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Rail Freak

Rail Freak

Engineer
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
4,968
Location
Tampa Bay, Florida
My other VIA question got diverted to paint scheemes, so I'll try again! I'm planning to take advantage of VIA's Express Deals (ex. TWO-VAC = $514) I'll have 50k AGR Points after Jan. 1st.

My initial thought - 15k AGR (STP-SDY), Pay for SDY-TWO. The $514 deal (TWO to VAC). Pay for VAC-SEA. 15k AGR (SEA-ELP). 20k for ELP-STP. (Total 50K Points)

Thoughts,as of now, staying over nite in SDY. Staying overnite in VAC. Staying over nite in SEA.. Does this make sense ( suggestions appreciated ) Also, hotel suggestions in VAC & SEA would be helpful, not to mention a loan!!! :lol: :hi:

Thanx
 
Forget the loan, I need a corporate sponsor. I'll gladly wear their logo and plug whatever products they want.

Actually riding the Canadian is something i've been thinking about doing, maybe in a few years.
 
Rail Freak said:
My other VIA question got diverted to paint scheemes, so I'll try again! I'm planning to take advantage of VIA's Express Deals (ex. TWO-VAC = $514) I'll have 50k AGR Points after Jan. 1st.

My initial thought - 15k AGR (STP-SDY), Pay for SDY-TWO. The $514 deal (TWO to VAC). Pay for VAC-SEA. 15k AGR (SEA-ELP). 20k for ELP-STP. (Total 50K Points)

Thoughts,as of now, staying over nite in SDY. Staying overnite in VAC. Staying over nite in SEA.. Does this make sense ( suggestions appreciated ) Also, hotel suggestions in VAC & SEA would be helpful, not to mention a loan!!! :lol: :hi:

Thanx
Click to expand...
Why are you paying for SDY to TWO, and VAC to SEA? Do AGR points not work on the Canadian portions of Amtrak? I'm planning a similar trip for next winter, and inquiring minds want to know. Mine would be SEA to TWO on AGR, then the $514 fare TWO to VAC, and back to SEA on my own dime. Planning on an overnight in Toronto, and maybe one in Vancouver just because it's a nice city to hang out in.

There's no routing SEA-ELP. Why not SEA-STP (or VAC-STP)? Same number of points.

I'd go Priceline's name-your-own-price for the hotels.
 
manderson said:
Rail Freak said:
My other VIA question got diverted to paint scheemes, so I'll try again! I'm planning to take advantage of VIA's Express Deals (ex. TWO-VAC = $514) I'll have 50k AGR Points after Jan. 1st.

My initial thought - 15k AGR (STP-SDY), Pay for SDY-TWO. The $514 deal (TWO to VAC). Pay for VAC-SEA. 15k AGR (SEA-ELP). 20k for ELP-STP. (Total 50K Points)

Thoughts,as of now, staying over nite in SDY. Staying overnite in VAC. Staying over nite in SEA.. Does this make sense ( suggestions appreciated ) Also, hotel suggestions in VAC & SEA would be helpful, not to mention a loan!!! :lol: :hi:

Thanx
Click to expand...
Why are you paying for SDY to TWO, and VAC to SEA? Do AGR points not work on the Canadian portions of Amtrak? I'm planning a similar trip for next winter, and inquiring minds want to know. Mine would be SEA to TWO on AGR, then the $514 fare TWO to VAC, and back to SEA on my own dime. Planning on an overnight in Toronto, and maybe one in Vancouver just because it's a nice city to hang out in.

There's no routing SEA-ELP. Why not SEA-STP (or VAC-STP)? Same number of points.

I'd go Priceline's name-your-own-price for the hotels.
Click to expand...
Figured the hotel cost would be less in SDY & SEA opposed to Was, NY or VAC. But I get your train of thought!

Thanx

PS. From what I understand, you can do this, with spending your own dime in LA for your hotel???? Want to get more train time taking the TE!!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
manderson said:
Why are you paying for SDY to TWO, and VAC to SEA? Do AGR points not work on the Canadian portions of Amtrak? I'm planning a similar trip for next winter, and inquiring minds want to know. Mine would be SEA to TWO on AGR, then the $514 fare TWO to VAC, and back to SEA on my own dime. Planning on an overnight in Toronto, and maybe one in Vancouver just because it's a nice city to hang out in.
Click to expand...
AGR points work on the Cascades service to Vancouver and on the Adirondack between Montreal & NY.

