Amtrak Guide: How to Buy an Amtrak Ticket Plus Insider Tips (2023)

FAQs

What is the best way to book train tickets? ›

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Coach Seats

These seats are larger and more comfortable than seats on an airplane, recline and have a power outlet, reading light and tray. Plus, there are no middle seats. There are only two coach seats together then the aisle and two more coach seats.

Any luggage you bring on board needs to be in your custody, stored in overhead racks, under seats, or in designated baggage areas. Travel necessities like pillows, blankets, computer cases or medical devices are allowed. The great news is those do not count toward your two-bag limit!

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.

To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.

The ticket counter staff will be able to help you choose the best ticket for your journey and advise on any discounts you may be eligible for, but you're likely to get the same rates online too. Booking online is often easier and quicker to do in a hurry, and there's rarely any difference in the price at all.

"The safest spot in a train, during an accident, is the center of the train," said Mann, who was the principal author of the Federal Railway Safety Act in 1970. "Because if there is a front-end collision or a rear-end collision, the damages will be greater at those locations.

The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

Watch your step moving from car to car while the train is in motion, as the vestibules can be slippery. Be sure to step over the gap between the train and platform. Leave personal food items and baggage at your seat. Wear shoes at all times and use caution when wearing shoes without rubber soles.

Wear comfortable clothes

We're not talking full-on pajamas, but breathable, stretchy clothing will make your ride more enjoyable. If you choose to have dinner in our awesome dining car, the dress code is still casual. Feel free to wear jeans and a T-shirt or take it old school and wear a dinner jacket.

Where do your bags go on Amtrak? ›

Storing Items

Carry-on and personal items must be kept with you, stored in overhead racks, under seats or designated baggage areas. Most buses have baggage storage bins under the bus floor, and the bus driver will assist you.

You get to pick your seat because there are no seat assignments, and there are no middle seats. SCORE! There are two outlets at every seat pair.

Some trains such as the high-speed TGV or overnight trains, will always require a seat reservation. Having a seat reservation not only determines where you will be sitting on the train but also binds you to a particular train. Tickets for these trains will always be sold with a reservation.

Generally lower one is preferable. If you want to lye down most of the time during the journey, you should opt for the upper one. In 3 tier, there will be a middle berth in between upper and lower.

Reserve Early. The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

Advance train tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You'll need to travel on the train you're booked on, but you'll get a cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times.

Generally, train fares go up in price, right up until the day you travel. So, one secret to finding cheap train tickets is booking Advance tickets.

Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to CheapAir.com, you can expect rates to go up after that period.

Is it better to sit facing forward or backward on a train? ›

Cars in the front of the train are usually more steady feeling than the cars near the end. The optimal seat to prevent motion sickness is a seat in the middle of one of the first train cars. Be sure to choose a forward-facing seat, and if you're riding a double-decker train, stay on the bottom level.

Arriving at the Station

Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart (Auto Train passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure).

What happens if you fall asleep on Amtrak? The conductor will place a destination ticket in the holder above your seat. He will usually remind you within 30 minutes of your stop. If you are asleep, he will awaken you.

You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

50+ Year Amtrak Rider

Yes, Potable Water is Available in the Coaches but as you say putting a Flavor Additive in it helps overcome the less than Thrilling Taste! In Sleepining Cars Bottled Water is Avaialble for Free and if you Eat in the Diner Meals include Coffee,Tea,Milk or Water!

The sleeper class is suitable for travelers who are on a tight budget, or who want to mingle with local folks. If you want to have a more comfortable train journey, AC 3-tier class is a better option.

The following items are prohibited onboard the train: non-service animals, firearms and ammunition, hover boards, corrosive or dangerous chemicals and materials, incendiaries, martial arts and self-defense items, archery equipment, devices containing propellants, sharp objects, and similar items.

A menu with hot, ready-to-serve choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits (the first one is on us), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout the journey. Complimentary room service provided by the Sleeping Car attendant.

