranged the travel only by calling them. I left at 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, but I traveled on that ticket.
Of course by now, who knows if that policy has also changed.

Depends on the airline of course. I've never paid full fare myself, but have flown full fare for a job interview.

I've cancelled "nonrefundable fares" a few times. Once on Alaska Airlines where we more or less had a credit for the same route. Never ended up using it before it expired, but when I tested booked, there was a booking fee. Might have been $100 per passenger round trip I was seeing maybe $225 booking it straight up. Other airlines I think I would have been out of luck. My family an international ticket (one adult, one child) on Delta. After cancelling it, each ticket was worth credit for the fare, minus $200 each. However, the credit could be used by anyone who had the credit confirmation code. We actually used both credits towards booking domestic travel for three.

Amtrak used to be great though. I think the only problem was having to be wary of when tickets and eVouchers expire. There was something about booking a ticket with an eVoucher and how long it could be done down the line depended on when a previous ticket was booked.

 

[GariYaMoshi]

Depends on the airline of course. I've never paid full fare myself, but have flown full fare for a job

Amtrak used to be great though. I think the only problem was having to be wary of when tickets and eVouchers expire. There was something about booking a ticket with an eVoucher and how long it could be done down the line depended on when a previous ticket was booked.

We've taken the cancellation penalty twice and let our vouchers expire during covid.

We prefer to think of those lost funds as a donation to keep Amtrak running.

 

[BlackDiamond]

You'd be surprised what the airlines *might* let you do, even with a low-rate fare, if you call up beforehand and give it a try. I had a bargain-basement ticket on AA a few years ago and couldn't make the trip due to sickness. It was a no-refund, no-changes ticket. I called up that morning to try anyway. They let me keep the ticket for future usage as long as I used the exact same routing (had to be through Philadelphia), would travel only at the least popular times of the week and arranged the travel only by calling them. I left at 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, but I traveled on that ticket.
Of course by now, who knows if that policy has also changed.

I had 2 nonrefundable tickets on United PHL - IAH for a cruise that never happened due to a fire that knocked out the ship's generators. I was able to get credit that I had a year to use, some of which I have used on our upcoming March trip to Kansas City.

 

[sp001]

No. Your bid would be for the departure you are currently ticketed on.


Haven't you ever bought an airline ticket? Restricted "discount" fare tickets are neither new nor unusual. They are pretty much the standard and have been for decades. Amtrak just follows common industry practice with discount ticket restrictions and dynamic, yield managed pricing.

Amtrak, in point of fact, is less restrictive than most airlines. The 25% penalty is low compared to airlines. Flexible tickets are usually only a little more expensive than Value fares, as opposed to the huge difference in airline fares between restricted discount fare classes and full fare, unrestricted "Y" class coach.

Next time pay the modest difference Amtrak charges between Value and Flexible.

For now, either pay the 25% penalty and reticket or take the train you are currently ticketed on. Your choice.

You may find that an agent may be more flexible by calling to modify the ticket rather than doing it online.

No, I am a very frequent flyer on the airlines and have never bought a restricted discount fare ticket!
Never booked an Amtrak train either! I just saw the day and time and a price and booked it.

Thanks so much for your help.....not!

 

[railiner]

Regardless of ticket restrictions, if you showed up at an airport gate for an earlier flight than you’re booked on, and if there was plenty of room on the flight, and your booked flight was full or even oversold, wouldn’t it behoove the airline to allow you to board the earlier flight, to free up space on the booked flight, and maybe avoid paying denied boarding compensation?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

No, I am a very frequent flyer on the airlines and have never bought a restricted discount fare ticket!
Never booked an Amtrak train either! I just saw the day and time and a price and booked it.

Thanks so much for your help.....not!

Regardless, as the screenshots above show, it is clearly shown that no changes were allowed on the price you chose.

 

[jazzharris]

No, I am a very frequent flyer on the airlines and have never bought a restricted discount fare ticket!
Never booked an Amtrak train either! I just saw the day and time and a price and booked it.

Thanks so much for your help.....not!

I don't like all the rules in Amtrak fares but being someone who *never* flies, I pay attention to them. Amtrak is my preferred method of travel, inconvenient as it can often be. I haven't needed to fly since before TSA made it hard for everyone, but if I need to get somewhere quickly and Amtrak doesn't work, I will drive because I hate flying more than I hate driving. I prefer train travel but I don't get to make their rules, schedules or even routes - so I make myself familiar with them. I think those who fly do the same with the airlines? I pray someday train travel here will be as efficient as what I've seen in the other hemisphere.