Auto Train Fare Help

[QueenGoblin]

I hope there are some Auto Train vets who can help me!

We took the Auto Train down to Florida and really enjoyed it. Last September we paid 600+ for coach fare for DD, DH and I. We did use the "kids ride free" promo which was offered at the time, but I remember I tried the AAA rate just to compare and it was only $40-50 more.

We are planning at trip in January and considering auto train again, but when I took a look on Amtrak's website it is pricing us at over $800 even with AAA.

$600 always seemed reasonable, since it was comprable to flying and renting a car...and with gas prices, it wasn't too far off from driving and staying over in a motel halfway there...but more than $800 takes it firmly out of the running.

Does anyone know if the fares go down closer to the date? For the September trip, I booked in May or June. But everything I have looked at seems to indicate the fares go higher as the date gets nearer. Is this because of the time of the year (January)? I did notice one leg of the trip was $350 and the other was $222 but when I tried to wiggle the more expensive leg a couple of days to one side or the other it didn't make a difference.

Anyone have any tips or suggestions?

TIA

 

[caitlinsdad]

Normally the earlier you book, the cheaper the cost
But their are fare sales from time to time.

Also during the summer the past few years they have had children go free
With the cost of gas, the higher price may not be that bad

January may be higher with any SnowBirds still heading south

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I have ridden the AutoTrain many times in the last 10 years. I also ended up paying some high prices for January, usually when it was close to New Years. I find the fare usually doesn't go down, but sometimes the sleeper can vary from week to week. The sleepers seem to go in increments - for a standard sleeper, I seen the prices from lowest to highest: $114ish, $172ish, $220ish, $265ish, then $370 something. I have seen sleepers drop in price a few months out, and then change week to week, but the closer to the date, the more likely the price will rise and stay up.

I think the cheapest fare I paid as a solo adult in coach with a car (not van/SUV) is around $216. Round trip fares sometimes have a small discount built in. I am booked on the AutoTrain in September, and got a wonderful round trip rate. So probably the time of year does play into the higher rates.

To the OP - wish it works out for you to take the train! We love the train - it's part of the adventure!

 

[Dumbo]

If you are traveling on any Amtrak Florida train, get an Orlando Magicard. It's free and you can print one out from their website. It will give you 20% off for you and all your passengers. It's also good for the Auto Train.

I'm leaving June 9 R/T on the auto train and got 20% off for me and my daughters.


http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/index.cfm?act=OffersInCategory&cid=12


Dumbo

 

[solfan68]

You are travelling at a different time of year than we are, but our upcoming auto train ride was solidly double anything I could find on the airlines. That's with AAA. DW will not fly and DS5 is a train nut, so I bit the bullet and just did it. A a frame of reference... Round trip AAA rate for 2 adults, one child, one SUV, and bedroom was in the neighborhood of $1400 the first week of June. Not cheap, not by any stretch of the imagination. But with the time parameters I was facing, it seemed like the best option to maximize family fun time.

Best of luck in your quest.

 

[Henlady]

Definately get the Orlando Magic Card. It offers a 20% discount on the "rider fare", but not the vehicle. Last year I was able to use both the 20% Magic card and 10% AAA discounts, but this year they only allowed one discount so I chose the Magic Card discount.
We have made multiple Auto Train trips and the prices for this fall (at least) seem a little "off kilter". Normally fall/winter is the time the "snow birds" travel south. In the past the vehicle charge for going south at that time has always started out at $182 and $140 going north. This year those fares are flipped for some reason. Also, the roomette charge going south started at $172 in February, whereas, normally it was $114 until at least May.
I did a check and the fares are adjusted upward from the norm from September 1 thru November 30.
We usually book a roomette for our travel, but I think $172 is a little much, especially since we booked 9 months out, so we're just doing coach on the southbound trip.
All in all, it is still our favorite way to travel. Booking coach both ways with the car and the magic card discount for 2 adults, the fee came to $568. The way I figure, with airfare (i prefer to do nonstop flights so that's a little more expensive) and then renting a car, it pretty well evens out. I enjoy traveling by train much better than flying, and we are not on a specific time schedule so it works for us.

 

[cherylp3]

I think I paid $600 when I went in Feb. one year that was without roomette.
(Note at that time I was going VA-FL not vice versa)

I forget when I planned my current trip, but my cost for this July is $400 for 2 adults with roomette one way from VA to FL. (The other way was free thanks to Amtrak Guest rewards credit card)

Also try posting at Flyertalk.com in their amtrak guest rewards forum.

-Cheryl

 

[QueenGoblin]

Thanks for the magicard tip. Do you know if I can book online using that or do I ned to call Amtrak directly?

I really did like the auto train last year. It was much less stressful than flying or driving, so I can justify it when it costs the same as flying and renting a car, but if I can't get it closer to $600 we may have to think about flying or driving

Thanks again for all the info and advice!!!

 

[Henlady]

Here is the site for the Orlando Magic Card - you can print one off and get all the discount information at this site: http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard

The normal rider fee for a child is 1/2 an adult fare. I doubt you will be able to get at or below $600 for a round trip, but you might consider driving south (the more expensive leg of the auto train trip for that time of year) and then taking the train back north. We have done that in the past. It alleviates at least some of the driving.

Good luck.

 

[Dumbo]

You can not book online with the magicard discount. You have to call Amtrak to get the discount.

Dumbo