Amtrak does not offer its own installment plan or monthly payment option for standard train tickets; you must pay the full amount upfront. However, there are trusted third-party buy now, pay later (BNPL) services like Klarna, Zip, Sezzle, and AfterPay, which help split the ticket costs into smaller interest-free installments. For Amtrak vacation packages, financing options are available, including monthly installments.
This detailed guide offers essential information on Amtrak payment options, thus helping you understand your options clearly.
What Are the Different Amtrak Payment Options?
Amtrak accepts the following payment options for rail ticket purchase:
- Major credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, and JCB.
- Digital wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal
- Amtrak gift cards: You can purchase the gift card on EMIs and use the gift card amount upfront for your travel.
All payments with Amtrak require the full amount upfront at booking, with no official financing for regular tickets.
Does Amtrak Offer an Installment Plan?
Amtrak does not offer any direct installment or split payment plan for one-way, round-trip, or multi- itinerary fares. You have to pay the entire amount for the train ride at the time of booking online, through the mobile app, or at the train station.
However, the exception applies to Amtrak vacation packages where financing is available through third-party vendors, allowing a monthly payment after a deposit, which would be as low as 99 USD a month.
For instance, any vacation packages priced at 2000 USD can be booked by paying a deposit as low as 150 USD, with the remaining balance converted into interest-free EMIs for 12-24 months, subject to approval.
How do Buy Now Pay Later Services Work for Amtrak?
Third-party Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services help you pay for the regular Amtrak tickets in 4-6 instalments. Next, these BNPL service providers will pay the entire amount upfront to Amtrak on the passengers’ behalf.
The BNPL companies create a virtual, one-time credit card for eligible passengers at Amtrak checkout. It works like a normal credit card.
Let’s understand how it works:
- You book a vacation package on Amtrak
- At the checkout page, choose a BNPL provider (such as Klarna, Sezzle, or Zip) as your payment method.
- Choose one of the following BNPL providers you are registered with to pay for your travel.
- Your ticket would be confirmed immediately.
- Later, you will repay BNPL in installments.
Who are the Mian BNPL Service Providers?
The key companies that offer BNPL services that let passengers book Amtrak train tickets include:
- Klarna: Provides “Pay in 4” (interest-free) option, Long-term financing up to 12 months on your AMtrak services. With interest rates ranging between 4.99% to 29.99%.
- Sezzle: It offers 4 interest-free payments for a duration of 6 weeks. There is a late fee of up to 10 USD for missing the installation.
- Zip: Offers 4 installments over 6 weeks. No interest is levied if the payment is made on time.
For example, if an Amtrak journey costs 400 USD from Los Angeles to Seattle, you pay 100 USD upfront. Then you pay 50 USD every week for 6 weeks. The approval for the BNPL payment option is lightning-fast. Here, the soft-credit check is done, which doesn’t affect your credit score. Spending limit ranges between 200 USD and goes up to 1000 USD, depending on the profile.
Conclusion
Amtrak does not offer installment payment for regular train tickets. When you book directly with Amtrak, you have to pay the full ticket cost upfront. But you can still split the cost using the third-party Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services with Klarna, Zip, or Sezzle. These services will pay AMtrak on your behalf and help you micro-finance an interest-free installment.
On the other hand, Amtrak Vacations does offer financing, which allows passengers to pay a nominal upfront deposit and then pay the remaining balance in approved installments.
FAQs
No. Amtrak does not offer any payment plan for standard train tickets. The rail network demands full payment up front. You can use the BNPL services or explore financing options with Amtrak vacations.
No. Amtrak does not accept AfterPay directly. You can purchase an Amtrak gift card using AfterPay and then redeem it while booking a train ticket.
‘Pay in 4’ is another word for BNPL service provided by Klarna, Zip, and Sezzle, which splits the ticket fare into 4 equal payments that can be paid over 6 weeks. These installments are interest-free if paid on time.
