Upgrade/Companion/Lounge Coupons: seeking, available, questions

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PaTrainFan said:
I am taking a Monday/Tuesday trip from Pittsburgh to NY/PHL on the Pennsylvanian. Am I wrong that I should be able to apply my 48 hour upgrade coupons to BC in the app? I tried to upgrade exactly 48 hours before the 7:30 departure but when I pulled up Trip Tools this was not an option. Retried for several minutes. Impatient, I called in at the regular number bcause AGR was not open yet and got somebody who seemed to be challened with this process. After giving him the long coupon number, he said there was an error. We repeated the number so I know it was legit. I have three, so I gave him another which worked, yet he had me on hold for more than 10 minutes to set it up. I have another I want to apply tomorrow for Tuesday's segment. Any ideas how to make this process more efficient? Thanks.
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If there aren't any available seats, then the upgrade option won't appear.
 
moosejunky99 said:
Are you able to buy 2 rooms and use one of your Companion Coupons for the second room?
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IAlam said:
No, you can use it to add a second person to 1 room, however.
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The coupon does say it works with bedroom suites, per the coupon restrictions. However, I’d assume a) you would still have to pay for the accommodation charge of the second room (but rail fare would be free) and b) you would have to call to set that up.

Coupon Restrictions​

  • Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare. Free companion and paying passenger must reserve at the same time and travel together at all times.
  • Each coupon is valid for travel as one (1) one-way reservation.
  • Travel blackouts apply: November 22-23, 2022; November 26-28, 2022; November 21-22, 2023; November 25-27, 2023.
  • Valid for travel on all Amtrak service except train/Thruway series 7000-8999.
  • Free companion offer is not combinable with any discount, coupon, or Amtrak Guest Rewards® redemption travel.
  • The Coupon# is unique to your coupon and valid for one use only. Buying or selling this coupon is prohibited and will invalidate the coupon. Coupon may be transferred to a family member or friend.
  • Offer valid for Coach class or Acela Business class. Upgrade to Business class or Acela First class is available upon full payment of applicable accommodation charges.
  • Offer also valid for private rooms including Roomettes, Bedrooms, Bedroom Suites and Accessible Bedrooms; offer excludes Family Bedrooms.
  • Other restrictions may apply.
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VastDeaf said:
I have two lounge passes available, valid until December 22, which I won’t use, if anyone would like one.
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I could definitely use one. I wasn't able to qualify for Select Plus and didn't get the bump up from Select (I was a few thousand short of the 10,000). I travel the NEC often. Thank you for offering them to the group.
 
I have a question about using a companion coupon. If I use a companion coupon and my companion has to cancel their trip, is the companion coupon restored to my account? Does the cancellation of the companion's trip have any effect on my ticket (and my existing fare)?

Thanks.
 
This is an interesting question. I know that if the whole reservation is canceled, the coupon will be restored to your account immediately, but I'm not sure what happens if just the companion ticket is canceled. I assume the same. The cancelation of theirs shouldn't have any effect on your ticket or fare.
 
daybeers said:
This is an interesting question. I know that if the whole reservation is canceled, the coupon will be restored to your account immediately, but I'm not sure what happens if just the companion ticket is canceled. I assume the same. The cancelation of theirs shouldn't have any effect on your ticket or fare.
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As a follow-up, I wanted to note that I spoke with an Agent about this recently and she indicated that if the companion ticket was cancelled to be sure that the companion coupon is restored to my account.

(I don't know if others are having this problem or not, but I found that I was unable to apply a companion coupon when trying to make a reservation online and had to speak with an agent who was able to apply the companion coupon.)
 
I have the annual fee version of the Amtrak Chase credit card, and my companion certificates always have an August to August validity period. The problem I have is using these certificates to book cross county travel around Christmas. I want to book travel now (in February) for December/January, but I can't use the current companion certificate as it is only valid through August and likewise won't receive the new companion certificate until August. Does anyone have any experience with booking a cash ticket and later applying the newly issued companion certificate later, without having to reprice the reservation at then current accommodation charges? I am hoping that somehow they can just "refund" the companion fare, instead of cancelling and rebooking, but suspect this won't be possible.
 
johbeaker said:
I have the annual fee version of the Amtrak Chase credit card, and my companion certificates always have an August to August validity period. The problem I have is using these certificates to book cross county travel around Christmas. I want to book travel now (in February) for December/January, but I can't use the current companion certificate as it is only valid through August and likewise won't receive the new companion certificate until August. Does anyone have any experience with booking a cash ticket and later applying the newly issued companion certificate later, without having to reprice the reservation at then current accommodation charges? I am hoping that somehow they can just "refund" the companion fare, instead of cancelling and rebooking, but suspect this won't be possible.
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You can use your current companion coupon for December travel, as long as you book your travel by the time your coupon expires in August.

