AGR Mileage Run

[transit54]

While this might be something a bit more suited to FT, I figured I'd throw this out here. I've decided that I'd like to make an attempt at Select status this year. Unfortunately, my airline employment has kept me off Amtrak for the most part, with a few exceptions. I'll probably need to accumulate about 3,800 points if I want to be sure I'll make it.

So I'm looking to do a few AGR mileage runs this year. I can basically start and end anywhere near an airport, though it would be easier to do something near the east coast to ensure I can get down and back from BTV in a day.

Here's what I've come up with: fly BTV-EWR, take a regional to PHL, and do short hops on the Keystone service all day, before going back to EWR and flying home. I looked into flying into PHL, but the times work out such that I end up having getting the same number of miles but I'll need to get up much earlier (and I'll get back later).

What I'd be planning to do is this:

EWR->PHL #185 8:27AM/9:34

PHL->PAO #609 10/10:23

PAO->PHL #646 11:10/11:35

PHL->PAO #43 12:42/1:12PM

PAO->PHL #650 1:16/1:42

PHL->PAO #645 1:35/1:59

PAO->PHL #42 2:19/2:50

PHL->PAO #647 3:45/4:09

PAO->PHL #652 4:37/5:05

PHL->ARD #651 5:35/5:47

ARD->PHL #654 6:04/6:25

PHL->EWR #196 7:02/8:20

It would net me 1,200 AGR points, with an additional 1,200 with the 2:1 promotion that's currently running (which, I know, can't be used towards select status, but its a nice bonus!).

Can anyone think of anything better than this? Any ideas for other mileage runs?

 

[PRR 60]

Pretty creative! There is one tight spot:

PHL->PAO #43 12:42/1:12PMPAO->PHL #650 1:16/1:42

PHL->PAO #645 1:35/1:59

A 4 minute connection at Paoli is a bit tight, and a -7 minute connection at PHL is even tighter.

 

[transit54]

Ah, thanks for noticing that. The fixed version of the schedule sends me down the NEC a bit and gives me yet another 4 minute connection. If I miss that, there's an Acela that will still get me back to PHL in time to make the follow connection, but I'd rather not pay for that. I have a reputation for making very tight connections, so as long as everything is on time, I should be able to do it. If not, I'll just go to the nearest ticket window and sort out an alternate plan. From PAO I can always take SEPTA back to PHL and vice-versa.

EWR->PHL #185 8:27AM/9:34

PHL->PAO #609 10/10:23

PAO->PHL #646 11:10/11:35

PHL->PAO #43 12:42/1:12PM

PAO->PHL #650 1:16/1:42

PHL->WIL #171 2:13/2:34

WIL->PHL #186 2:39/3:03

PHL->PAO #647 3:45/4:09

PAO->PHL #652 4:37/5:05

PHL->ARD #651 5:35/5:47

ARD->PHL #654 6:04/6:25

PHL->EWR #196 7:02/8:20

Here's the plan if I just fly into PHL:

PHL->PAO #641 9:00AM/9:23

PAO->PHL #662 9:41AM/10:09AM

PHL->PAO #643 11/11:23

PAO->PHL #646 12:17/12:43

PHL->PAO #645 1:35/1:59

PAO->PHL #42 2:50/3:25

PHL->PAO #647 3:45/4:09

PAO->PHL #652 4:37/5:05

PHL->ARD #651 5:35/5:47

ARD->PHL #654 6:04/6:25

PHL->ARD #642 6:42/6:54

ARD->PHL #656 7:07/7:23