3 replies to this topic

[Shortline]

Thinking of taking AMTK from OKC-NOL, then back on a rewards trip. Need to make it a 1 zone bedroom award, round trip. As I understand it, I can go OKC-FTW-CHI-NOL, and return for 20,000 each way (one zone bedroom award).

Question though....I don't think we'd want to do it this way, but, might be nice to have a day in DC. It shows a valid routing on the reutrn, NOL-WAS-CHI-FTW-OKC. Now, is that still considered a 1 zone reward? Both the departure and arrival stations are in the Central Zones.....though they cross into the Eastern zone....just curious, a day in DC might be fun, and I'm all about getting max out of my points!

Edited by Shortline, 06 February 2012 - 09:42 PM.

[Ispolkom]

Question though....I don't think we'd want to do it this way, but, might be nice to have a day in DC. It shows a valid routing on the reutrn, NOL-WAS-CHI-FTW-OKC. Now, is that still considered a 1 zone reward? Both the departure and arrival stations are in the Central Zones.....though they cross into the Eastern zone....just curious, a day in DC might be fun, and I'm all about getting max out of my points!

Before April 1, 2010, you would have been exactly right, since, as you say, both the departure and arrival stations are in the central zone. That was credited as a one-zone award. I personally did a one-zone award MOT-CHI-WAS-SDL-(NOL) (buying a coach ticket for the last leg).

Since that date, though, you'd probably be looking at a two-zone award.

Why the change? I've heard stories, but really, since they've never published the rules, how do we know why they changed them? Or, for that matter, if they changed them at all?

[Michigan Mom]

Other than noticing that they split up the country into 3 zones.. and only a few major cities depicted on the zone borders.... who knows. Call the 800 number

[Shortline]

Other than noticing that they split up the country into 3 zones.. and only a few major cities depicted on the zone borders.... who knows. Call the 800 number

Thanks you two. Decided not to bother pushing it, it was going to be too much time anyway. Ended up booking it like this-

Oklahoma City-Fort Worth- Heartland Flyer (Coach)
Fort Worth-San Antonio - Texas Eagle (Bedroom)
San Antonio-New Orleans- Sunset Limited (Bedroom)

returning:

New Orleans-Chicago- City of New Orleans (Bedroom)
Chicago-Fort Worth-Texas Eagle (Bedroom)
Fort Worth-Oklahoma CIty-Heartland Flyer (Coach)

Should be a great trip, we were going to Pensacola that week anyway, decided to burn a few beach days on the train going and coming. Still have 3 days on the beach, and get to burn some points prior to the increase. Works out for us this time, no family bedrooms available, but I think the 3 of us should be ok in a regular bedroom.....we'll see!