Points for Rail Fare - Cash for Upgrade

[ExtonFlyer]

Hey folks,

Hope you can help. I am trying to reserve an upcoming trip using a combo of points and cash. I want to use points to cover my railfare from PHL-CIN next week and then pay cash to upgrade to a sleeper. After getting passed around from reservations to AGR to reservations and back to AGR - I got a little dizzy.

Basically they told me I'm out of luck, I can only pay cash for everything - or use points for everything. Does this policy seem right? If so, anyone have any ideas to get around it?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

ExtonFlyer

 

[the_traveler]

Yes, you can only pay cash for the whole thing, or pay points for the whole thing. An AGR award for coach includes the rail fare. An AGR award for a sleeper includes the room PLUS THE RAIL FARE! So you either need 5,500 points for a 1 zone coach award, or 15,000 for a 1 zone sleeper award. The only way you could pay to upgrade to a sleeper is to do an onboard upgrade - assuming there are any rooms available once you get on.

Besides AGR can not touch a paid reservation, and an Amtrak agent normally can not touch an AGR award ticket reservation.

 

[ExtonFlyer]

Yes, you can only pay cash for the whole thing, or pay points for the whole thing. An AGR award for coach includes the rail fare. An AGR award for a sleeper includes the room PLUS THE RAIL FARE! So you either need 5,500 points for a 1 zone coach award, or 15,000 for a 1 zone sleeper award. The only way you could pay to upgrade to a sleeper is to do an onboard upgrade - assuming there are any rooms available once you get on.
Besides AGR can not touch a paid reservation, and an Amtrak agent normally can not touch an AGR award ticket reservation.

Thanks Traveler - I do appreciate your insight.

Yeah, since the upgrade to sleeper was only $100 - I didn't want to part with 15,000pts. I'm going to go the all cash route . At least I'll get the double points on my AGR mastercard

 

[Kevin]

It is possible to BUY Rewards Points. It takes a day or to for you purchase to show on your account but that's one way around your problem.

 

[the_traveler]

OP said the upgrade to sleeper was only $100 - to buy the 9,500 additional points (between a coach award and a sleeper award) would cost over $250!

Buy a ticket for $100 more, or buy points for $250+ to redeem an AGR award! Something doesn't seem right! :blink:

 

[ExtonFlyer]

It is possible to BUY Rewards Points. It takes a day or to for you purchase to show on your account but that's one way around your problem.

Thanks Kevin - I actually have plenty of points - I'm just being stingy 15,000 points for a sleeper that only costs $100 didn't feel right. I used 15,000 points earlier this year for a sleeper PHL-TPA - that would have cost $480++. Saving my points for trips like that!