9 replies to this topic

[nttnf]

Hi,

Simple question if I may - How far in advance can I print my ticket (by scanning barcode) using Quiktrak? Can I print them a day before the departure date? This is more for convenience sake.

Thanks in advance

[Ryan]

You can print them anytime. Just be aware that once you print them, you're responsible for them - if you lose them, they're gone!

[jmbgeg]

Hi,

Simple question if I may - How far in advance can I print my ticket (by scanning barcode) using Quiktrak? Can I print them a day before the departure date? This is more for convenience sake.

Thanks in advance

There are reasons to print earlier and reasons not to print. If you have not printed and want to change your travel dates or accomodations Amtrak will want to charge a new ticket to your credit card and refund the old reservation. Not a big deal unless you have a high value$1-2k lon distance sleeper ticket. If you want to change and have a paper ticket, they will make the change in your record and they will exchange (scan in) the value of your old ticket at the ticket counter. That has always worked well for me. Conversely, if you want to cancel and obtain a refund, if you have a paper ticket you turn in, it can take 4-5 weeks for the refund to pst to your card, whereas I see refunds posted in 3-5 days if I have not pulled a paper ticket.

[Ispolkom]

I never print out tickets until the day of travel (or maybe the day before travel). I figure that the chances of me losing the ticket or having to change or cancel the trip are much, much higher than the chance I'd have difficulties getting the ticket.

On longer trips, I even prefer booking each leg separately. Last fall in Minot I printed out the tickets from Minot to Boston. In Boston I got the tickets from Boston to Providence. In Providence I got the tickets for Providence to Washington, etc. I think I learned this trick from The Traveler.

[jacorbett70]

For a period of time I've tried hard to print tickets in advance because twice I was inconvenienced by ARROW being down on the day of my trip. That meant bringing my confirmation and waiting on a 30-45 minute line at NYP for a handwritten ticket since QuikTrak goes down with ARROW. Then I had to mail the paper ticket to AGR for credit (I think I eventually got it). Worse one time it was a complicated three-segment trip that the agent needed time to write up and asked me why I was going NYP-SAB and then a short segment SAB-ESX the following morning. However I have not heard of the system going down recently for extended periods of time.

[dlagrua]

The Amtrak website will list stations where the tickets can be printed using the barcode reservation slip (or reservation number) that you obtained when you made the purchase. Best to print them on the day of the trip becuause as mentioned, if they are lost you will need to repurchase to board the train and then good luck getting a refund.

Edited by dlagrua, 06 April 2010 - 08:41 AM.

[RRrich]

Not all stations have QT machines - and if you ar boarding at a station without a QT that makes for a whole 'nother situation. I usually board at a station with QT so I USUALLY print just prior to departure. If I use an unmanned station then I print my tickets shortly before departure.

[the_traveler]

I never print out tickets until the day of travel (or maybe the day before travel). I figure that the chances of me losing the ticket or having to change or cancel the trip are much, much higher than the chance I'd have difficulties getting the ticket.

I think I learned this trick from The Traveler.

I also make 2 separate reservations, one for the trip out and one for the trip back. That way, you don't have a chance to lose the return trip during your 3 weeks at _______!

If you board at a station without a QT, you can phone in your reservation, and tell them that you will pick them up at a staffed station. I am doing this in October. KWD is unstafffed, but I said will pick them op in STL - they notated my record.
(You don't have this option if you book online, you must call!)

[RRrich]

If you board at a station without a QT, you can phone in your reservation, and tell them that you will pick them up at a staffed station. I am doing this in October. KWD is unstafffed, but I said will pick them op in STL - they notated my record.
(You don't have this option if you book online, you must call!)

KWD is staffed by volunteers who cannot sell you a ticket but there is a QT machine from which I usually pick up my tickets. For a future trip I am planning on boarding at ALN (no QT, no staff) a day ot two beforehand I'll stop at KWD and get my tickets

[Sue in KY]

KWD is staffed by volunteers who cannot sell you a ticket but there is a QT machine from which I usually pick up my tickets. For a future trip I am planning on boarding at ALN (no QT, no staff) a day ot two beforehand I'll stop at KWD and get my tickets

According to this Amtrak page, Alton station is ticketing-enabled from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 days a week, Rich (see my post to you here earlier).