How To Get Amtrak Student Discount (FAQs)

Amtrak Student Discount: Travelling by train is an excellent choice that anyone should look to make.

Train travel is easy, and comfortable, and allows you to view beautiful scenery that cannot be seen when traveling by air.

Moreover, trains are faster than buses and are more environmentally friendly.

Also, if you are a student in the United States, taking the train is a great option because Amtrak, the company that runs train services in many states, gives students discounts that lower the amount of money they have to pay for train services.

Thus, this article will tell you everything you need to know to get a student discount on Amtrak and other important facts about the company.

About Amtrak

Amtrak is the national passenger railway company of the United States that manages and coordinates train transportation in 92% of the states in the US.

This company is responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers and crew members using train services.

Moreover, Amtrak manages the customer service systems that are set up to offer assistance to customers whenever they require it.

This company coordinates about 90,000 train trips every day, and they have more than 300 trains in place.

Amtrak Student Discount

Amtrak offers discounts to students that use train services.

It is understood that Amtrak will continue to offer a discount of between 15% and 20% throughout 2023 for students.

The student discount offered by Amtrak is open to only students that have a verified student ID and are between the ages of 14 and 24.

Moreover, students that are traveling via Virginian routes are entitled to a discount of 25% so long as they are between the ages of 13 and 24.

However, all Amtrak student discounts are only open to students that book their train tickets at least 24 hours before the departure of the train.

Furthermore, while the Amtrak students’ discounts are applied to Acela business class and coaches, a student cannot use a student discount to board Acela First class, non-Acela Business class, or sleeper car coaches.

It is advisable for students to do some research to find out which series they cannot use a discount on.

Requirements For The Amtrak Student Discount

The Amtrak student discount is only open to students that satisfy the following requirements:

  • The student must be in a full-time program at a high school, college, or university.
  • The student must show an original student ID to the conductor prior to getting on the train.
  • The student must be between the ages of 17 and 24.

How To Reserve An Amtrak Train Seat

To use an Amtrak train, you have to visit www.amtrak.com/student and reserve a seat prior to the departure time of the train.

However, the Amtrak student discount is not applied during the seat reservation process, but when a student is boarding the train.

Also, Amtrak doesn’t let students use the student discount with any other discounts when they get on a train.

Does Amtrak Provide Discounts To Online Customers?

Amtrak offers a discount of 10% to members of the Rail Passenger Association (RPA) on the lowest available rail fare.

This discount, however, is only available to members who purchase their train tickets at least three days before the departure date and those that purchase train tickets online.

But in order to get this discount, all members must have a membership card that hasn’t expired.

This is because conductors usually ask to see everyone’s membership card during the trip.

Benefits Of Becoming An Amtrak Student Member

Becoming an Amtrak student member is highly beneficial.

Amtrak student members can get a discount that lowers the cost of train travel, and they get to travel more comfortably because Amtrak trains have a built-in ventilation system and other amazing technologies.

Amtrak Promo Code & Coupon Code

They offer the majority of its discounts to people who book train tickets online at amtrak.com.

Although most offers carry a discount of about 10%, some carry discounts that are as high as 50%.

However, once you get hold of an Amtrak promo code or coupon code, you can use it when reserving your train ticket on either the official website of the company or their mobile app by inputting it into the box titled “Promo Code” or “Coupon/Discount Code.”

Amtrak promo codes and coupon codes, which are made up of four digits, will only work if the offer is still valid.

Tips For Amtrak Train Travel

Using an Amtrak train as a mode of transportation is a fantastic way to save money on transport as a student.

This is because Amtrak train services are available at cheap fares and the student discount offered by the company further reduces the cost of any journey a student is embarking upon.

But if you want to have a great time every time you take an Amtrak train, try these tips:

1. Plan ahead

Waiting till the last minute before booking your train ticket is a terrible idea.

This is because Amtrak does not offer discounts to customers that fail to reserve a train seat at least 24 hours before the time of departure.

Moreover, make sure that you gather all you will need for the journey on time to avoid forgetting anything.

2. Go to the train station early

If you are planning to catch a train to another city as an event, make sure that you abandon everything you are doing many hours ahead of its departure time to enable you to be at the train station early.

This is because trains rarely have any reason to be delayed, and going early will allow you to settle in comfortably.

3. Search for the platform where your train will depart from

Once you get to the train station, have a close look at the signs put up all over the place to locate the platform where your train will depart from.

However, keep your ears open in case any changes are announced on the public address system.

4. Do not keep your luggage on a seat

When you board the train, place your luggage in the racks above you or at the designated luggage location, not on a seat.

5. Relax

Train trips are fun and exciting. Once you take your seat and put your luggage in the right spot, it is time for you to relax and enjoy the experience.

However, always keep your ears open for announcements about the number of stops that will be made before you reach your final destination.

If no announcement is made on the train, you can inquire from the conductor how long it will take for you to reach your final destination.

6. Highlight from the train

If you are certain that the train has arrived at your destination, get off immediately.

If you are not sure that you are at your destination, please ask someone or the conductor if the train is at your destination to avoid getting off at the wrong spot.

Frequently Asked Questions on Amtrak Student Discount

Is it cheaper to fly or Amtrak?

Train travel is often cheaper than flying since you can bring more luggage without paying extra. It can be more convenient and soothing than driving, especially in an unknown region or for many hours nonstop.

How do you sleep on Amtrak?

Amtrak’s Sleeping Cars provide roomettes, bedrooms, bedroom suites (two adjoining bedrooms), and accessible bedrooms. Daytime sitting becomes beds in a roomette.

Do they wake you up on Amtrak?

To avoid missing your stop, an Amtrak conductor will awaken you if you happen to nod off during the journey.

What should I wear on Amtrak?

Dress in whatever is most at ease for you.

Final thoughts

The railway is one of the best means of transportation. It is comfortable, affordable, and faster than most bus services.

Moreover, train services in the US are very affordable because Amtrak, which is the company that manages train services in the US, offers numerous discounts that can be used to reduce the cost of train travel.

Thus, read this article again to find out some of the requirements for the Amtrak student discount in the US.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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