How To Get Your Money Back From Amtrak Stress-Free

Amtrak is an American railroad system designed to serve as an economical alternative to flying passengers and travelers. Amtrak can also transport your car so you can fully plan your trip with your own vehicle. The railroad opened in 1971 and travels through 46 different states today.

Though if you’ve canceled your trip or something’s gone wrong during your travels, you’re likely curious about if Amtrak will offer you a refund. Let aRefund.com tell you everything there is to know about Amtrak refunds and more.

Can You Get An Amtrak Refund?

Amtrak is happy to offer full refunds to customers who cancel their reservations within 24 hours of purchasing them. As an example, if you purchased your tickets on Wednesday at 7:00 PM, you have until Thursday at 7:00 PM to cancel your reservation to get all your money back, provided that your train doesn’t depart in this 24-hour span.

Customers who cancel their trips on hour 25 and beyond aren’t guaranteed full refunds, but the portion of their refund is determined by what kind of tickets were purchased and how much time has passed since the purchase.

Amtrak Refund And Fee Chart

Amtrak has rules for each type of ticket they sell: Sale Fares, Value Fares, Flex Fares, Business Fares, and First Class Fares. Each ticket is subject to a monetary refund where you’ll get at least 50% of your cash back. Sale Fares are the cheapest tickets you can buy from Amtrak, whereas Flex, Business, and First Class Fares allow you to get a full refund any time before the train’s departure. Here’s a breakdown of each ticket and the fees and refund policy involved with each:

How Are Cancellation Fees Determined?

Customers with Sale Fares and Value Fares tickets will be subject to cancellation fees if they cancel their reservations. Cancellation fees cost customers at least $5 and at most $250. There’s currently no way of telling how much you’ll need to pay in cancellation fees until the cancellation is being processed. These fees are calculated based on how close the trip is from taking place and the type of ticket purchased. Sale Fares tickets will tend to generate greater cancellation fees over Value Fares tickets. These fees are non-refundable.

How To Cancel On Amtrak

Canceling your Amtrak reservation is very easy to do and doesn’t require contacting customer service.

Here’s how to cancel Amtrak tickets:

1. Log into your account at Amtrak.com.
2. Click on the “My Account” link on the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. Click on the “View/Edit” button.
4. Scroll down to the trip you want to cancel.
5. Click on the “Cancel Trip” button.
6. Enter your details and confirm your cancellation.

If you purchased your tickets as a guest and didn’t register for an account, you can still cancel your trip on the Amtrak website. Here’s how that works:

1. Click on “My Trip” at Amtrak.com.
2. Enter your reservation number and either your phone number or email address.
3. Click on the “Find Trip” button.
4. Click on the “Cancel Trip” button.
5. Enter your details and confirm your cancellation.

How To Contact Amtrak

You can contact Amtrak to cancel your reservations and get a refund in one of many different ways. Consider the following contact methods for canceling your Amtrak tickets:

• Company website - Visit this link to cancel and ask for a refund online without contacting someone.
• Mobile app - Download the Amtrak Mobile App to cancel and ask for a refund in the same manner as the website.
• Phone number - Call 1 (800) USA-RAIL (1 (800) 872-7245) to talk with an Amtrak representative.
• Social Media - Leave a direct or private message to Amtrak on X, Instagram, or Facebook.
• Mail - Write a refund request letter to Amtrak Refunds, Box 70, William H Gray III 30th St. Station, 2955 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2898.
• In-Person - Visit your nearest Amtrak ticket office to cancel and get a refund in person.

For the most convenient way to cancel, you can use the company website, mobile app, or customer service phone number. The fastest possible way to get a refund would be in person, but that depends on if you prefer a refund in cash and if the manager is willing and able to refund you right then and there.

Sign Up For aRefund.com For Another Chance At A Refund

If Amtrak is refusing to give you a refund despite what the company’s policies state, you can get assistance from aRefund.com! When requesting a refund with us, we’ll get in touch with your bank to see what can be done about your troubling transaction.

Here’s what you must do when you use our website for a refund:

1. Log into your aRefund.com account.
2. Tell us what happened with your Amtrak purchase and why you're entitled to a refund.
3. With our AI bot, we’ll write you up a professional letter and the appropriate reason code. These will help build you a strong case for a chargeback.
4. We’ll mail the letter to your bank, which will review your letter and make a final decision.

This process only takes a few days! If you’re approved for a refund, it takes just 3 to 5 business days for your money to return to your account.

What Are Amtrak’s Ticket Office Hours?

If you want to refund your tickets in person, Amtrak’s ticket office hours vary by location. For example, Chicago’s Amtrak location in Union Station has a ticket office that’s open from 6:00 AM to 9:20 PM every day of the week. To find details on the office closest to you, here’s what to do.

1. Visit the Amtrak Routes & Destinations page.
2. Click on the region that’s closest to you.
3. Click the blue “Map” button”.
4. Click on the state you’re in to reveal a list of destinations.
5. Click on the city you're in or closest to.
6. Click on the city again.
7. Scroll down to where it says “Hours” and click on the tab.
8. Click on “Station Waiting Room Hours” and then select “Ticket Office Hours”.

It should display the ticket office hours. If it instead says “No ticket office at this location.”, you’ll have to choose another way to contact Amtrak.

Can I Email Amtrak For A Refund?

Amtrak has a Contact Us form at this link. When you write a message to Amtrak, state your name, email address, and phone number. Ideally, this is not a method in which you must request for a refund, as there’s no option in the subject menu regarding refunds or cancellations. Instead, you can call 1 (800) 872-7245 or access your account details on the Amtrak website.

Currently, there’s no email address on file in which you can freely contact Amtrak using your email inbox or client of choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Happens If I Lost My Paper Amtrak Ticket?

If you forgot your paper Amtrak ticket when you needed it, you’ll need to repurchase the ticket. The original paper ticket will need to be brought back to the station so you can get a full refund on it.

If you lost your paper tickets, contact Amtrak customer service for help. You won't be able to travel with Amtrak without your tickets.

Can I Ask For An Amtrak Refund On Social Media?

Amtrak is welcome to answer questions from customers on X, Instagram, and Facebook. SImply leave a direct or private message to the account. While you likely won’t get a refund, you may be forwarded to the correct department that can handle your ticketing situation.

Can I Refund An Amtrak Gift Card?

Amtrak gift cards are primarily non-refundable. They can’t be redeemed for cash, according to the Gift Card Terms & Conditions page.

If you’ve purchased the gift card from a third-party retailer such as Amazon, refer to that store’s refund policy for details.

How Do Refunds For Lost Tickets Work?

According to the Amtrak Tickets Page, you can file an application for a refund on lost Amtrak tickets. If you lost your tickets less than a year ago, you can file an application and Amtrak will hold onto it. From there, you have 5 months to track down your tickets, and if recovered, will be eligible for a refund. If you find your tickets after this 5-month period, they can’t be refunded.

If you feel your tickets have been stolen, call the police. Considering the tickets must be redeemed at an Amtrak station and the fact Amtrak also has a police force, finding the whereabouts of your tickets might not be as hard as it seems.

Can I Refund An Amtrak eVoucher?

Amtrak eVouchers can either be refundable or non-refundable. Refundable eVouchers can be redeemed for cash and will be issued if your tickets or fares were involuntarily downgraded. For instance, if you previously ordered first-class accommodations, but your train is unable to provide them for whatever reason, they compensate you with this voucher. Non-refundable eVouchers can be issued if you did not show up for your reservation. They can’t be redeemed for cash but are good for future Amtrak fares. You can receive a non-refundable eVoucher at your Amtrak station’s ticket office or ticket counter.