Passenger Trains > Amtrak reservation "no show" questions

An example.  You have a coach seat reserved from Richmond to DC and then a coach on the Capital to Chicago.
 
What happen if you no show for the Richmond train.  If you cancel before the the Capital leaves can you still get a refund for the DC to Chicago leg?

Another example - you have a round trip coach reserved Richmond to DC, returning on another day.   If you no show for the going leg can you still get a refund for the return? 

I think you need to cancel before departure or you forfeit everything.

I agree, you need to cancle before depaerture.  After all, Amtrak reserved that seat for  you and couldn't sell it to anyone else.  Heck, us railfans could shut down Megabus on some routes it we reserved seats, didn't show up, and got a refund.  Wouldn't take but about 50 for each of their runs and they'd be deaply in the red.

John

It's just common sense and courtesy to advise the carrier weather it be Amtrak, an airline, or bus that you won't be using your ticket. Most likely someone else will be glad to have your seat or bedroom.

That is why there is travel insurance.



yooperfan Wrote:
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> I agree that a person SHOULD cancel.  But, say a
> person over sleeps and misses their first train on
> a cross country round trip.  So they also forfeit
> the $800 they paid for their return trip two weeks
> later?  
>
> maybe the smart thing (besides setting two alarms)
> is to book the return as a separate reservation.

Posted from Android

stash Wrote:
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> That is why there is travel insurance.

Travel insurance only covers unforeseen emergencies that are related to the traveler or his family. It does not cover work related conflicts, change of mind, missing the departure due to personal negligence, ect.
>
>
>
> yooperfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I agree that a person SHOULD cancel.  But, say
> a
> > person over sleeps and misses their first train
> on
> > a cross country round trip.  So they also
> forfeit
> > the $800 they paid for their return trip two
> weeks
> > later?  
> >
> > maybe the smart thing (besides setting two
> alarms)
> > is to book the return as a separate reservation.
>
>
> Posted from Android

Amtrak has very carefully described their refund policy on their website under 'Refund and Exchange Policy'  --Refunds and Exchanges--   My interpretation is that if you no show for the first leg of your trip, all of it is gone.  I knew that was the case as far as releasing your seats & accomodations for the trip, but was unaware that you'd lose all your money (or points) paid, too.  According to an article from 'The Hill'  --Amtrak ending no show refunds-- they stopped giving no show refunds as of March 1, 2013.    


The pertinent part of Amtraks' refund policy is quoted below:

Refunds will be calculated for the total fare paid for each trip, as described below.Passenger travel in a reservation is grouped into trips. A "trip" is a grouping of continuous travel. Example: A booking Wilmington - Washington - Chicago - Seattle with same-day connections is one trip. Refund rules are applied based on the scheduled departure for the first travel in a trip. When more than one type of travel is in a trip, the refund policy is applied to the entire trip based on the primary travel type in the trip which is determined in the following order:

• Sleeping Accommodations: If canceled 15 or more days before the scheduled departure from the origin, sleeping accommodation charges and associated rail fares are refundable less a 10% refund fee. If canceled 14 days or fewer before the scheduled departure from the origin, but before the scheduled departure, sleeping accommodation charges and associated rail fares are not refundable but the value may be applied to an eVoucher that can be used toward future travel within one year. If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin ("no show"), the entire amount is forfeited and cannot be applied toward future travel.
• Acela Express First Class and non-Acela Business Class: If canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket is fully refundable without a refund fee. If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin ("no show"), the ticket is refundable less a 10% refund fee.
• Reserved Coach and Acela Express Business Class: Refund rules vary based on the type of fare purchased. Tickets sold as a Value fare are fully refundable up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure from the origin and will incur a 10% fee if refunded less than 24 hours. If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin ("no show"), the entire amount is forfeited and cannot be applied toward future travel. Tickets sold as a Flexible fare are fully refundable and will not be charged a fee.
• Unreserved Coach: A 10% refund fee applies at all times.
• Advance Purchase Fare: Refundability is based on the rules applying to the particular fare. Some advance booking/purchase fares (such as Saver fares) are not refundable. If canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin, the ticket value may be saved as credit in a non refundable eVoucher that can be used for future Amtrak travel. If not canceled before the scheduled departure from the origin ("no show"), the entire amount is forfeited and cannot be applied toward future travel.

Example: If a trip includes both reserved coach and sleeper. The sleeper refund policy applies to the entire trip.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/16 19:43 by BRAtkinson.