Angela Adto Tepper, chief executive and founder of AZA Luxury Travel, says travelers should consider options like cancel for any reason coverage, as well as Medjet or COVAC GLOBAL memberships, which can fly you home in case of a medical emergency. As I set my things down, the train rolled into motion. Please enter a password. Customers should avoid travel if currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, if tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days or if meeting public health criteria for quarantine. Per new CDC guidance, fully vaccinated domestic travelers (who have had their final shot for at least two weeks) do not need to get a coronavirus test before or after trips, and they do not need to self-quarantine after travel. After taking Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Portland to Los Angeles during the pandemic, one traveler shares her experience of the 30-hour journey. privacy policy. And since we believe the vaccine offers the best way to keep our employees and customers safe, Amtrak is requiring that all employees get vaccinated or submit a negative COVID-19 test weekly. My lunch was delivered right as we entered my favorite stretch of the journey, when the scenery of central California expanded with the wineries of Paso Robles, then surrounded us on all sides with mountains. You can check your airline's COVID-19 policies by choosing from a dropdown menu here. The policy change comes a day after Tampa's U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball. If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every other table had a sign on it, instructing passengers to leave the booth empty in order to maintain social distancing. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. Customers can book, board, check train status and access information from the convenience and safety of a mobile device. Amtrak has temporarily dropped its mandate for all employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a requirement that the rail service had said would likely result in cuts to service. Amtrak restores service on routes following COVID cutbacks. Listen to article. Before you lock in a plane ticket or hotel reservation, make sure the destination you would like to visit is open to Americans. On-the-Spot Requests In instances when it is not feasible or practical to make a request in advance, passengers can request an "on-the-spot" modification to the policy, procedure or practice at any time to any Amtrak employee. The company updated its policy in reaction to the TSA no longer enforcing the mask mandate. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. terms and conditions Virginia native Larry Bleiberg is president of the Society of American Travel Writers, a frequent contributor to BBC Travel and the creator of CivilRightsTravel.com. That answer wasnt correct either. That time, I had bought a business class ticket, an upgrade that came with two free bottles of water, an onboard food credit, and even a free early evening wine tasting. Add In fact, we have a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. This means you won't have to travel this . Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. Amtrak has canceled about two dozen trains, blaming bad weather and COVID-19 cases among workers. As I approached the platform outside the sleeping car, I flashed my paperwork to a welcoming employee who managed to flash back a big smile, even with her face hidden behind a mask. Blount McCormick says that for now, travel insurance is a must, as the status of the pandemic can change daily on personal, local and global levels. / : ; < = > ? Its really understanding where am I going, what do I want to get out of this trip and what will be the expectations for me? says Elizabeth Blount McCormick, the president of international travel management company Uniglobe Travel Designers. For More Information Jason Abrams MediaRelations@Amtrak.com Amtrak Contact 202 906.3860 About Amtrak Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Not only are those places riskier for both visitors and locals, Moyse says, they are also likely to have more restrictions. Crossing borders will come with new complications. Though it was a shared space . . As with airlines, federal regulations require all Amtrak passengers to wear masks at all times aboard trains and in stations, regardless of vaccination status and state and local laws. A half hour before departure is recommended for most passengers, 60 minutes for those who need help with ticketing or baggage. Don't forget to share your train travel experience with us after your trip. / : ; < = > ? Add an ID tag to all your bags. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/planning-booking/tickets-id-safety-security/personal-safety. We will send password reset instructions. Offered on many routes, private rooms offer the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight. These 4 basic steps will help you prep for COVID-19, plus feel informed, forearmed, and less anxious. Bryan Del Monte, president of the Aviation Agency, says travelers can expect a reduction in service when they start traveling again. Blame the coronavirus pandemic, the railroad says. ncov/hcp/hcp-hospital-checklist. GET THE APP Amtrak RideReserve for Multi-Ride Passes Her pieces on science, art and culture have appeared inThe Atlantic, where she was previously an editorial fellow,Californiamagazine and elsewhere. For someone like me with immune issues that put them in a higher-risk category for COVID-19, having this option offered an off-load of anxiety. That includes contactless boarding, enhanced disinfection through a partnership with Lysol, and onboard filtration systems that exchange fresh air every four to five minutes. Review restriction information by looking up your destinations local government websites. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. As a result, you will be allowed access to foreign countries, cruise ships, flights and more. Suddenly, taking an overnight train from Portland to Los Angeles felt like an adventure. Prepare to get tested before, and potentially after, you travel, 5. I had 29 and a half hours to go. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/planning-booking/planning-booking-tips/riding-on-amtrak-train-for-the-first-time. Service remains a mixed bag on Amtrak's state-supported trains and corridors, and the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and its branches. