Refunds and Cancellations

Ticket Waivers

 

Amtrak is waiving all change fees for reservations made with Saver fares through December 31, 2024, including reservations booked with points. A fare difference may apply for itinerary changes. Cancellation fees still apply to fares that have cancellation fees. The removal of some restrictions on Multi-Ride tickets on the Northeast Corridor is extended through December 31, 2024.

 

Risk-Free Cancellation

For all reserved fares purchased from Amtrak via cash*, credit card or debit card, a full refund will be issued to the original form of payment if the ticket is canceled within 24 hours of the time of purchase and prior to the scheduled departure. Tickets for unreserved services must be canceled within 1 hour of purchase. Tickets that remain unused and are not canceled prior to departure are forfeit.

For tickets purchased and/or issued through third parties, refer to the applicable third-party seller’s terms and conditions. For tickets purchased and/or issued through third parties, refer to the applicable third-party seller’s terms and conditions.

*If original purchase was made using cash, and eligible cancellation is made, refund may be issued via check.

"No Show" Policy

Subject to applicable cancellation policies, all fares are non-refundable and non-changeable after departure. Passengers who “no show” or do not cancel prior to departure forfeit the entire value of their “no show” segment. This policy applies to tickets paid in USD (including via Gift Certificate) as well as tickets paid with Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

The applicable cancellation policy (one-way, roundtrip or multi-city) is based on the type of fare purchased. The different types of fares available at Amtrak are laid out below.

Coach and Acela Business Class Fares

Flex Fares

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.

Changes: No fee, difference in fare may apply.

Value Fares

Refunds: 25% of total fare is forfeited; 75% refunded to original form of payment. 

Changes are not permitted.

Sale Fares

Refunds: 50% of total fare is forfeited; 50% refunded to original form of payment. 

Changes are not permitted.

Unreserved Fares

Refunds: 25% of total fare is forfeited; 75% refunded to non-refundable eVoucher. 

Changes: not applicable

Business Fares

Classes of Service: Non-Acela Business Class

  • Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.
  • Changes: No fee, difference in fare may apply.

First Class Fares

Class of Service: Acela First Class

  • Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.
  • Changes: No fee, difference in fare may apply.

Class of Service: Private Rooms

  • Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled 121 days or more before departure. 75% refund to original form of payment with 25% of total fare forfeited if canceled 120 to 15 days before departure. Within 14 days of departure, 75% of total fare is returned as a non-refundable eVoucher with 25% of the total fare forfeited.
  • Changes: No fee, difference in fare may apply.

Amtrak BidUp

Amtrak BidUp is an opportunity to enhance your trip by submitting an upgrade offer or instantly purchase an upgrade to our premium classes of service: Business Class, Acela First Class and private Roomette and Bedroom accommodations. 

  • If your bid is awarded, and your ticket is upgraded, your ticket(s) become fully non-refundable, non-changeable, and non-transferable even if purchased a flexible fare initially. Learn more about Amtrak BidUp.

Reward Ticket Refunds & Changes

The following applies to tickets redeemed for travel using Amtrak Guest Rewards points:

One-Way, Round-Trip, or Multi-Segment Redemptions

  • Cancellations: Points are fully refunded back to member account if canceled before departure.
  • Changes: No fee, difference in fare may apply.

Points & Cash Travel

  • Cancellations: Points portion of reservation are fully refunded back to member account; cash portion fully refunded back to original form of payment.
  • Changes: Not permitted.

Multi-Ride (Six-Ride, Ten-Ride) Pass Redemptions

  • Cancellations: Points are fully refunded back to member account if pass is unused and unexpired. Redemption is non-refundable if first trip is used or if ticket is expired.
  • Changes: Before first ride, a full exchange in point value will be issued without penalty. No exchange in point value after first ride or after expiry — whichever comes first.

Monthly Pass Reward Redemptions

  • Cancellations: Points are fully refunded back to member account prior to first day of valid month. Redemption is non-refundable on or after first day of valid month.
  • Changes: Full exchange in point value prior to valid month. No exchange in point value on or after first day of valid month.

Multi-Ride Tickets

A cancellation fee applies to all multi-ride refunds. Refunds may be restricted if the multi-ride ticket was paid for with a tax-free transit subsidy.

