Be warned abut on line Amtrak codes
 

I reserved 3 seat on a train from Boston to NYC and called in with a code I had found on line (granted, it was not the Amtrak site). The agent said that I would get 20% off my tickets and I was thrilled. This morning when I went to book the tickets, I was told that the code was not allowed and was transfered to customer service where I was berated by a man for searching for codes online & who said it wasn't an Amtrak code and they would not allow it. I told him that I hadn't put in the code, I had called and inquired about the code and the agent had checked it and said it was allowed (Boston to NYC (visit MA code). I stressed that the "error" wasn't mine and asked him if he would meet me halfway and give me the discount on the leg of the trip from NYC to Boston and he said NO (!!!) as I wasn't visiting Boston, I live there. This was very frustrating as I didn't insert the code, I followed the correct protocol and the man was M-E-A-N, MEAN.
So, my point in posting this is (and there is a point other than a rant)... you aren't saving yourself any time or money by searching for online codes. I won't do that again. If they aren't on the official Amtrak site, forget about it. You will just be made to feel bad about yourself, and really, who has time for that?

I have used on line codes before with Amtrak without any problems but beware as each code has very specific restrictions as to time of travel, cities served and blackout dates.
Since you did not post which code you used and any restrictions I have no idea why you were "berated' by the customer service rep.
Any way, it is in very poor taste for a customer rep to be "mean" to a customer even if it was an error intentional or not.

Submit this to Consumerist.com.

Amtrak has its moments, and yes they feel free to yell at people. It is quite possible that the code you had is completely legitimate and that the mean man is wrong. I would call back and ask for a supervisor. This is the reason monopolies are a poor idea.
I had an incident with Amtrak at the Philadelphia station, where they absolutely REFUSED to sell me a ticket because they did not like the old non-drivers license that I use as ID. I begged, I pleaded, I dragged every piece of identification out of my purse and they refused. They told me that if I used the Quik Trak it would need me to put my ID in too. They made me feel like a criminal, quite frankly. I might add that I had been buying tickets at this counter with the same ID for years. I was told that if I sent my husband back with his driver's license, HE could pick up my ticket. Bizarre.
Since I was desperate (about to drive to Florida with my mother the next day-and not even sure I could get my husband there), I tried the Quik Trak (after I went back to counter to make them reinstate the reservation that they had cancelled) and had NO PROBLEMS. It did not ask me for ID.
I was terrified that I was going to have the same issue on the train and they were going to put me off in Jacksonville, and made sure that I had my birth certificate, my social security card, and anything else I could think of. I had no trouble. On the first check I might as well have shown them a library card, and on the second one they just took a quick look. I don't know what was in the water that day, but it was totally bananas, and I could not figure out what possible security purpose it might serve.

I understand the restrictions and black out dates-- all of those were checked and the agent said it fit. The CS rep was mad, b/c he said I didn't find it on Amtrak and wanted to know where I had found it, which I honsestly didn't know at that moment. He said, "some travel site?!" He just could have been nicer about it. Clearly the first agent made a mistake, but that wasn't MY fault. *sigh*

From Amtrak Website regarding acceptable ID's:
What is a Valid ID?
To be valid, your identification must be current and in-force. The following forms of identification are acceptable for persons 18 and older:

One piece of photo identification issued by a government authority, or
Two pieces of identification, at least one of which is a non-photo ID issued by a government authority
Examples of acceptable forms of ID include:

State or provincial driver's license
Passport
Official government-issued identification (federal, state or county government or legitimate foreign government)
Canadian provincial health card ID card with photo
Military photo ID
Student identification (university, college or high school photo ID)
Job Corps photo ID

The non-drivers is expired. Like a lot of people who don't drive, I don't tend to think about the expiration date, because I don't use it for anything except to confirm I'm old enough to drink and occasionally to confirm that I am the same person that my Visa says I am. Never had a problem before, and was surprised by it. I did once have an issue when it was current with someone who hadn't seen one before and had trouble believing it was official.
Obviously, the birth certificate and social-security would meet the guidelines on the website, but that is NOT what the people at the desk told me. They told me it had to have a photo, had to be unexpired, and didn't matter who issued it. This inspired me to scour the house for my Sam's Club card before I left. And what's with letting someone with better ID pick up a ticket for anyone they please??? Obviously this nonsense has some ostensible security purpose, but I am sort of perplexed as to what it's accomplishing. And you don't make the customers feel like criminals. I half expected the Secret Police to turn up and drag me away for trying to travel without papers. I would bet Gwen expected them to knock on the door.

I guess you ran into someone who was having a "bad day". No excuse for it.
I take it you havn't flown lately. What a mess our current TSA mandated security check in is. Go to flyers talk and theur security forum and read some of the nonsense that occurs at our airports and to 80 year old grannies that are subjected to strip searches!

I have flown, and have actually missed a flight when I was subjected to extensive searches. However, the people were NICE and they explained what they were doing and why... I understand that people make mistakes, that things get messed up. However, you have to be kind. The part about someone else picking up your tickets is just strange... who makes up these rules?

