At least for long-distance riders the new program is going to cost A LOT more points. Whereas before, travel was calculated by zones, now it will be based on the cost of each leg of the trip. I calculated that for each dollar the trip costs it will require 34.5 points. Do the math. The first trip I calculated was a 63% increase in points required with the new program versus the present reward program based on zones. Reward travel is not free. We pay for it either by train travel or by purchases using the Amtrak credit card. When it takes a million points to take a trip people will simply switch to using a more beneficial reward credit card. Who loses? Everybody.
From my messing around for a few minutes with the AGR Estimator for 2016 I see RailSpike's point...for some passengers. Here's what I found:
Lake Shore Limited CLE-NYP roomette is $296, bedroom $446* (I'm a senior).
Currently that costs 15,000 points (roomette) or 25,000 points (bedroom).
New system: 10,212 points roomette) or 15,377 points (bedroom)
*when the bedroom jumps to $731 the cost is 25,220 points.
So I'll save points, lots of them, on the Lake Shore Limited. RailSpike is correct, however, about the effect on the California Zephyr. A roomette from CHI to EMY ($885) will cost 30,533 points instead of the current 20,000. A bedroom priced at $1460 will now cost 50,370 instead of the current 40,000.
The AGR wizards giveth and the AGR wizards taketh away.
What is the current rate of earning points on the AGR? $1.00 = 1 AGR point?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm: It is 1 point for $1 when one uses the Chase credit card.
I calculated 2 seniors from Houston to Seattle in a bedroom. Now 40,000 points. New program will require 75,700-- a 60% + increase.
RailSpike: When I look at a Houston to Seattle routing I think I see two different trains, hence a cost of 65,000 points. It seems to me that 40,000 points would get one from Houston to Los Angeles. To get on the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle would require another 25,000 points, or 65,000 total points (today). Amtrak figures $2,081 for two bedrooms (one on each train), or 71,795 points under the new program. To me that's a 9.46445% increase in required points.
How did you come up with 40,000 points? Are you sure you figured 2 trains?
I have an Amtrak Guest Rewards account if for nothing more than to signal my Corporate Travel Agency that I can travel also by rail. I have only redeemed points on one LD trip and I have always wondered how the card results in loyalty outside Amtraks Corridor services. I think Amtrak could do better with revenue enhancement without the card.
Also, it is good to FINALLY see that Amtrak is starting to encourage intermodalism with the Airlines in the NE Corridor.
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/Marketing/CustComm/Promotions/Pages/Amtrak.aspx
Also that they are finally engaging with the Hotel Frequent Stay program.
http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/earn-use-points/exchange/airline-rail/index.html
You can get 40,000 points in the Hilton Program just by signing up with their credit card and then transfer the points to Amtrak which would result in 20,000 Amtrak points.
Indirectly you can even convert American Airlines Advantage Miles into Amtrak points....
http://www.ehow.com/how_8028036_convert-aa-miles-amtrak.html
I figured 2 seniors in a bedroom from Houston to LA in July 2016= 43,263 points. Change trains from Sunset Ltd to Coast Starlight 2 seniors in a bedroom from LA to Seattle= 32,499. Total 75,762. I stand corrected. As of today, one zone each on two different trains would require 50,000 points. A 52% increase.
Say goodby to the Chase credit card. I just got my official notice that the program will be discontinued at the end of this month. I wonder just who was in the sensing group that provided false data on what the program participants wanted.
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