WASHINGTON -- Amtrak and ASTA joined forces in a promotion that
gives consumers a 10% discount on long-distance and select
(excluding Northeast Corridor) short-distance leisure train travel
when they redeem a special coupon at an agency.
Amtrak and ASTA officials, at a press conference here, said that
the promotion is designed to drive business into agencies, which in
turn will earn 10% commission on the bookings, up from Amtrak's
standard 8% pay for such bookings.
Tickets must be purchased by March 31 for travel through June
10, excluding April 21 to 24 blackout dates.
"We are bucking the trend in the travel industry," said Barbara
Richardson, Amtrak's executive vice president. "While others are
walking away from travel agent programs, Amtrak wants to join hands
with agents to benefit our bottom line and theirs."
The 10% ticket discount can also be used on the rail portion of
Amtrak Vacations products, as well as with any discounted Amtrak
tickets already available in the marketplace, such as senior fares.
"This is the first time we have ever discounted a discount," said
Kathleen Gordon, Amtrak's assistant vice president, Internet sales
and industry relations.
William Maloney, ASTA staff executive vice president, praised
the promotion for recognizing "the role travel agents play as full
service providers and the voice of consumers. [Amtrak] has taken a
very pro-consumer stand."
ASTA president Joe Galloway said the Society "is thrilled to see
Amtrak taking such a positive, pro-travel agent stance."
The first ad promoting the discount, which is good on the
lowest-available coach rail fare, was slated to appear on Feb. 11
in USA Today; additional ads will run in the newspaper during the
next three weeks.
Copy in the ad, which prominently displays the ASTA logo, asks,
"Who better than your travel agent to tell you about the 500
destinations we offer?"
The ads feature a coupon that consumers can cut out and return
to a travel agency for a 10% discount on their leisure train
travel. The coupon also instructs consumers to call (800) 965-ASTA
or visit ASTA's Web site, www.astanet.com, to locate a travel agent if they
don't have one.
Amtrak also is running trade ads, including packets of coupons
in the Society's March edition of ASTA Agency Management, while
ASTA will promote the coupon promotion through its Web site and in
newsletters faxed to its membership. Ads also will appear in
several trade publications, including Travel Weekly.
The coupon promotion is the most aggressive moves yet by Amtrak
to repair its relationship with travel agents, which soured in 1998
after it cut agent commissions from 10% to 5% on point-to-point
tickets, largely used by business travelers.