BALtoNYPtraveler
Train Attendant
I looked over the new program specifications, and also used the point earning and point redeeming estimator. It looks like the new system will benefit some (maybe not all.) I think it makes more sense than zone restrictions.
Anyway, an example is that a one-way ticket from BAL to NYP or vice versa is about $52 at the cheapest, generally, and would cost 4,000 points now as I understand it. But the estimator said it would be 1,794 points under the new system. So it appears that I'll get more rides for my points after January. Let me know if I am misunderstanding something.
The estimator also said that I would earn about 260 points for buying that theoretical $52 ticket. You can play with the estimator and put any ticket price you want in there, like $100 or any amount. For the $52, it's showing 104 points earned (2 points per dollar) plus 156 points earned for using the world card (that's 3 points per every dollar of Amtrak purchases, so that's $52 times 3 to equal 156.) Add it all together and it's 260 total.
Of course, they didn't even factor in double points which are in effect some of the time but not all of the time. Anyone else having fun with the points estimator? Do I understand it correctly - that for some of us, benefits will increase after January since we won't have to use a "one ticket value fits all" model to get a free ticket within our zone? 1,794 points sounds better than 4,000 points to me.
No one addressed one of my previous questions, though. In the current system, can the points be used to book a trip anytime, or must they be booked well in advance? For example, a trip two months from now would most likely cost less than one for tomorrow. Can 4,000 points be used to book a one-way in my zone for either scenario?
Anyway, an example is that a one-way ticket from BAL to NYP or vice versa is about $52 at the cheapest, generally, and would cost 4,000 points now as I understand it. But the estimator said it would be 1,794 points under the new system. So it appears that I'll get more rides for my points after January. Let me know if I am misunderstanding something.
The estimator also said that I would earn about 260 points for buying that theoretical $52 ticket. You can play with the estimator and put any ticket price you want in there, like $100 or any amount. For the $52, it's showing 104 points earned (2 points per dollar) plus 156 points earned for using the world card (that's 3 points per every dollar of Amtrak purchases, so that's $52 times 3 to equal 156.) Add it all together and it's 260 total.
Of course, they didn't even factor in double points which are in effect some of the time but not all of the time. Anyone else having fun with the points estimator? Do I understand it correctly - that for some of us, benefits will increase after January since we won't have to use a "one ticket value fits all" model to get a free ticket within our zone? 1,794 points sounds better than 4,000 points to me.
No one addressed one of my previous questions, though. In the current system, can the points be used to book a trip anytime, or must they be booked well in advance? For example, a trip two months from now would most likely cost less than one for tomorrow. Can 4,000 points be used to book a one-way in my zone for either scenario?