[Editor’s note: This article was originally published at Amtrak’s great blog. Go there for the full article. And if you’ve got the time to travel in leisure, comfort, and ease, Amtrak’s offerings are quite a bit more affordable for cross-country travel throughout the U.S. than airline travel.]
1. Join Amtrak Guest Rewards
Every time you ride with us, you can earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points toward free trips. Joining the loyalty program is completely free, and promotions come directly to your inbox. It’s a really simple premise: You ride, you earn points. Even better, if you ride a lot, then you get bumped up to higher tiers in the program that earn you even more points per ride.
2. Book 14 Days in Advance
The early bird really does get the worm! If you plan ahead and book your seats early, you can get the worm and the best ticket prices on the Northeast Corridor. In fact, you can save 25 percent or more off the lowest available fares when you book 14 days in advance. Just choose the Adult passenger type when booking to receive the discounted fare.
3. Buy Your Tix Online or on Your Phone
In case you were planning on waiting until the last minute and buying your tickets when you get to the station – don’t. Our best prices are listed on our website and are also available on our app. If you don’t have that yet, go here to download it. Not only do you get the best prices, you’ll also be able to change your reservation and check your train’s status right from your smartphone!
4. Bring Your Kids!
Kids ages 2-15 travel for half price! That’s right, the kiddos are eligible to receive a 50 percent discount on the lowest available adult rail fare on most Amtrak trains.
5. Sign Up for Student Advantage
Did you know that we offer 15 percent off most routes, if you book with a Student Advantage card (only $20 a year!)? Seriously.
6. Follow @Amtrak on Social Media
We’re constantly sharing our latest deals and promos online. Plus we’re kinda funny, too! For Twitter you can find us @Amtrak and on Facebook, we’re at Facebook.com/Amtrak.
Do you have other tips to share with your fellow passengers? Tell us in the comments below!
Photo by Aaron Hockley