4 Tips for Cheap Fall Break Tickets

We were named in U.S. News & World Report‘s recent guide to Living Frugally in College, and that got us thinking. With the semester underway, it’s never too early to start thinking about midterms Fall Break!

Here’s four quick tips for getting the best deals on your Fall Break travel:

1. Join Student Advantage
Did you know that we offer 15 percent off most routes, if you book with a Student Advantage card? Seriously. When you book online at Amtrak.com, there’s a  ‘Passenger Discounts’ page where you can select ‘Student Advantage‘ as your discount type. Then, on the ‘Passenger Info,’ enter your Student Advantage membership number. Easy.

2. Earn Points Toward Free Travel (<—Spring break!)
If you’ve got a Student Advantage card (only $20 a year!), you’re eligible for 1,000 bonus Amtrak Guest Rewards enrollment points when you complete your first round-trip on Amtrak. You’ll also receive two points for every dollar spent on Amtrak travel, or up to 750 points per trip on Acela Express.

Even without a Student Advantage card, you can earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points toward free trips. If you already ride Amtrak, then joining Amtrak Guest Rewards is something that definitely makes sense. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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!