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars, Exchanging, refunding or reprinting Amtrak travel documents, Purchasing documents with a stored eVoucher or Transportation Credit, Traveling as a Pass Rider (active or retired), Asked onboard trains by train crew members, other Amtrak or operating railroad employees, Asked any time by Amtrak police or any law enforcement officer, Guardian purchasing an unaccompanied minor travel documents or signing the release form, One piece of photo identification issued by a government authority, or, Two pieces of identification, at least one of which is issued by a government authority, Official government-issued identification (federal, state, city or county government or foreign government), Canadian provincial health card ID card with photo, Student identification (university, college or high school photo ID). The number adjusts as additional seats are sold, which gives passengers the chance to switch to a train that is less crowded without a fee, although a fare difference may apply. Walking through the rows of roomettes, it appeared that people were taking advantage of a loophole in the mask rule they were maskless while in their rooms as required, but their doors were wide open. Cancellation fees still apply to fares that have cancellation fees. This tool was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use by CDC. This fee cannot be waived. _ @ " $ # ,). TSA Will Not Enforce COVID Mask Mandate on Planes, Public Transit After Judge's Ruling, U.S. Airlines Quick to Drop Mask Mandate After Federal Court Ruling, These Are the U.S. When searching for travel, customers will see the percentage of seats sold next to each route as customers make reservations. Download the Amtrak app to check train status, get gate and track information at select stations, travel with contact-free eTicket scanning and access helpful information at your fingertips. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary. Don't forget to share your train travel experience with us after your trip. We reached my room and I was immediately impressed. There was also a metal utility sink, molded plastic wall, and an airplane-sized bathroom with a handheld shower nozzle over the toilet. Face Coverings While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19. These include things like cleaning every seat, private room, baggage rack, bathroom, button, caf car, dining car, and other publicly shared spaces with an EPA-registered disinfectant before the train leaves not to mention continuing to spray and wipe down all major touchpoints, including bathrooms, every couple of hours. For the most part, it seemed the protocols were being adhered to, but when staff seemed more lax about sanitizing and enforcing mask policy, passengers used that opportunity to be less safe themselves.. (2 minutes) Amtrak said it would suspend its Covid-19 vaccine mandate for employees, a reversal from last week's policy stance that the rail . If youre taking a substantial trip, you will want to protect yourself with travel insurance even if you have never been inclined to before. Review the policy for unaccompanied minors. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. Something to consider when weighing the pros and cons of booking a private room they all come with free meals, including select soft drinks and your first alcoholic drink, plus you have the option of eating off the dining car menu or going with something more casual in the caf car. And be sure to contact your particular airline about any changes in travel rules, including: Current mask policies for kids and adults (throughout check-in, boarding and the flight itself) Traveling with infants on your lap Changes in meal service The national rail service has temporarily cut back operations due to staffing shortages fueled by the omicron variant. Detours with locals. Customers can make reservations for set mealtimes in the dining car, or they can chose complimentary room service in their private cabin. Amtrak will run more train service in Pennsylvania beginning on June 1 in coordination with PennDOT. And again, plan to arrivewearing a mask: Passengers are required to wear facial coverings both at the station and onboard unless they are in a private room with the door closed or actively eating and drinking while maintaining distance from others. Although its already twice the size of a roomette, the bedroom cabins are much more spacious than they appear online. Safety features still include mandatory mask-wearing, plexiglass partitions at ticket counters, and hand sanitizer dispensers in stations. Other precautions include the removal of non-safety materials from seatback pockets, and automatic door open buttons that customers can tap with their foot to move between cars. Private rooms, available on long-distance and overnight routes, are another option for customers hoping to keep their distance from others while onboard. Be sure to step over the gap between the train and platform. ! " Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. This article was published more than1 year ago. Do I need another booster? For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . There are many ways your actions can help protect you, your household, and your community from severe illness from COVID-19. In short: people want different options for travel, and Amtrak threads the needle, accommodating varying needs. Vaccine passports are on the way, but developing them wont be easy. Our timing was impeccable and lined up with the sunset. The CDC name and logo may not be utilized if the tool is recreated for use by an external entity. Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said on Tuesday it will require nearly all of its 18,000 employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Nov. 22. Amtrak encourages boarding with eTickets, which conductors scan from the app. Vaccine questions, answered. Seamless gate service: To reduce crowds at departure boards, Amtrak app users automatically receive boarding gate and track information via push notification at select stations. When we venture out again, travel will not look the same as it did in 2019. Weve made and continue to make incredible investments so that we can come out of this pandemic as a new and improved Amtrak. With its medical director, public health and safety team and partnership with the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, we have studied, analyzed and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience - from beginning to end - for the safety and health of our . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. The sudden dropping of mask regulations on public transportation comes just weeks before the current mandate was set to expire on May 3. Oh, look at that! Her voice sounded like she had just won the lottery. Everything Id read so far about riding Amtrak in the time of COVID-19 seemed to rank long-distance train travel as safe, smart, and dare I say even relaxing. Free online workshop! All baggage should contain an ID tag. Amtrak President Stephen Gardner told a House Transportation subcommittee that roughly 95% of its 17,000 employees have been fully vaccinated ahead of a Jan. 4 deadline. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. WASHINGTON - June is National Safety Month and Amtrak is using the annual observance to remind the public of the importance of railroad safety onboard trains, in stations and around tracks this summer.
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