The agent was wrong. An agent told me the same. I inquired of the AGR management folks and they said in no uncertain terms that the agent was wrong. I suggested to them that they forthwith provide additional training to the agents to ensure that they stop misleading customers.
I was told the opposite when I booked a one-zone redemption a couple of months ago (which is what I expected to hear).
I think the agent was wrong about that. Everything I've read, all the Amtrak publications, all the reliable people here, like jis and frensic, all read the rules the same --
Worst case will be that I go for 40k points......if price in $$$ = less than 40 k - 10% (4k) then I could cancel and rebook, correct?
The penalty only applies to points redeposited to your account, not to the total points involved. For example, if you book now for 40,000 points, and after the new program is in effect you see a lower price of 35,000 points, you can make the change. Since the refund (redeposit) to your AGR account is 5000 points, the penalty applied is 10% of the 5000 point redeposit (500 points), not 10% of the original 40,000 points.
Willem, finding that knowledgeable agent is like finding "a needle in a haystack for me". When was the actual last time you did this? I have tried several times on several reservations to change my room and each time they insist the new location will have to be at the current "bucket" price whether more or less.
In 2014, I had originally booked a roomette (AGR) EMY to TOL then coach TOL home but then decided I did not want to do the Toledo shuffle around midnight, so I called to add a roomette for the cash portion. After checking the roomette price online I called and asked if my current room was available for the rest of the trip. I was told that roomette would cost more than what I saw online so I said I believe she could override that and she didn't know how so I asked her to check with a supervisor. She came back and said she could do it and was appreciative of learning that she could. I learned on AU to ask for a supervisor if the agent doesn't know how to do something and if that fails, and it is something they should be able to do, to call back later and hopefully get an agent or supervisor who knows how.
It has been a while since I have tried to change a room after booking, because I now try to make any changes at booking time. Occasionally, I do need to suggest that the agent check with a supervisor on how to accomplish what I request during a booking. As AmtrakBlue suggested, do not be bashful about asking the agent to check with a supervisor.
I expect each room does have a set price in the computer, and that's part of the problem. But the knowledgeable agent can swap the prices of two rooms, or at least move the price from one room to another if requested.
I have pointed this out to them. The info appears to be there in the FlyerTalk Wiki on AGR, but is hard to come by at any Amtrak or AGR site.But don't seem to be able to effectively communicate them.It is specially ominous when the folks who manage the AGR system insist on disagreeing with you thoughsince they make the rules that actually apply.
I seriously doubt that there will be a postponement.
Or call late in the evening and get an agent in Los Angeles like I did last year.
Well...as it gets closer and closer to the date of the AGR changeover, I am getting a bit queasy of doing this. As it now stands, the bedroom from NOL to NYP is 40k points today. $$$ cost of bedroom is $849, or 29,291 points, BUT there is only one room at this price, and according to Amsnag, the next bucket goes all the way up to $1,209 (!!), or 41,711points......
The AGR call center closes at midnight eastern time. Since you need to book sleepers through the call center, for all practical purposes, the deadline is midnight tonight, EST.
Good news (in a small but significant way): Called AGR back today to try to change from lower-level to upper-level roomette on my already-booked AGR redemption, for travel later this year. Although there were still no upper-level roomettes available, the agent consulted with her supervisor and then told me that there will be no points penalty or additional points assessed if I call back and make a change from one roomette to another AFTER the AGR rules change tomorrow. Agent said she'd make a note of this on my reservation.
