Amtrak Guest Rewards 2.0 Coming January 2016

[PRR 60]

As someone who did point runs to maintain Select Plus status... I am sad to see these changes and devaluation of my points. A horrible change to AGR in my opinion. I have 280,000 points left. I will enjoy Select Plus for 2016... but will never see it again after 2/28/17. If I have to drop $5000 a year on travel to maintain S+... no thanks. Id rather just pay for annual legacy club membership in Chicago and use that 5000 dollars on the Canadian, a much more enjoyable experience. Atleast I have 4 months to widdle my balance as close to 0 as possible under the old zone system. Looks like AGR and Amtrak will be losing us as customers and a 10 year Select Plus member. More road trips and when I need my train fix... VIA. Will probably only ride short hauls around the Midwest when absolutely necessary.

If you are S+ going into 2016, you get a 50% Tier Point bonus on all paid travel (25% for S, and 100% for SE). $3334 in paid travel will be required to maintain S+ into 2017.

With the new program kicking in on January 24, I can see a lot of low cost points runs taking place in the first three weeks of January.

EDIT: A clarification has been received from AGR. The earned elite bonus points will NOT be considered tier qualifying points.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

 

[George K]

So, lemme get this straight. The number of points i need for travel is dependent upon the fare - "revenue based" - right?

IOW, the number of points I need to travel varies with the bucket, is that right?

 

[rtabern]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

Agreed. Where do you see that PRR? Tier bonus now getting bonuses toward maintaining statuses?

 

[The Davy Crockett]

And if true, it would be a regressive system and would certainly keep people from trying to get to the next tier.

PS: Hi Robert!

 

[pennyk]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

Agreed. Where do you see that PRR? Tier bonus now getting bonuses toward maintaining statuses?

Under redeem points. I will try to copy, but I'm not sure how it will show up.

2016 POINTS ESTIMATORSelect your tier status, and enter your class of service and ticket price to see what your points are worth. The points estimator is a guide to how many points you could earn or redeem for Amtrak travel.

CLASS OF SERVICE

• Coach
• Business
• Sleeping Car
• Business - Acela
• First - Acela

SINGLE LEG TICKET PRICE$ESTIMATE

MEMBER TIER

• MEMBER
• SELECT25% TIER POINT BONUS
• SELECT PLUS℠50% TIER POINT BONUS
• SELECT EXECUTIVE100% TIER POINT BONUS

EARN
1,200POINTS
REDEEM
13,800POINTS

Where will your points take you?


Estimates based on ticket price/class of service. Point estimates are based on single train ticket for a single passenger and should be used for estimating purposes only. Not all fares will qualify for point earning and redeeming.

 

[George K]

Ah! Here's something I like:

Coming in 2016, you‘ll be offered a combination of points and cash during the booking process for tickets, so you can spend less of both.

I've had that option for hotels and it's worked out well for me. Nice to see that I have the option of either or both for planning.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

So basically to keep your tier you will have to either swallow the devaluation; or be retired, independently wealthy, have a job you can do 'on the road,' or quit one's job. so one can do a heck of a lot of riding.

PS: Where are my manners? :blush: THANKS Penny!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

So basically to keep your tier you will have to either swallow the devaluation; or be retired, independently wealthy, have a job you can do 'on the road,' or quit one's job. so one can do a heck of a lot of riding

So, which is it for you TDC?

 

[rrdude]

So basically to keep your tier you will have to either swallow the devaluation; or be retired, independently wealthy, have a job you can do 'on the road,' or quit one's job. so one can do a heck of a lot of riding

So, which is it for you TDC?

Don't let Davy fool you......... He's been a "kept man" for years. He just rides wherever and whenever the urge hits him!

btw, I booked this two weeks ago:

• San Diego-Klamath Falls (Family Bedroom)
• Visit with Family, camp in Redwoods.......
• Klamath Falls-Sacramento, Sacramento-Chicago, Chicago-Baltimore Penn, via Cardinal (Bedroom)

Down to about 8K points

I cannot say I'm uber disappointed in the new AGR. It's pretty much what I expected, paralleling South West and others. I do like the NO BLACKOUT, and "Cash+Points" options.......

For long rides within one zone, like the Wolf Point to Denver, it's a real bummer for those who used to redeem that as a "Single Zone".

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Now Dude, be nice!

I 'fell of the cliff' last year and didn't even make Select. They gave me a soft landing to Select from S+, but I'm going to burn points and not even make Select this year.

