The new 24-hour window on refundability of airline tickets in the US is required by law, the same law that said all postings of airfares on line require the full price including all required taxes and fees. (I say required because I know that Sprit and Allegiant's charge a ~$10 booking fee not listed in the original fare search unless you physically go to the airport and buy your tickets at the ticket counter, all the other airlines are the opposite with extra fees for booking thru the call center or on-line, this fee is to show a cheeper fare on-line and assume few people will actually go to the airport to buy a ticket). These two rules only began on January 26th of this year.
VIA has many more non-refundable tickets than Amtrak and all of these restrictive reservations are refundable within 24 hours of purchase.
The Amtrak Reservation/Payment rules still don't make that much sense to me. On my upcoming trip I need a ticket with my bike from unstaffed Kewanee to Chicago just back one-way, I know exactly when I need to go, want to make sure I get one of just 4 bike tickets on the train and want the 250 AGR points (since I have S status), bike earns its own points since it has its own ticket, at least it did on this trip last year. At the end of June it was time to make reservations. I tried to book a multi-city trip NYP-CHI and KEE-CHI but the website didn't like that. I tried to call an agent but didn't feel like waiting 40 minutes (yes the voice told me it was that long a wait) so I booked separate reservations, assuming my KEE-CHI tickets would arrive in plenty of time. They didn't by last week so I called an agent (they hadn't been mailed yet), told him that I wanted to attach the reservations together and pick them up all at once. He didn't do that instead refunding my money and putting a hold on the Kewanee Reservation until the day after my LSL departure. Yesterday I was in Penn Station (with the usual long line for a ticket window, Chicago seems to be equally long) and wanted to see if I could pick up Kewanee ticket at a Quick-Track machine and not have to wait in line. I swiped my AGR card, the reservation came up and then it wanted a credit card for payment after a few tries I put my card in and a few more screens than normal out came my two tickets (one for passenger, one for my bike) it also asked me if I wanted a receipt (said yes, why not) and a third ticket with even less information on it than one of the new eTickets popped out. I also noticed that these two tickets had NYP as the place of issue, not INT like all my others (it would be need when you buy one via the iPhone app if APP was the place of issue). I also have two $24.40 charges from Amtrak and a $24.40 refund from Amtrak.
The 7-day rule didn't apply to me on that reservation, my hold would was going to be like ten days. The agent didn't ask for my Lake Shore Reservation Number, he just asked for the date. (I didn't ask for a refund either just a change of delivery options)
Amtrak definitely needs more disclosure on re-fundability when you buy a ticket. I know that all of the 25% off advance purchase NEC fares are non-refundable (but exchangeable) but when you buy one it just says "This ticket may be non-refundable." I still remember the one time I was actually a no-show on a reservation (got a ride where I was planning to take the train at the last minute) and called up when I got that evening assuming that to not forfeit the 10% I would ask for an Amtrak voucher but was surprised when the agent said "Do you want your $ back?"
I have traveled by eTickets a few times and the Important Information listed on the bottom of the ticket PDF print out is this (if your curious):
Your eTicket is only valid for the services reserved. This document • NARP MEMBER DSCT: 3-DAY ADV RES & MEMBER I.D. RQRD can be used on all segments listed.
• If your travel plans change, call us before departure to change your reservation. If you do not notify us, and do not board your train, your entire reservation will be cancelled; the money you've paid for the trip will be stored in an eVoucher that you may redeem at an
Amtrak station ticket office for future travel. If you subsequently board a different train without notifying us beforehand you will have to pay for it separately; the conductor cannot apply the credit from your cancelled reservation. Refund restrictions, and penalties for failure to cancel unwanted travel, may apply.
• Refer to your latest eTicket to confirm the services you have reserved. If you have changed the itinerary in your reservation but have not reprinted the eTicket, it may not reflect your current itinerary. At some large stations, a gate agent may need to view your most current itinerary. You can obtain an updated copy of your eTicket at Quik-Trak or a ticket office (if either is available).
• To change your travel plans, obtain information about Amtrak policies, or for any other matter, call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
• At the station, check the departure board or ask an Amtrak employee where to board your train.
• For important baggage policy information, visit www.amtrak.com/baggage.
• Smoking is prohibited on all Amtrak services except for a designated area on Auto Train.
I like the fact also Amtrak still wants you to call them and doesn't say you can also make changes on line.
(Edit fixing formatting)
