<p>I’m an expert. I’ve been taking Amtrak about twice a month for over 15 years. They are not flexible, but you can get around the system. You have to buy a ticket for a specific train, and fares go up as you get closer to departure. This means that if you buy a ticket 2 weeks ahead of time, it will cost less than it does a few days ahead of time. Buying a ticket at the last minute will cost the most. </p>
<p>Returning a ticket will trigger a 10% penalty. But you won’t have this penalty if you change the ticket to a different train, even a different day. So I always pick up my tickets at the station just before departure, rather than in advance. This means that I always book 2 one-way tickets rather than a round trip, in case I need to change the return - it’s easier and cheaper to do if you haven’t picked up the ticket yet. Also, if you miss the outgoing train, the return train (if you booked a round trip) will be automatically cancelled, and you’ll have to re-book at a higher fare. </p>
<p>So you should book one-way tickets in advance for the times you think you’ll use, but don’t pick up any tickets in advance. If you have to change a train, you’ll have to pay a higher fare, probably, because of the late booking, but won’t pay a refund charge.</p>
<p>Even if you have a ticket that you need to turn in, make sure you get a new ticket at the same time. You should not be charged a return fee if you do. The agents are not very good at helping you save money, and they may not offer this information. So don’t buy a new ticket before returning the old one.</p>