VIA, OTOH....

 

[PRR 60]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

Agreed. Where do you see that PRR? Tier bonus now getting bonuses toward maintaining statuses?

Go to the "2016 Points Estimator." The "Member Tier" columns for the elite levels are labeled "xx% Tier Point Bonus." To me, that means the 50% bonus points for Select Plus will be considered Tier Points. I guess it is worth checking on that. Sometimes AGR and Amtrak use language that is not exactly precise.

EDIT: and that is exactly what happened here. The earned tier bonus points will not count toward tier status qualification.

 

[rrdude]

Maybe I missed this in the "fine print"

Say I book X Trip 11 months out, and the sleeper fare is $345. Then I check back 6 weeks out, and the same sleeper fare is $295.


Currently, if I call the Amtrak Rezzy center, and ask them to re-price, I'll either get a refund, OR, an e-voucher for the difference. How will they handle this with points being LINKED to cost?

 

[jis]

So can we somehow convince the AU Gathering Committee to decide the location and dates for the 2016 Gathering before Jan 24th?

I removed the part I had posted trying to make the point that the FAQ says nothing about tier point when it talks about bonus. Since it appears to have enhanced the confusion rather than reduce, I removed the entire lot of it.

The more important point remains that if the AU Gathering dates and location becomes available by the 24th of Jan, I can do a free round trip using current redemption rules. But if not then it will probably be the big silver bird and not Amtrak, unless of course, I get a big bonus this year, and decide to avail of that opportunity to make a tier or two using paid tickets.

Admittedly, the points and dollars thing might make some of the western LD travel more palatable than just a points based thing possibly. So we'll have to see how it works out when the full details are available.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

But jis, that only covers Business class and Acela.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, as was said,it's about what I expected! Let's just say that the way I see it, most of us won't be riding Amtrak as much, and as for obtaining status, that will be much pricier and will see the numbers of members retaining/obtaining status really plummet.

It's Good for business and affluent travelers, bad for those of us that paid for point runs and like to share redemption travel with others.

The 10% and 20% Cancellation/Modification Point Penalty seems especially Draconian! This really rewards only the High Roller SE Members! Seems fair right? NOT!!!

The rush to book trips at the old redemption before the Jan. 2016 deadline should make for some full Trains on the popular and scenic Routes, and also see many more of us riding in Roomettes instead of Bedrooms.

Also I'm thinking that since the 100 Point Minimum is going away on point runs, that the numbers in Coach for "shorts" out here in flyover country where there are so few trains, and off the Corridors, will really be declining!

Just like Rob and Kandace, looks like I'll be doing my Long Trips on VIA ( in the Winter when they are affordable) instead of Amtrak, and definitely using SWA,Alaska Airlines, Mega Bus and even Driving for my shorter trips like Day trips! I too will not be seeing any Status with AGR but mine will be ending 2/28/16.

Now we await the details on the new AGR Credit Cards, this seems to be our only hope for any good news out of this "New and Improved" AGR2.0.

Welcome to the continuing saga of "Let's copy the Airlines!" from Amtrak and AGR.

As old Walter used to say, "And that's the way it is!" It sure was fun while it lasted!!!! Sigh

 

[pennyk]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

Agreed. Where do you see that PRR? Tier bonus now getting bonuses toward maintaining statuses?

Go to the "2016 Points Estimator." The "Member Tier" columns for the elite levels are labeled "xx% Tier Point Bonus." To me, that means the 50% bonus points for Select Plus will be considered Tier Points. I guess it is worth checking on that. Sometimes AGR and Amtrak use language that is not exactly precise.

Bill, I think we both may have misinterpreted.

 

[PRR 60]

Are bonus points now going to be TQPs? It doesn't seem to indicate that on the "Sneak Preview" that I could tell.

Agreed. Where do you see that PRR? Tier bonus now getting bonuses toward maintaining statuses?

Go to the "2016 Points Estimator." The "Member Tier" columns for the elite levels are labeled "xx% Tier Point Bonus." To me, that means the 50% bonus points for Select Plus will be considered Tier Points. I guess it is worth checking on that. Sometimes AGR and Amtrak use language that is not exactly precise.

Bill, I think we both may have misinterpreted.

Yep, we have. I changed my prior absolutely wrong posts.

 

[Paulus]

Much more useful for corridor service I think, especially with the monthly pass redemptions.

