The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Amtrak ends veterans’ discount
Blumenthal calls for reinstatement
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is demanding Amtrak reinstate discounts for veterans and their families after the company ended them this week.
Amtrak announced it will no longer provide discounts to military veterans and their families, a benefit the company has maintained for 17 years. Beginning in 2001, Amtrak offered Veterans Advantage members 15 percent savings on Amtrak tickets for nationwide travel and for Acela Express travel on weekends.
“Eliminating this discount is absolutely outrageous and unconscionable,” Blumenthal said. “It’s both an insult and injury to our nation’s heroes. ... They’re now seeking to pinch pennies on the back of veterans.”
Blumenthal called the decision “inexcusable” in a letter to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson, asking the railroad to reinstate the discount.
“I urge you to cease these efforts and reaffirm that veterans will always be welcomed and encouraged to use the nation’s railroad with a discount program that recognizes and rewards their service to our country,” Blumenthal wrote in the letter Anderson.
“I urge you to continue to honor veterans with discounts, and reinstate your partnership with an organization like Veterans Advantage to ensure veterans and their families have access to all the discounts they are due,” he wrote. “These benefits are a small token of appreciation to veterans who have committed their lives to protecting our nation and help preserve a strong customer base for Amtrak.”
Amtrak still offers a 10 percent discount to active military men and women and their families.
“This is a shame that they are discriminating against citizens who answered the call when their country needed them,” Hamden Veterans Commission Chairperson Abner Oakes said in an email. Oakes is a Navy veteran who retired at the rank of commander. “(Amtrak) offers discounts to AAA members, senior citizens, and AARP members so why not veterans.”
To offer the discount, Amtrak partnered with Veterans Advantage, which creates exclusive benefits and discounts for active duty and retired military, as well as veterans, reservists and their family members.
“Amtrak has eliminated its involvement with private company membership clubs which charge fees to obtain discounts for their members, such as AAA and the Veterans Advantage Plan,” Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said in an email. “The goal is also to improve overall revenue performance by expanding the use of tactical fare sales to generate ridership growth versus the everyday discounts provided by membership groups.”
An example is Amtrak offering sales to benefit all customers, Woods said, adding the best way to save money on fares remains for customers to book early, at least 14 days in advance, and use Amtrak’s Saver Fares.
Just a few years ago, Amtrak expanded its veteran discount to include same-day travel and ex- tending benefits to immediate family members.
Blumenthal said he hasn’t received a response from Amtrak or its CEO since he sent the letter. But responding to the statement Hearst Connecticut Media received, Blumenthal said “Their response seems to be an abject failure to provide these discounts. There’s no excuse for ending them. They’re offering a bunch of bureaucratic rigamarole but the bottom line is the discount has been eliminated and that’s inexcusable. They may want to streamline their fares but that’s no reason to shortchange veterans.”
American Legion Post 88 Commander Art Hulford said if younger military veterans don’t get involved with veterans organizations like local VFWs and American Legions, they’ll see more discounts disappear- ing. Most of the members at these organizations served in the Vietnam and Korean wars, so they are retired and don’t take the train often, Hulford said, but the younger veterans who benefit aren’t putting in the work.
“The younger guys need to get involved or they’re going to lose their benefits,” Hulford said. “They’ll see it happen more and more.” American Legion posts are closing frequently because new members aren’t joining in large enough numbers. “They’re reaping the benefits and they’re not supporting the organization that got them theses benefits ... If you don’t have the young blood to keep going, you die eventually.”
Amtrak has discontinued discounts for students and AAA members.