See also: post 124: https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...eeking-available-questions.74966/post-1023471
 
With and without a companion coupon, one adult and one youth are the same price. Tried with two adults and same price with or without companion coupon applied. Tried in both the app and online. It says its valid on sleeper accommodations like the Roomette I was looking at. Is that something I have to talk to an actual human to have properly applied?

EDIT: Figured it out. I was originally trying to book a trip on the Eaglette from DAL to GRR which involved a transfer to another train from CHI to GRR. When I tried booking with and without the coupon from DAL to CHI the price was lower with the coupon. I made an assumption that the system was smart enough to apply the discount to the Eaglette portion then add the Pere Marquette. I have no idea why I would have ever thought their system was that intelligent.
 
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Is online booking using a companion coupon possible? I talked with an online agent who recommended I create the booking for one person, and said the 2nd traveler would also be recognized. But, I've created the booking both on amtrak.com and the app (without hitting the "Purchase" button) and I still see just one traveler. Does anybody have any experience with this?
 
goganar said:
Is online booking using a companion coupon possible? I talked with an online agent who recommended I create the booking for one person, and said the 2nd traveler would also be recognized. But, I've created the booking both on amtrak.com and the app (without hitting the "Purchase" button) and I still see just one traveler. Does anybody have any experience with this?
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Yes. It should show two travelers.

On the website, you book using a companion coupon by starting out by specifying two adults, and selecting the "add coupon" box. If you are signed on to your AGR account, putting the cursor in the coupon number will generate a drop down of all your coupons. Select the companion coupon you want to use and continue the reservation for two. The charge will be with the coupon applied. Note companion coupons only apply to rail fare.
 
goganar said:
Is online booking using a companion coupon possible? I talked with an online agent who recommended I create the booking for one person, and said the 2nd traveler would also be recognized. But, I've created the booking both on amtrak.com and the app (without hitting the "Purchase" button) and I still see just one traveler. Does anybody have any experience with this?
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I've ONLY booked online with the Companion Coupon. When searching for your trip, choose two travelers, not one. It will ask for the 2nd traveler's ID info as you go through the process.
 
SNJRider said:
I've ONLY booked online with the Companion Coupon. When searching for your trip, choose two travelers, not one. It will ask for the 2nd traveler's ID info as you go through the process.
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Thanks. When I tried creating the booking with two passengers and the companion coupon the pricing was the same as for two passengers without the coupon. This is my first use of a companion coupon. Does the price revert to the single passenger price when you make the purchase. Or is this not such a good deal after all?
 
goganar said:
Thanks. When I tried creating the booking with two passengers and the companion coupon the pricing was the same as for two passengers without the coupon. This is my first use of a companion coupon. Does the price revert to the single passenger price when you make the purchase. Or is this not such a good deal after all?
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On the website you need to select the 'add coupon' button, enter and select the coupon before doing the search. If done correctly, the price for two will show up as the price for one.

Screenshot 2024-07-10 at 9.44.19 PM.png
 
trimetbusfan said:
On the website you need to select the 'add coupon' button, enter and select the coupon before doing the search. If done correctly, the price for two will show up as the price for one.

View attachment 37160
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Yep, trimetbusfan is correct with the additional details. In fact, if you are logged into your account, your coupon should show on the Add Coupon in the dropdown. If not, you can enter the code manually.
 
goganar said:
Thanks. When I tried creating the booking with two passengers and the companion coupon the pricing was the same as for two passengers without the coupon. This is my first use of a companion coupon. Does the price revert to the single passenger price when you make the purchase. Or is this not such a good deal after all?
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If the coupon "takes" it will show the price with the coupon applied. If it shows the two passenger price the coupon was not applied for whatever reason. It can be a bit touchy.

I did a companion coupon booking last week and the coupon didn't take in the first try. I just backed out and started over, clearing cache just for luck. The second time through it showed the correct price and I completed the booking.
 

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