 

[chrsjrcj]

I don't think it's too bad of a points devaluation even for someone like me (living in S. Florida) who benefits from the way the zones are set up. Using the estimator, a low bucket roomette on SM to DC is just a hair under 15k points.

I'll be interested to see how the pay+points thing works out. I also like no more blackouts. I'll wait and see, but after I burn up my points now I'll probably misty use my points for coach travel in the future.

As much as I like the current system, the move makes sense for Amtrak. The new one is a lot better than I expected, but I guess all the details aren't out yet.

 

[printman2000]

Maybe I missed this in the "fine print"

Say I book X Trip 11 months out, and the sleeper fare is $345. Then I check back 6 weeks out, and the same sleeper fare is $295.


Currently, if I call the Amtrak Rezzy center, and ask them to re-price, I'll either get a refund, OR, an e-voucher for the difference. How will they handle this with points being LINKED to cost?

Reward Ticket Modifications & Cancelations

• For modifications on one-way, round-trip or multi-segment reward travel, the following will apply: Points difference (to new prevailing fare) will apply in all cases with a 10% points penalty withheld on any fare difference returned to member
• If modifying a non-sleeper ticket within 24 hours prior to departure, or a sleeper ticket within 14 days prior to departure, an additional "close-in" penalty of 10% of the points redeemed will be collected (waived for Select Executive).

[*]For modifications to reward travel on a multi-ride ticket, the following will apply:

• Before first ride, a full exchange in point value will be issued without penalty
• No exchange value in points after first ride or after expiry—whichever comes first

[*]For modifications to reward travel on a monthly pass, the following will apply:

• Full exchange value in points prior to valid month
• No exchange value in points on or after first day of valid month

[*]For cancelations on one-way, round-trip or multi-segment reward travel, the following will apply:

• A 10% points penalty is assessed for any refund (redeposit) back to the member account.
• If canceling a non-sleeper ticket within 24 hours prior to departure, or a sleeper ticket within 14 days prior to departure, an additional "close-in" penalty of 10% of the points redeemed will be collected (waived for Select Executive)

[*]For cancelations to reward travel on a multi-ride ticket, the following will apply:

• Points are refunded minus 10% point penalty if unused and unexpired
• Redemption non-refundable if first trip used or if ticket expired

[*]For cancelations to reward travel on a monthly pass, the following will apply:

• Points are refunded—minus 10% point penalty—prior to first day of valid month
• Redemption is non-refundable on or after first day of valid month

[*]A "no-show" for any segment will result in forfeiture of points and travel for that segment, as well as all subsequent segments in the itinerary. A "no-show" is defined as a passenger's failure to travel on a segment from its origin without first canceling that portion of the itinerary.

 

[jis]

The new scheme will encourage people to forgo discounts when they need just that extra few points to vault a tier line.

Also, it naturally takes care of issues like, how do you handle a Sleeper that does not include meals for the purposes of redemption. It will naturally cost fewer points.

On the whole this is really good for Amtrak from basic revenue recognition perspective and also simplifies the administration of the AGR program and cost accounting it.

Now only if they'd make it possible to buy sleeping accommodation without food packaged into the fare without removing the Diner from the train, thus allowing one to use the Diner when they want/need it. I think they may be able to command a slightly higher fare on a train with Diner than one without, even when food is not included in the ticket.

The 7,000-ish points needed for a low bucket Roomette in Dinerless Star from KIS to NYP looks pretty good! Of course by then except for a few days in late Jan, the Diner will be back and we will be upto 12,000-ish instead. That would be a lot of food for 6,000 points!

 

[printman2000]

I just used the points esitmator and checked on my next years trip (1 zone) and my last years trip (2 zone). Both actually used fewer points thant the zone system. Of course, that is as they are priced right now. If the prices go up, that very well could change. But both were 5000-7000 fewer points.

 

[Bob Dylan]

But jis, that only covers Business class and Acela.

Yep, and How fair is that? The most expensive tickets, Sleeping Cars, dont earn a Bonus!

Only the "desired" Corridor passengers that ride on Acela and in Business Class and have their tickets paid for by someone else!

Sounds like whoever planned this thinks civilization ends @ the Potomac!

 

[George K]

I just used the points esitmator and checked on my next years trip (1 zone) and my last years trip (2 zone). Both actually used fewer points thant the zone system. Of course, that is as they are priced right now. If the prices go up, that very well could change. But both were 5000-7000 fewer points.

My April trip to Portland and back from CHI (bedroom) is now 28K points more.