Transportation

Amtrak is making ‘saver’ tickets nonrefundable, embracing airlines-like fare policy

By Luz Lazo
Transportation reporter covering Washington's Metro, buses, Capital Bikeshare and taxis, and the region's road network
Feb. 23, 2020 at 7:33 p.m. EST

Beginning March 1, Amtrak’s popular “saver” tickets will be nonchangeable and nonrefundable, ending a popular policy that gave passengers the flexibility to rebook if their travel plans changed.

New rules will also establish restrictions for standard fares, the railroad said.

Amtrak said the changes will allow the company to introduce more “deep-discounted” ticket sales, and increase ridership and revenue in the system that carries 32.5 million passengers annually.

But the moves are likely to be widely viewed as another sign of Amtrak’s evolution into a system that operates more like airlines, with fees for extras and nonrefundable fares. Under the leadership of Richard Anderson, former chief executive of Delta Air Lines, Amtrak has turned to more airline-like practices, from serving prepackaged meals to introducing cancellation penalties.

{snip}

Luz Lazo
Luz Lazo is a transportation reporter at The Washington Post covering passenger and freight transportation, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services. She also writes about traffic, road infrastructure and air travel in the Washington region and beyond. She joined The Post in 2011. Follow https://twitter.com/luzcita