Passenger Trains > Amtrak now offering travel discount for military veterans

The best line from the article:

“Amtrak is grateful to our nation’s military veterans for their commitment and sacrifices,” Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson said. “Traveling by train is an adventure, and we have sweetened the deal to offer this discount as a benefit to our veterans.”

https://wtkr.com/2019/08/27/amtrak-now-offering-travel-discount-for-military-veterans/

It was my understanding that the discount was removed last year, and pressure from a Senator has now brought it back.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/19 19:03 by chrsjrcj.

I am a US Air Force veteran from back inthe 1960s.
What kind of ID do I need for the Veterans Discount.
Am I dead meat?

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Your DD 214 should work.

Your VA id card......

Chris
USAF 62-66

My state will accept your DD-214 and give you a Veterans driver's license.  It looks like the regular license but has the word "Veteran" next to your picture  I've never had a problem getting a veterans discount anywhere I have tried for the discount.  I'm sure that other states do the same thing and it should be accepted by Amtrak or other companies.  

As a veteran of the Vietnam Era (I served on Okinawa, not in Vietnam) it's nice to have some positive recognition.  For years we were looked at and treated like 3rd class citizens.  I didn't expect to be treated like royalty, just treat me like you would anyone else.  Don't call me names or spit on me at the airport.  

John

Not all vets have a VA card. Many have no involvement with the VA. Everyone has a DD 214. It works with all the veteran's day deals & free stuff.

I'd advise everyone to register with the VA & get a card, just in case.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/19 21:36 by Duna.

Thanks to all those who responded.
I never received a VA ID Card on discharge.
The DD-214 is a large format document and is one you just can't haul it around to a train station.
I will look into the VA-ID Card.         

Jim Baker  USAF  1963-1967

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

I regularly avail myself of the ten percent discount at Lowe's.  Once I provided them with the DD-214, they linked my veteran status to my telephone number, and now all I do at check-out is ask for the discount and when prompted, provide the phone number.

Also, I had the "Veteran" line inserted onto my drivers license, at the same time that I had my license updated for "Real ID".   The D-214 was all it took to get the vet line. 

From the article:

“Amtrak is grateful to our nation’s military veterans for their commitment and sacrifices,” Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson said. “Traveling by train is an adventure, and we have sweetened the deal to offer this discount as a benefit to our veterans.”

Glosses over the elimination of the prior discount program--must have slipped his mind. And, an "adventure??" I'd rather have predictable and boring, i.e., running on-time, courteous staff, well-maintained equipment, clean restrooms, etc.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Anderson, President of a federally subsidized corporation, saving face from a highly offensive and insulting decision to remove the military discount in the first place, leaving it all to yield management.
"Adventure" - yeh, in reality, he's got that right.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anderson, President of a federally subsidized
> corporation, saving face from a highly offensive
> and insulting decision to remove the military
> discount in the first place, leaving it all to
> yield management.
> "Adventure" - yeh, in reality, he's got that
> right.

More vapid blather from Anderson. "Adventure" is the new "experiential?"

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/19 06:29 by Dcmcrider.

Duna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not all vets have a VA card. Many have no
> involvement with the VA. Everyone has a DD 214. It
> works with all the veteran's day deals & free
> stuff.
>
> I'd advise everyone to register with the VA & get
> a card, just in case.

Over the last 3 to 5 years, you apparently can no longer "just register" with the VA. If you are NOT eligible to receive medical benefits from the VA, they will no longer just issue you a VA ID Card, for simply having your DD-214.

Thanks for the update, didn't know that.

You only get a VA card if you are eligible for VA benefits. As far as the "large format" DD-214, it's just a standard letter size document. If it's onorous to fold one up and put in your pocket when you rarely need it, then just  take a picture of it with your cell phone and show them the picture. It's not that hard. Amtrak screwed up by taking that discount away. Whatever the reason for bringing it back, that is a good thing.

If using the DD214 be sure to black out the SSN.  That is the one issue with using the DD214.  Best bet is to get a VA Card, almot every Veteran has some sort of VA benefit, not just for medical.

Jeff Smith
1SG, USAR
1980 to will retire someday.

Jeff Smith
Lakewood, CA
RailMaster Hobbies

I live in Oregon. I showed my DD-214 and got "veteran" on my driver license and veteran license plates. Lowes and Fred Meyer (Kroger) just take my word for it.
Bill Pyper
USAF 1957-62
Salem, Oregon

 

tomdoyle409 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I regularly avail myself of the ten percent
> discount at Lowe's.  Once I provided them with
> the DD-214, they linked my veteran status to my
> telephone number, and now all I do at check-out is
> ask for the discount and when prompted, provide
> the phone number.

===============================================================

At their larger stores, where space permits, Lowe's also has special parking spaces convenient to the entrance, reserved
for veterans and so marked.  They are the next-closest, after the state-mandated handicapped parking spaces.

Home Depot offers 10% discount on everything that isn't "on sale". We have even gotten 10% discount on our new washing machine, which was already at a pretty low/competitive price. I simply show my VA photo ID Card, whenever I shop there.

I just show my Retired Military ID card. No problems with that. But this "new" discount is not good for sleeper space. 

chrsjrcj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It was my understanding that the discount was
> removed last year, and pressure from a Senator has
> now brought it back.

Anderson is a lawyer, so it's natural for him to flip/flop by taking credit for being "grateful." I'll be direct, since people are being polite here. He's not grateful, because he took it away in the first place.