They do not work however on the Maple Leaf between Toronto and Niagara Falls, NY. This is due to the fact that once the train arrives at Niagara Falls, ON the Amtrak crew gets off and returns to the US to spend the night. A VIA rail crew then gets on the Amtrak equipment and operates the train as a VIA Rail service. On this train, one can use either VIA Rail tickets or Amtrak tickets. If you cross the border, regardless of which rail service you booked your tickets with, you'll get 2 tickets. One for the American crew and one for the VIA Rail crew.

This is done so as to properly allocate the revenue to each company.

And because it's a VIA Rail train, even though they're using Amtrak's equipment, VIA Rail does not accept AGR points and Amtrak decided that AGR would not pay VIA, you cannot use points north of the border.
 
AlanB said:
manderson said:
Why are you paying for SDY to TWO, and VAC to SEA? Do AGR points not work on the Canadian portions of Amtrak? I'm planning a similar trip for next winter, and inquiring minds want to know. Mine would be SEA to TWO on AGR, then the $514 fare TWO to VAC, and back to SEA on my own dime. Planning on an overnight in Toronto, and maybe one in Vancouver just because it's a nice city to hang out in.
Click to expand...
AGR points work on the Cascades service to Vancouver and on the Adirondack between Montreal & NY.

They do not work however on the Maple Leaf between Toronto and Niagara Falls, NY. This is due to the fact that once the train arrives at Niagara Falls, ON the Amtrak crew gets off and returns to the US to spend the night. A VIA rail crew then gets on the Amtrak equipment and operates the train as a VIA Rail service. On this train, one can use either VIA Rail tickets or Amtrak tickets. If you cross the border, regardless of which rail service you booked your tickets with, you'll get 2 tickets. One for the American crew and one for the VIA Rail crew.

This is done so as to properly allocate the revenue to each company.

And because it's a VIA Rail train, even though they're using Amtrak's equipment, VIA Rail does not accept AGR points and Amtrak decided that AGR would not pay VIA, you cannot use points north of the border.
Click to expand...

Did not know that. So when booking, I'd be booking NYP to NFL with AGR & NFL to TWO with $s?
 
Rail Freak said:
AlanB said:
AGR points work on the Cascades service to Vancouver and on the Adirondack between Montreal & NY.

They do not work however on the Maple Leaf between Toronto and Niagara Falls, NY. This is due to the fact that once the train arrives at Niagara Falls, ON the Amtrak crew gets off and returns to the US to spend the night. A VIA rail crew then gets on the Amtrak equipment and operates the train as a VIA Rail service. On this train, one can use either VIA Rail tickets or Amtrak tickets. If you cross the border, regardless of which rail service you booked your tickets with, you'll get 2 tickets. One for the American crew and one for the VIA Rail crew.

This is done so as to properly allocate the revenue to each company.

And because it's a VIA Rail train, even though they're using Amtrak's equipment, VIA Rail does not accept AGR points and Amtrak decided that AGR would not pay VIA, you cannot use points north of the border.
Click to expand...
Did not know that. So when booking, I'd be booking NYP to NFL with AGR & NFL to TWO with $s?
Click to expand...
Correct!
 
stntylr said:
Forget the loan, I need a corporate sponsor.
Click to expand...
Oddly enough, so does VIA!

IMAG0367.jpg
 
All of the deals appear to be for during the off season, when I am in school teaching.
mad.gif
However, I think I am coming down with something very serious. I wouldn't want the kids to catch it, so I'll take a week off of work.
biggrin.gif
 
Steve4031 said:
All of the deals appear to be for during the off season, when I am in school teaching.
mad.gif
However, I think I am coming down with something very serious. I wouldn't want the kids to catch it, so I'll take a week off of work.
biggrin.gif
Click to expand...
I've been watching the Express Deals page often since I discovered it around February, and found to my surprise that there are deals available even during the high season. Not as many, but they're still there, including on the Canadian.
 

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