By Shawn Gallagher
Amtrak is a popular way to travel for students, as it offers affordable fares connecting various destinations, especially in the Northeast Corridor.
Students are also automatically qualified for a student discount on their trains. It’s a 15% off on fares, and they just have to be booked at least a day in advance.
Who Qualifies, and What are the Rules?
First, you have to be a student between the age of 17 and 24. You’re required to have your valid student ID with you when you’re on the train. Conductors rarely seem to check for these student IDs, but since it’s Amtrak’s official policy, always bring it just in case.
In addition, these tickets have to be booked at least 1 day in advance.
I recommend booking Amtrak tickets at least a month in advance, especially if you know your plans ahead of time. Amtrak fares are just like airfares, where prices are dynamic based on demand. Generally, the closer you are to departure day, the more expensive it’ll get.
Related: Why Is Amtrak Expensive? My 4 Tips For Getting Cheap Fares
How Do I Book and Redeem a Student Discount?
Amtrak for some reason doesn’t seem to clearly advertise how to redeem a student discount. It took me a bit of an effort when I booked a student discount ticket for the first time.
The promo code for the student discount is “V814.” To add it, go to the number of travelers tab, and you’ll find a “Promo Code” box to type it in.
After you search, you’ll notice that the discounts aren’t immediately reflected on the pricing charts. Instead, you’ll see the discount applied after you add the trip to your cart.
Note the “discounts applied,” that’s the student discount reflected after your trip is added to your cart.
Bottom Line
Getting a student discount applied to your ticket can actually be a bit confusing. Although Amtrak advertises these student discounts, I don’t think they advertise how to apply the discount as much as they should. Make sure to remember how to apply this promotion, because they can bring great value for students riding Amtrak.