, on the route of the Crescent, the stations between ATL and SDL (even though in order to make a same day connection to somewhere else in your zone, you must connect in either WAS or CVS), a trip within the midwest zone is 1 zone only! Thus a trip from BHM to MSP or ATL to DEN is only 1 zone! And the infamous SDL-LAX is only 2 zones - even though you must go via WAS, and you can chose a routing via PDX! B)
:huh: Thanx????There are 3 AGR award zones. The borders are ATL, CIN and TOL between the east and midwest, and ELP, ABQ/TRI, DEN and WPT between the midwest and west. (There is also a special northeast zone IF your award is totally within that zone.) The amount of points needed is based on your starting point and your ending point. Anytime you cross a zone border, you need an additional zone.
However, there is one BIG exception! Due to a loophole
1) Purchased points do not count toward status. Only points earned from Amtrak travel count.
1) As mentioned, only actual PAID Amtrak travel counts toward Select status. But seeing your so close, here's an idea!
If you travel 4 times from (say) TPA to ORL round trip, it would not cost too much - and it would give you 800 rail points. Add that to your 4,246 that you currently have and Select status with 5,046 points! Better yet, if you can find a round trip to somewhere like WPK or similar THAT REQUIRES YOU TO TAKE A BUS FROM TPA TO ORL, you would earn 100 points for the bus and 100 points for the train. Thus this could be done with 2 round trips (to earn 800 points)!
AGR can only book an AGR reward if the routing comes up on the screen. They see the same list of options that you see on amtrak.com - so if you see it listed, they can book it!
Thanx,1) As mentioned, only actual PAID Amtrak travel counts toward Select status. But seeing your so close, here's an idea!
And if you signed up for the double points promo, although it doesn't count towards Select status, it will give you more points that you can earn later!
2) All point rewards shown are for one way travel.
3) A roomette or bedroom award includes the rail fare FOR EITHER 1 OR 2, the roomette or bedroom FOR EITHER 1 OR 2 and all meals FOR EITHER 1 OR 2 - assuming both are listed on the reservation!
Just looking at a 1 zone award, for 1 person going coach, it costs 5,500 points, for 2 going coach, it is 11,000 points, but for 2 in a roomette (and all meals), it costs only 15,000 points!
Yes it does, any bus trips should have provided points for you. For example if you took the bus from Tampa to Orlando, then you should have received points for the bus ride. If you didn't and it's been more than 6 weeks since the bus ride, then it's time to file a missing points request.
I took a bus fro STP-ORL on 9/1/08 & a bus from ORL-STP on 9/11/08 And no pts. received!?
Then it's time to start chasing down your points. If you like, you can initially try the online missing points process, make sure that you have your ticket stubs handy when you go to the AGR site as you'll need them. But don't be surprised if that fails. Sometimes a second report via the missing points function is the charm. Failing that, or if you don't want to bother with the online at all, then you'll have to make copies of your ticket stubs and send them into AGR in order to get credit.
Could I go to the Amtrak bus station as they are very friendly!
No, a normal Amtrak ticket agent cannot help you. AGR is run by a seperate company under contract with Amtrak. The local agents have no access what so ever to the AGR system. Only AGR can help you. You must either call them (and probably get told that you have to mail things in, although sometimes certain CSR's will do it by phone), mail things in, or try the online missing points request form.
Just got off the phone with AGR. Very friendly & helpful! Points should be posted 5 - 7 days!
It's not in the T & C, in large part because it's actually a third party company that buys the points for you. That said, click here for a FAQ on buying points.
$.0275 per point + $15 per transaction. Strangely enough, buying points is under the "Hot Deals" tab.
