Rail Freak
Engineer
From vowing never to ride Amtrak again (because of AGR II) to Jonesing for another train trip, I'm thinking of buying 15k pts. to get the 4,500 Bonus Pts. Any thoughts out there?
Thanx
Thanx
But 'what they are worth' varies from a max of $0.028 downward to much less at times! I only found it advantageous to buy pts at 50% bonus, and now......not yet!!I did some calculations, and it looked to me like the points *at 30% bonus* cost almost exactly what they are worth in exchange for a ticket
Closer to 3.5 or 4, IIRC. I passed on it, thinking "Pfft...maybe next time."It was at least 2-3 years ago.
If your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
But I really miss doing "The Toledo Shuffle" NOTIf your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.
My one time trying to do that shuffle I got bused to Chicago instead.But I really miss doing "The Toledo Shuffle" NOTIf your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.
All those people who were buying and saving points for years so they could finally make a six hour trip from Cleveland to Chicago are much better off now.If your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now. So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
You could always "Shuffle off to Buffalo" instead! :giggle:But I really miss doing "The Toledo Shuffle" NOT
It cost me less points now to go from upstate NY to Florida!All those people who were buying and saving points for years so they could finally make a six hour trip from Cleveland to Chicago are much better off now.If your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now. So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
I stand corrected on this point. Points are worth more on shorter trips but still not on par with cash. Right?If your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.
If you book low-bucket, on the shortest coast-to-coast route, points trips are cheaper now than in the past. I just booked BOS-WIH (barely short of PDX) for 27,497 points for next February. It used to be three zones, or 35,000. Of course, I checked Amsnag, then booked early and got the low-bucket roomette ("only one available at this price" ).I stand corrected on this point. Points are worth more on shorter trips but still not on par with cash. Right?If your going end to end or "the long way" (like WAS-SEA via NYP, CHI and LAX), that is true. But how about CLE-CHI (which is also a LD route)? :huh: It used to be 2 zones (8,000 or 20,000 or 30,000)! I bet it costs much less now.With the introduction of AGR 2.0 ... more were required for LD tickets.
So you can't just say that more points are required for LD routes.
But for the 35,000 points you could have brought a traveling companion along at no additional cost. How does that change the calculus of your coast-to-coast trip?If you book low-bucket, on the shortest coast-to-coast route, points trips are cheaper now than in the past. I just booked BOS-WIH (barely short of PDX) for 27,497 points for next February. It used to be three zones, or 35,000. Of course, I checked Amsnag, then booked early and got the low-bucket roomette ("only one available at this price" ).
My last trip coast-to-coast was on the old AGR1 system. 35,000 points each way. I first asked Hubby if he wanted to come with me, and he said no, if he did not come, then I could visit my sister as long as I liked without worrying about him being bored. Then I asked my best friend if she would like to come, at least one way, and she said no -- it didn't fit her schedule. I decided that the "me" time was worth more than sharing a roomette with anyone further down my list, so I went alone. Of course, I took the scenic route because it cost no more in points. I got to take the Cardinal, which I could never take if Hub was along, because he won't take a long distance train without a full diner.But for the 35,000 points you could have brought a traveling companion along at no additional cost. How does that change the calculus of your coast-to-coast trip?If you book low-bucket, on the shortest coast-to-coast route, points trips are cheaper now than in the past. I just booked BOS-WIH (barely short of PDX) for 27,497 points for next February. It used to be three zones, or 35,000. Of course, I checked Amsnag, then booked early and got the low-bucket roomette ("only one available at this price" ).
Enter your email address to join: