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Good morning!

Welcome back to another week with Live Fast. We have some travel discounts you don’t want to miss out on this week.  

Here’s what we’ve got for you:

• ✈️United’s student discount ending soon

• 🚂Amtrak’s Student Discount

As we head into November, it’s not too late to think about fall and holiday travel. Flying isn’t cheap, especially for college students. Whether you’re traveling across the country to get home during break or getting away for the weekend, high ticket prices can often complicate travel plans. That’s without accounting for add-ons like luggage, preferred seating, and other taxes and fees charged by most US carriers.   

United’s SWEET Student Discount

Luckily, United offers an exclusive flight discount starting at 5% on certain flights for 18-23 year-olds only through the United app.

Follow these steps to take advantage of special fares: 

1. Download the United app

2. Sign in/create a MileagePlus® account

3. Select “Book” in the app’s navigation bar

4. Select “Discounted travel (ages 18-23)”

Although it depends on availability and a 5% discount may not seem like much, it can be a HUGE help during peak travel dates when prices tend to be higher. Most holidays in the U.S. typically coincide with breaks, so that's immediate savings for your wallet. 

I recently used the discount last week to book a one-way economy ticket from Albany to Washington D.C. to get home from my Vermont ski trip in January. 

Again, even though the discount is a bit underwhelming, there are ways to be strategic and leverage it to find substantial savings on pricier bookings.

On top of those savings, discounted tickets are also eligible to earn frequent flier miles which can later be used to redeem award tickets. United is the only major U.S. carrier to offer a student discount.

The discount is only available from now until December 31, 2023, so we recommend booking as soon as possible.

Amtrak’s student discount:

A fantastic alternative to flying is Amtrak which offers an even GREATER 15% student discount. While Amtrak serves destinations nationwide, it’s great for students in the Northeast where there are ample routes up and down the East Coast.

It’s safe to say I’m a big fan of Amtrak. Back in March, I was able to go from school in Williamsburg, Virginia back home to Northern Virginia, for only $30 roundtrip with the discount. If that wasn’t enough, I also managed to pay $52.70 for a one-way ticket to New York City from Union Station, Washington D.C, and another one-way ticket from Union Station to Newark’s Penn Station for only $12.75.

It’s a convenient option for short-haul trips on a tight budget considering Amtrak provides direct downtown-to-downtown service to many major cities (And small towns in between) along with spacious seating and complimentary Wi-Fi.

It’s a convenient option for shorter trips on a tight budget considering Amtrak provides direct downtown-to-downtown service to many cities (And small towns in-between). There’s also spacious seating within each car and complimentary Wi-Fi which is a plus for those who need to grind out some work on the go.

The discount automatically applies for qualifying travel, but be warned: Amtrak limits the quantity of discounted tickets. Most routes are subject to availability, so it’s best to book in advance to avoid paying the regular rate. 

That’s all for this week! You absolutely want to take advantage of these student discounts–especially United’s before it ends in December. 

Have a great rest of your Monday, and see you again next week, 🫡

Dustin Tran

Founder & Content Lead