My experience with Amtrak: the website would take any codes unless you pick a black-out date

Phone calls: I was lucky to always get a polite person at 800 phone number who'd answer every question, sometimes not the answer I want to hear, but always polite :)

In person: the ticket station in San Francisco is a pain you know where. Never assume you'll have enough time before the bus comes. The slowest agents in the world.

ID: doesn't matter drivers license or non-driving ID (mr Again doesn't drive) but it must be current. Sorry Persimmon but the agent had the right to refuse a ticket without a current ID. My husband's ID expired, he showed his passport, and I have a valid driver's license.

Gwen, in every business agents have good and bad days. They deal with us, and honestly, not each one is always polite. This week, I called my cable car company twice, and got 2 different answers from 2 agents: one sent me a form to fill out, another took the credit card info over the phone. Same with Amtrak. Keep calling :) If an agent was rude, and the call was recorded, complain, perhaps they'll give you a discount? Or a voucher.

Yes, they did, but it wasn't customary at that counter (or hadn't been) and I wasn't expecting it. Also the information about what was acceptable was clearly not correct (assuming that the website is, which is more likely). They also either lied or were mistaken about the Quik Trak machine. And even if my ID was insufficient, it's still not a criminal offense. They didn't even start out polite, never mind finish. I NEVER lose my temper with customer service people and I don't think I've ever come closer. If the code's not allowed, that's one thing, but say so politely at the time of booking, don't call them back and act as if they are attempting to commit fraud.

I called back and purchased the tickets at full price. The agent was lovely. I also sent a note to amtrak to let them know of the customer service reps behavior. I got an automated reply letting me know that I will receive a reply w/in 4 weeks... 4 WEEKS. wow... there must be a lot of complaints. Actually we are really excited about the trip, and my kiddo is so excited to be taking the train. I will not let someone else's bad behavior ruin the trip... I also, as I said before, will not look for online codes if we try to take the train again! :)

Why did you book by phone rather than online?

b/c the code said it was only redeemable by phone, not online.

Gwen, I hope they will send you a voucher for next trip, not just a "sorry" letter.

"not just a 'sorry' letter"

... dream on....

Let us know Gwen.

Almost a week later I haven't heard back from customer service. I'll let you know what they say when (if) they do.

Since Amtrak train discount codes are primarily intended to full otherwise empty seats on Amtrak trains, Amtrak doesn't publish many of these discount codes on its web site. However, most of these Amtrak discount codes can be found on travel web sites, such as this one. I prefer to use the Amtrak discount codes for which travel may be booked in advance, using the Amtrak.com web site. The Amtrak reservation system will either accept or reject whatever discount code that you are attempting to use, when you are booking your rail travel on Amtrak.com, so that you will know exactly what the fare is for a particular ticket purchase. Once you purchase an Amtrak ticket with a credit card, that purchase price IS the ONLY price that you can legally be charged by Amtrak for travel, since the purchase is a binding contract for carriage between you and Amtrak. If you miss your particular train, then obviously, all bets are off, so to speak. Amtrak also has some discount codes that you have to use by calling Amtrak's 800 # to make reservations "the old fashioned way." However, once you use your Amtrak discount code and the Amtrak customer service agent accepts the discount and charges your credit card, you have a binding contract with Amtrak for travel at an agreed upon price that Amtrak cannot change by some fiat, unless you change your travel plans with Amtrak. If you do use Amtrak's 800 # for booking reservations, I suggest that you get an confirming e-mail from Amtrak, giving you a confirmation number, ticket price and itinerary information. You can save yourself a lot on rail travel by looking for Amtrak's "hidden" discount codes, because rail travel is often more expensive than air travel without the discount code(s), albeit that air travel is often less convenient and fraught with delays.

If you travel on Amtrak's rail system, Amtrak does have a "rewards" program, called "Amtrak Guest Rewards," strangely enough. If you join this program, for which there is no charge, you will find that Amtrak does treat you often much better, as a rail passenger, than the average member of the "unwashed masses" of rail travelers in the U.S. Keeping in mind that revenge is best served up cold, if you are "cool, calm, collected" and respectful with another person on the phone, such as an Amtrak customer service representative, you will get much better service and problem resolution than you would, if you "explode" the moment you begin talking to another mere mortal Amtrak customer service representative at the other end of the telephone conversation.

Amtrak requires current government issued photo-ID now for travel, so think U.S. Passport, which is the most widely accepted ID that you can carry nowadays. That said, never let your passport out of your sight, when you are traveling, domestically or abroad and never let anyone photocopy the inside ID pages of your U.S. Passport. Photocopying the inside of a U.S. Passport is a criminal violation of U.S. Federal Law, as well as an invitation to identity theft.

FYI: a month later I got a call from Amtrack's customer service. They said sorry about the bad behavior on the part of the man who yelled at me, but the code was not a vaild code, end of story and have a good trip. It was nice that they apologized for my being yelled at.

Gwen, thank you for coming back with the update!

This post reminds me, once I made reservations, after that they've changed the schedule. I got a message at home about it.

After the initial shock of them actually making that phone call, I went on-line. Yeah, they've changed it all right! By whopping 10 minutes :))

But it was nice for them to call!