Does Amtrak Offer Military Discounts?

Amtrak offers additional off tickets to active veterans of the United States, meaning, personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Corps, etc, will get an extra 10% off on the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains.

They must have a valid United States Armed Forces Identification card for verification at the station. This program is not substantial for retired Army candidates.

Along with the officers, their children and spouses can also receive the same amount of Amtrak Military Discount as a benefit.

However, this scheme has some limitations as it doesn’t work in some cabins and trains of Amtrak. It can only be used on the domestic routes, not applicable for destinations outside the United States.

Information About Amtrak Military Discount

Amtrak, being the largest passenger rail company in the U.S., offers a Military discount as a thank you and support from them. However, before booking any ticket on Amtrak Military Discounts, officers must meet the conditions attached to it.

The military person should be Active, not retired.
The maximum discount one individual can get on military-discounted tickets is typically 10%. Additionally, traveling on selected routes in California, a 15% discount can be availed.
Half of the Adult ticket fare will be applied to children of 2 to 12 years traveling on the Military reduced fare. While infants under 2 years old can travel on their parents’ or guardians’ laps
The discount will not work for the Business Class, First Class, or Sleeper Cabins, also not on the international routes, especially the services to Canada.
Tickets will be booked through the official Amtrak website by selecting “Military” in the Fare Finder.
This service is available for rail travel and might not work on some Amtrak Thruway connecting services.

Who is Eligible for an Amtrak Military Discount?

People who are eligible to get a Military discount are Active Military officers and people related to them, mostly their dependents. Additionally, people who are serving the United States in any of the government branches, including:

Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
NOAA Groups
Space Force
U.S. Public Health Service
U.S. Merchant Marine

These officers need to have a valid official ID card and use it at the time of document checking to access the additional Military service member perks onboard.

How to Apply a Military Discount on Amtrak Trains?

To apply for a Military Discount on Amtrak trains, passengers are required to use the official website or app. A 10% off on eligible fares will be applied automatically, reflecting the difference between the original and discounted fares.

Steps to use the Amtrak Military Discount

Visit the official website, amtrak.com, or download the app.
Log in or sign up on the platform and proceed to make a new booking.
Enter travel details, including origin station, destination, and dates.
Before searching, they will have to select “Military” as the passenger type in the dedicated section.
The system will automatically apply the discount, detecting them as Military personnel.
Review and complete the process by paying.

Note: The officers and their family members are required to carry the ID card, as it will be checked at the station to verify the discount.

Restrictions and Limitations of the Amtrak Military Discount

Certain limitations and restrictions are applied to the Amtrak Military Veteran Discount, as it doesn’t work on the premium cabins and is subject to availability during the peak travel season.

This 10% Military discount won’t be applied to saver fares on Amtrak trains.

Military travelers will not be able to use this scheme on First Class or Business Class tickets of any Amtrak train. Hence, they will have to pay the whole amount for traveling in these cabins.

This special concession may not be valid for certain Amtrak Thruway bus and train connecting services.

It is restricted to international travel, especially on the Canadian portion of Amtrak services, which is shared with VIA Rail Canada.

Amtrak Military Discounts generally cannot be combined with other seasonal or promotional travel deals.

Conclusion

Amtrak Military Discount is a special and additional 10% discount offered to active military personnel. Family members of these military officials can also take advantage of this program, as they will get 10% off on the lowest train fares as well.

The Amtrak representatives at the station will check the Identification cards to verify the discount. However, certain restrictions on international travel and some cabins apply, but officers can get up to 15% off for traveling within California.