As some of you may remember, I will be taking a few Amtrak trips this spring, using my flight benefits with AA. Well I have started my internship with AA, and will begin flying soon. I'll be working for them now, until May.
I have a few questions about the routes I plan on taking, so answer as you see fit:
The two top priority routes are the Acela and Zephyr. I'll be using GR points to take a bedroom from Omaha to Sacremento. Whats the best time to take the CZ? February or should I wait until April? I want to travel at non-peak times, so I may book my trip using the points. How far ahead should I book using points? If I don't make my flight (since i'll be on non-rev), can I cancell my trip and get all my GR points back, or use them toward a future trip?
The GR points trip I plan on taking, is first class on Acela. I would really like to get my "points" worth, and ride the entire WAS to BOS trip. However I would also like to stop in NYC and PHL, but I don't think I can make stopovers on Acela, can I? I also need to use my upgrade coupons and ClubAcela passes before the end of Feb.
Here are the other trips I plan on taking.
Cardinal: IND- WAS (ClubAcela coupon in WAS)
City of NO: Jackson-NO
SW Chief: LAX - ABQ
Surfliner: LAX - San Luis Obispo (upgrade coupon)
Starlight: Sacramento-Portland
Downeaster: BOS- Portland
Regoinals: NYP-PHL (ClubAcela)
I'm also toying with Capitol Limited from PIT to WAS. Is it scenic? Which direction should I take?
Also 3 Rivers, Youngstown to PHL, before it shuts down. What direction should I take?
I'm also thinking of something in Florida on Silver Service.
The latter of the routes depend on money I have left, and time.
I will be writing trip reports, so please read them over the next few months!
If you have any pointers, please let me know. If you would like to join me, just send a message and maybe we can arrange something.
Chris
I have a few questions about the routes I plan on taking, so answer as you see fit:
The two top priority routes are the Acela and Zephyr. I'll be using GR points to take a bedroom from Omaha to Sacremento. Whats the best time to take the CZ? February or should I wait until April? I want to travel at non-peak times, so I may book my trip using the points. How far ahead should I book using points? If I don't make my flight (since i'll be on non-rev), can I cancell my trip and get all my GR points back, or use them toward a future trip?
The GR points trip I plan on taking, is first class on Acela. I would really like to get my "points" worth, and ride the entire WAS to BOS trip. However I would also like to stop in NYC and PHL, but I don't think I can make stopovers on Acela, can I? I also need to use my upgrade coupons and ClubAcela passes before the end of Feb.
Here are the other trips I plan on taking.
Cardinal: IND- WAS (ClubAcela coupon in WAS)
City of NO: Jackson-NO
SW Chief: LAX - ABQ
Surfliner: LAX - San Luis Obispo (upgrade coupon)
Starlight: Sacramento-Portland
Downeaster: BOS- Portland
Regoinals: NYP-PHL (ClubAcela)
I'm also toying with Capitol Limited from PIT to WAS. Is it scenic? Which direction should I take?
Also 3 Rivers, Youngstown to PHL, before it shuts down. What direction should I take?
I'm also thinking of something in Florida on Silver Service.
The latter of the routes depend on money I have left, and time.
I will be writing trip reports, so please read them over the next few months!
If you have any pointers, please let me know. If you would like to join me, just send a message and maybe we can arrange something.
Chris