Are you passionate about film? Well, Amtrak® is pulling out all the stops in search of the most creative, innovative student movie makers in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Upload an original train travel-related video by February 28, 2011. The top 2 finalists are selected by travel and entertainment industry experts. America will vote to select the winner in April. The winning video will be featured on National Train Day and in future Amtrak promotions!

How to Enter

- Submit an original train-related video
- Complete entry form
- Upload video by February 28, 2011

Enter at www.amtraktrainsportationvideocontest.com

Heading home? Returning to school? Visiting your friends? Planning a Spring Break? Amtrak makes it easier than ever to get together. With more than 500 destinations and service in 46 states, save everywhere you go. Be sure to reserve your tickets 3-days in advance to SAVE 15%* on rail fares!

Enroll today and start saving on travel.

Many popular shopping sites and major brands offer mobile versions of their search tools, which can be especially useful for students that are always on the go. One out of five shoppers said they planned to use their cellphones to complete purchases and comparison shop last holiday season, according to an annual survey by Deloitte, the accounting and consulting firm.

While searching for prices using a mobile device has been fairly simple, completing a purchase on-screen often involves clicking to the retailer’s Web site, which may not customized for a mobile phone’s tiny display. However, many online retailers are revamping the mobile versions of their content so that consumers can make purchases without serious difficulty.

If you have a mobile browser on your phone, check out some of the popular brands that enable searches, purchases AND discounts:

American Airlines – Simply visit American Airlines’ website (AA.com) from your mobile phone or PDA, and the website will detect your mobile browser and serve up the streamlined version of the website where you can:

• Book flights and use your American Airlines student discount via promotion code
• Locate fares sales and special offers
• Check-in and manage your American Airlines itinerary
• Check flight status
• Enroll in AAdvantage and manager account

Amtrak – With a customized content interface for each device, screen space is maximized and content is organized especially for handheld devices and mouseless navigation. Just type www.amtrak.com, Amtrak2go.com or amtrak.mobi from your web-enabled mobile device and you can:

• Make a reservation and use your Amtrak student discount via Card number
• Check train status
• Access your Amtrak.com and Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts
• Sign up for train alerts

A|X Armani Exchange – The A|X Mobile website offers the same features as their standard website, but is formatted to fit your mobile device. Plus, you can still access you A|X Armani Exchange student discount via Card number.

Since the inception of commercial flying there has been a multitude of technological innovations making it easier for airline passengers to get through the airport, on the plane and on their way to their destination. Kiosk check-in, for example, has made it simple for those with only a carry-on to simply swipe their credit card or passport and receive their boarding passes right away.

Over the last few years American Airlines has begun instituting, at over twenty airports, mobile bardcode boarding passes that allow their passengers to simply show security and airline employees a scanable barcode stored on their cell phones. After testing this at a few airports, American started to roll out mobile boarding passes to more airports in hopes of expediting the check-in and security process, making flying less of a hassle for their passengers.

As with most innovative technology, there will most likely be glitches and apprehension in regard to the security, but as cell phones become more and more integrated into our daily lives through smart phone technology, the prevalence of these types of applications will increase. More airlines, including United, Continental, Delta and Alaska have already begun accepting mobile boarding passes as well.

The TSA (Transportation Security Adminitration) seems to be on board too, stating in their blog that “paperless boarding pass[es] will … prevent fraudulent paper boarding passes that could be created and printed from home”.

See the complete list of airports where American is currently accepting mobile boarding passes here. Interested in trying out a mobile boarding pass? Book a flight and let us know how it goes. And remember, Student Advantage Cardholders get 10% OFF flights worldwide with American Airlines!