Table of Contents
Wanderer, let us upgrade you!
New fare types = less hassle
In the fall of 2023, Amtrak announced changes to its fare structure in a bid to simplify its categories and make it more clear to travelers what the terms of each fare type are. As a result, the train carrier has trimmed its coach class options down to two fare types, Value and Flex.
The key difference between the Value and Flex fares is how trip changes and refunds are processed in case your plans change after you book your trip. Other than that, the travel experience is the same under either fare type – you get ample legroom, free Wi-Fi, power outlets and snacks for purchase, among other things.
For those of you whose employer is footing the bill (or who just prefer a tad fancier travel experience), the Business fare is here to stay. Like before, passengers traveling in business class enjoy additional perks and amenities such as extra legroom with footrests and the ability to pick a specific seat ahead of time on certain routes.
Amtrak Fare Type Comparison
For your convenience, we’ve broken down the terms of each fare, allowing you to make the most informed decision before you book your trip.
Please keep in mind that these fares are available on non-Acela trips only. For a detailed comparison of the fares offered by Amtrak’s Acela service, keep scrolling down (or just jump to that section now).
| Coach: Value | Coach: Flex | Business |
|---|---|---|
|
💲 75% refund if canceled before departure
✅ 100% refund if canceled within 24 hours of booking |
✅ 100% refund if canceled before departure | ✅ 100% refund if canceled before departure |
| ✖️ No changes permitted | ✅ Changes permitted without a fee (difference in fare may apply) | ✅ Changes permitted without a fee |
| ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure | ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure | ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure |
| ✖️ No seat selection | ✖️ No seat selection | ✅ Seamless boarding with seat selection* |
| ✖️ Regular legroom without footrests | ✖️ Regular legroom without footrests | ✅ Extra legroom with footrests. |
| ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 | ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 | ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 and a 25% bonus |
*Available only on Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto and Vermonter routes.
Don’t miss out on collecting Amtrak Guest Rewards points – you can earn points even when you book on Wanderu! All you have to do is enter your personal rewards number in the designated field during checkout. Check out our Amtrak Guest Rewards guide for more information.
Ready to jump on board? Let’s go! 🚂
Amtrak Sale Fares
Occasionally, the Amtrak team feels extra generous and makes special discounted rates (often referred to as “flash deals”) available on certain routes and services. Those deals fall under the Sale fare which comes with the following terms:
| Coach: Sale |
|---|
|
💲 50% refund if canceled before departure
✅ 100% refund if canceled within 24 hours of booking |
| ✖️ No changes permitted |
| ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure |
| ✖️ No seat selection |
| ✖️ Regular legroom without footrests |
| ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 |
Acela Fares
Those of you who are familiar with Amtrak’s fleet and services have most probably heard of Acela, Amtrak’s flagship high-speed rail service that runs along the Northeast Corridor of the United States, providing express train service between Boston and Washington, DC, with 16 stop at key cities such as Providence, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
The Acela is the preferred mode of transportation among business travelers due to its high-class trains and shorter trip duration. As a result, it is the most premium priced among all of Amtrak’s lines.
As you can imagine, there’s no coach class on Acela trains, but there are still three fare options to choose from: Business Value, Business Flex, and First Class. Here’s how they compare:
| Business: Value | Business: Flex | First Class |
|---|---|---|
|
💲 75% refund if canceled before departure
✅ 100% refund if canceled within 24 hours of booking |
✅ 100% refund if canceled before departure | ✅ 100% refund if canceled before departure |
| ✖️ No changes permitted | ✅ Changes permitted without a fee (difference in fare may apply) | ✅ Changes permitted without a fee |
| ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure | ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure | ✖️ Refunds are not allowed after departure |
| ✅ Seamless boarding with seat selection | ✅ Seamless boarding with seat selection | ✅ Seamless boarding with seat selection* |
| ✅ Extra legroom with footrests | ✅ Extra legroom with footrests | ✅ Extra legroom with footrests |
| 💲 Meals and beverages for purchase | 💲 Meals and beverages for purchase | ✅ At-seat service with complimentary meals and beverages |
| ✖ No station lounge access (except for Portland, OR and St. Louis, MO) | ✖ No station lounge access (except for Portland, OR and St. Louis, MO) | ✅ Station lounge access and priority boarding |
| ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 and a 25% bonus | ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 and a 25% bonus | ✅ Earn 2 Guest Rewards points per $1 and a 50% bonus |
Wanna see for yourself what the Acela fuss is all about? 🚄
How to book and upgrade your trip
It’s super easy to book an Amtrak trip on Wanderu and even easier to upgrade to any of the higher tier fare options. Here’s what you need to do:
1
Go to wanderu.com (or open the Wanderu app)
2
Enter your departure city and destination along with your desired travel date (or dates, in case you wish to book a round trip)
3
From the search results, select the trip that best fits your needs. By default, all prices displayed here represent the lowest available fare.
Use the filters on the left to select only train results. You can also select specific departure and arrival time periods, as well as the stations from which you want to take off or where you’d prefer to arrive.
4
Now that you’ve selected a trip, you can see all available fare options and upgrade your ticket!
5
Fill out the check out form with your personal information and billing details.
6
Pack your bags because you’re going on a trip! 🧳🎉
Frequently Asked Questions
All Amtrak tickets are 100% refundable within 24 hours of booking, as long as the train hasn’t departed. If you miss your train or decide not to travel without taking any action to alert the carrier, you cannot claim a refund.
After 24 hours of booking (and prior to departure), refundability of your Amtrak ticket is dependent on your ticket’s fare type:
- Coach Sale: 50% refund
- Coach Value: 75% refund
- Coach Flex: 100% refund
- Business: 100% refund
For Acela tickets, refunds are processed as follows:
- Business Value: 75% refund
- Business Flex: 100% refund
- First Class: 100% refund
Changes to booked Amtrak tickets are allowed only for higher-tier fares. Keep in mind that you can only change the date and time of your reservation. You cannot change the points of departure and arrival.
Here’s how change options vary by fare type (for non-Acela trains):
- Coach Sale: No changes permitted
- Coach Value: No changes permitted
- Coach Flex: Changes permitted without a fee (difference in fare may apply)
- Business: Changes permitted without a fee
For Acela tickets, changes are processed as follows:
- Business Value: No changes permitted
- Business Flex: Changes permitted without a fee (difference in fare may apply)
- First Class: Changes permitted without a fee
Yes! Amtrak has an awesome program called Amtrak Guest Rewards that allows you to earn points for every trip that you book and exchange them for discounts, free tickets or other goodies.
The best part: you can earn points even when you book on Wanderu! All you have to do is enter your personal rewards number in the designated field during checkout. Check out our Amtrak Guest Rewards guide for more information.
Only travelers who purchased a Business fare (including any Acela fares) are allowed to pick a specific seat prior to departure. All other passengers can pick a seat as soon as they board on a first-come first-served basis.
No, if you miss your train, you are not eligible for a refund on any of Amtrak’s fare types. If you think you will not make the trip, do your best to contact the Amtrak team prior to departure, so you can take advantage of your fare’s refundability option.
Now that you know everything about Amtrak’s new fare types, you are more than ready to book your Amtrak trip! You can visit your friends or your family in a neighboring town, or even take a loop around the United States by train (and maybe even bring your dog along with you) – the adventure opportunities are endless and Wanderu is here to make them true!
If you ever need assistance when you are planning your trip, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Our team is available to chat and answer any of your questions to make you feel comfortable about your next adventure. Just head on over to Wanderu’s Help Center and we’ll do everything in our power to help you!