Monthly Ticket Refund Policy

Refund before valid month and zero rides (lifts) taken

  • Cancellations:
    • 0 to 1 hour after purchase: no fee, full refund to original form of payment.
    • 1+ hours after purchase: 25% of total fare is forfeited, 75% returned to original form of payment.
  • Changes: 25% of total fare is forfeited, 75% available to exchange for another ticket.

Refund day 1-10 of valid month and zero rides (lifts) taken

  • Cancellations: 50% of total fare is forfeited, 50% returned to original form of payment.
  • Changes: 50% of total fare is forfeited, 50% available to exchange for another ticket.

Refund on or after day 11 of valid month

  • Cancellations: Not permitted
  • Changes: Not permitted

Ten-Ride and Six-Ride Ticket Refund Policy

Zero rides (lifts) taken

  • Cancellations:
    • 0 to 1 hour after purchase: no fee, full refund to original form of payment.
    • 1+ hours after purchase: 25% of total fare is forfeited, 75% returned to original form of payment.
  • Changes: 25% of total fare is forfeited, 75% available to exchange for another ticket.

One or more rides (lifts) taken

  • Cancellations: Not permitted
  • Changes: Not permitted

Multi-Ride Tickets Sold for Other Carriers

The refund policies for multi-ride tickets sold by Amtrak for other carriers (such as MARC and Shore Line East) are determined by the carrier.

Illness Waiver

When a passenger requests to change or cancel his or her travel plans due to an illness and upon presentation of a doctor’s note Amtrak will waive fare change and cancellation policies that would have normally applied. This waiver will apply to all persons in the ill passenger’s party.

Reservations Purchased with Gift Cards

If you paid with a gift card and wish to cancel, modify or downgrade your reservation, credit will be provided as an eVoucher. The type of eVoucher you receive will correspond to the type of fare purchased. For full details, see the Gift Card Terms and Conditions.

Vehicles and Add-on Fees

Additional products such as vehicles on the Auto Train, golf bags, bikes, pets, etc. adopt the cancellation policy associated with the fare purchased. For example, a bike booked on a Coach Value reservation would be subject to the Value cancellation policy.

Boarding Late or Leaving Early, Downgrading

No refund or exchange credit is given if a customer boards a train at a station beyond, or detrains at a station before, the station from or to which they are reserved, or if the customer downgrades accommodations on the train. To receive a fare adjustment the reservation must be changed before the train departs the original boarding station of that train. This restriction will not apply if there is a service disruption. Passengers who downgrade accommodations or reduce the number in their party on board trains must obtain a Refund Authorization Form from the conductor.

Refund Calculations

If a customer seeks to cancel part of their trip, the remaining value is calculated by subtracting the amount paid for any travel already taken from the total amount paid.

How to Get Refunds

  • Amtrak.com or Amtrak Mobile App: Most tickets purchased online can be canceled and refunded online.
  • Phone: Refunds may be processed by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (TTY 1-800-523-6590).
  • Amtrak Stations: Refunds may be processed at stations with Amtrak ticket offices.
  • Mail: Requests of refunds for cash must be sent in via mail. Send original tickets via certified mail with return receipt requested to:

Amtrak Refunds
Box 70
William H Gray III 30th St. Station
2955 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2898

If paper value tickets were printed, with the exception of eTickets, they must be returned for any refund. Paper value tickets purchased from a travel agency must be returned to that agency, except when there is a service disruption.

Additional Information

  1. An Amtrak ticket becomes non-refundable, not valid for carriage and has no exchange value, after one year from the date payment was made for that ticket (or other period if so endorsed on the ticket). An eVoucher or other exchange credit is valid for one year after issuance of the original ticket.
  2. If a customer does not take the entire trip paid for, the remaining ticket value is calculated by subtracting the fare for any travel already taken from the total amount paid. The refund policy applies as soon as payment is made, whether or not any ticket is printed, and applies to entire fare paid including both rail fare and any accommodation charge. The Amtrak refund and cancellation policy is subject to change at any time.
  3. eTickets and tickets purchased through other prepaid programs are considered "paid for" and subject to the refund and cancellation policies of any component rail fare, customer type discount, and/or promotional discount, even if paper value tickets have not yet been printed.

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