Yes. Your bags are subject to search at any time you are airside (inside the secured area).

Should you tip your Amtrak attendant? ›

General Guidelines: Tipping is NOT required, but is considered correct for the service crew personnel on the train. Recommendations: Snack bar attendant: roughly 10%. Dining car: 15% of menu prices (sleeping car passengers may want to note this when ordering their meals).

For the most enjoyable experience, especially during a long-distance journey, you'll want to wear clothing that is super comfortable, along with warm socks. Oftentimes, the train cars can get cold, even if you're not seated by the doors that connect the cars together.

Each passenger may bring onboard two pieces of carry-on luggage (this includes bicycles), plus two personal items, including small bags, backpacks, laptops, and purses.

This is why an unforgettable trip on an Amtrak® train goes hand in hand with high comfort. All the carriages in the train are air-conditioned, seats are comfortable and positioned so that each passenger has a leg rest and far more space than on the plane - and also can freely throughout the train.

You + Two Bags = No Extra Charge

Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. When you travel with us, you can carry-on two free pieces of luggage. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg) and needs to be 28 x 22 x 14 inches in size.

Technically, any piece of luggage that you “carry on” to an airplane is a carry-on bag. Most airlines allow one piece of carry-on luggage or “hand baggage” that can fit in the overhead bin, plus a “personal item” (a smaller purse, computer bag, diaper bag, small backpack, etc.

Each traveler can check up to 4 bags (2 free and 2 at $20 per bag). Size/weight limitations apply.

Some items are allowed in addition to your two bags

Travel necessities like pillows, blankets, computer cases or medical devices are allowed. The great news is those do not count toward your two-bag limit!

Talk on the Phone on Amtrak

Don't talk on your cell phone for extended periods while sitting in your seat. And by extended periods, I mean more than 2 or 3 minutes. No one wants to hear your personal stories.

Sit in the center-most train car

When choosing a seat on a train, try to get one in the center-most car, or one of the central cars. This will put you as far as possible from the most common points of issue for collisions or derailment, namely the front and end of the train.

How do you know where to sit on Amtrak? ›

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com.

Only if the train guard opens first class for second class passengers. Otherwise you must pay the surcharge to travel in first class. One of the main advantages of first class that is worth the extra money to some passengers is that it is not as likely to be full as second class.

The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

Even if there are no reservations, your ticket is still valid. You can sit in any empty, unreserved seat.

Yes, I have travelled in 1A coach of Indian Railways a lot of times but the best experience I had in Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (20506) from New Delhi to Varanasi Junction.

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First Class A/C (1A) is the highest rail travel class and is not available on all trains. It offers air-conditioned cubicles in two-bed and four-bed formats with closing doors. There usually is only one 1A bogie (carriage) on a train.

Are train tickets cheaper if you book them in advance? ›

Advance tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You have to travel on the train you're booked on, but you get a much cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times. Full details on Advance tickets can be found here.

Cheap train tickets are usually released by train operators in advance of the journey. Normally, this is around 12 weeks in advance, as the timetable for any particular day is normally confirmed 12 weeks in advance.

A passenger seeking reservation of berth or seats should purchase tickets from the Railway Reservation Offices/Authorised Travel Agency only. Advance reservations are made generally up to 120 days in advance for all classes and all trains.

The requests for reservation at the reservation counters are accepted up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, after which, the reservation will be done at the current counters at the stations up to one hour before the scheduled departure of the train and thereafter by the Ticket Collector/Conductor ...

You can reserve your ticket 60 days in advance, excluding the date of journey at the train originating station. At intermediate stations where the train arrives the following day, reservation can be done 61 days in advance. In the case of some intercity day express trains, the advance reservation period is less.

During a regular day, inspectors are most common during hours of 6am to 6pm. They are most active between rush hours (9-11am and 3-5pm). Weekends feature inspectors with regular consistency throughout the day.