Last update: 11/19/2003. If this page has not been updated in a significant amount of time, see the FlyerTalk thread that spawned it, or the FT Amtrak forum in general.
Note: Observe carefully the "Valid with fare types" column. If you enter a code with a fare type it's ineligible to be combined with, such as AAA, you'll get the AAA discount, NOT the discount for the code you entered (which is usually better).
NB: All of these codes can make a fare nonrefundable, and a $30 change fee will sometimes apply. If you don't have the promotional materials that provided you the code, try following the link, if there is one, on the name of the code. If it isn't linked or provided here, and you don't have the materials for the promo in question, then the fine print isn't known, so assume the worst.
| Code | Deal | Trains | Purchase date | Travel dates | Blackouts | Valid with fare types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H317 | 50% off one companion fare for each full fare purchased | any station pair between New London CT and Washington DC, unreserved | ? | Through 3/31/04 | none known | "Adult" or "Child" |
| V529 | 20% off | Northeast Corridor trains (reserved or unreserved) | ? | Through 12/28, except on Fridays and Sundays from 11am to 11pm | 11/25-12/2 | "Adult" or "Child" |
| V729 | 20% off | UnreservedNortheast Corridor trains (notice R or U icons) | ? | Through 5/27/04 | 25 November 2003 - 02 December 2003, 19 December 2003 - 04 January 2004 and 08-12 April 2004 | "Adult", or "Child" |
| H258 | Kids ride free weekends | Capitol Corridor | By 3/28/04 | Weekends through 3/28/04 | November 25-December 02, 2003, December 19, 2003 - January 4, 2004; and February 13-16, 2004 | Accompanying adult may be senior/disabled but not AAA/NARP/SA/VA |
| H345 | 5% off | Any Amtrak train except Acela Express, Metroliner, Canadian portions of joint Amtrak/VIA Rail service to Ontario, 7000-8999 Thruways or for local travel on Northeast Corridor trains (Washington, DC, to Boston, MA) departing at peak travel periods | By 12/13 | Through 4/30/04 | 25Nov-02Dec03, 19Dec03-04Jan04, 13-16Feb04, 08-12Apr04 | adult, senior, disabled adult, Student Advantage and Veterans Advantage, AAA and NARP (in other words, best available, combinable) |
| V143 | 20% off | Unreserved Regional trains (notice R or U icons), and weekend Acela Express and Metroliners | ? | Through 1/11/04 | Nov 25-Dec 2, Dec 19-31, 2003, Jan. 1-4, 2004 | "Adult", "Child, or "Senior" |
It appears that codes requiring physical coupons can be reserved with an 800-USA-RAIL phone agent (they cannot be reserved with "Julie" or tickets.amtrak.com) and you can then enter the res # and swipe your credit card to purchase at the discount price at a Quik-Trak kiosk, without ever presenting the physical coupon as you otherwise would have to with a human. YMMV. (What is known is that conductors onboard do not collect coupons or otherwise worry about these kinds of requirements; once the ticket has been issued, you're good to go.)
Known to be expired: V709, H315, H234, H233, H250, H251; possibly H208 and H117 from further back. (For those who believe that Amtrak is recycling codes. I haven't seen any evidence that any codes expired codes have been resurrected or otherwise reused, but if you have the time on your hands, here they are so you can test them.)
H235 is a national account which is 35% off but would have to be reserved through a particular travel agency (she didn't say which one - probably a corporate agency of some sort).
V805 does not appear to be valid at all; Julie and tickets.amtrak.com find no such code at all (as opposed to finding it but as invalid on a particular itinerary). Frommers appears to have been wrong about this.