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I very rarely do. I've generally found that there's a long list of exclusions for what they'll cover, and most that I've looked at don't pay out just because you're delayed anyways - there has to be additional expenses occurred and you generally have to have some proof of onward connection that...

Optimistic that we'll get a full week's notice! I'm waiting for the card to just randomly decline one day and that'll be my notice. 😶

Question: have you heard all of this from an Amtrak employee with knowledge of the situation? I wouldn't read too much into what a front-line agent is currently saying about the future of the AGR card, particularly when it comes to specific details. When the card went from Chase to BoA I did...

For me a lot of it will depend on whatever the new bank has for underwriting standards, particularly with newly opened accounts. I've been chasing a lot of sign-up bonuses lately and so if it goes to Chase, for example (and falls under their 5/24 rule) I'll probably be waiting at least a couple...

The PHL - NYP $19 is the "saver" rate, which isn't available for points redemption. It looks like "value" fare is around $72 or 2,556 when I look at July 20 right now, which is 2.816 cents/point. ELT - PHL has no saver fare available, so the cheapest is value fare (undiscounted is $30 on July...

Points are generally worth approximately 2.89 2.816 cents each, based on the undiscounted, non-saver-fare rate, with a minimum of 800 points per segment. I believe Acela trains have a slightly worse redemption value, and some holidays Amtrak will charge significantly more in points than what the...

The government-mandated airline protections are extremely weak. The involuntarily denied boarding (IDB) protections: Only apply if the flight is overbooked on the day of travel; if there's a cancellation before check-in, it does not fall under IDB rules. Generally does not apply if equipment...

Amtrak has two trains a day in MSP. From the beginning of the year until 6/1, 54 of 118 eastbound trains have been delayed more than an hour, and 15 of 118 westbound trains have been delayed. That's not counting the 8 westbound trains and 16 eastbound trains that either were cancelled, in...

Sure, different things will drive different people away. I think on the whole airlines are generally more reliable, but each person only gets a small window with personal experiences and I don't easily have the data to show one way or the other. I will say that airlines have a much bigger...

For me, FlightRadar24 is really good at seeing what's happening right now for different planes in the sky. However, it's not as user-friendly at seeing particulars about a specific trip later in the day, especially if you want to see what's currently happening with the plane you'll be taking...

If this comes to pass, I really think it'd be a positive strong precedent to have for passenger rail. It's not flashy and there'll be no ribbon-cutting, but giving Amtrak additional leverage and tools to use when host railroads refuse to fulfill their legal obligations to Amtrak and run trains...

Of course, there's no Acela Business Class running to Chicago. Although I'd be happy to lose lounge access if it meant that there was 150mph rail service out of Chicago!

There's a difference between keeping the amenity as-is (particularly when any additional capital cost is a ways out) and building out significant new infrastructure and/or staffing to expand the service, or when large investments to keep the service come up to question its need at that time. I...

Why is checked luggage in particular the priority? My spouse (who's fairly short) prefers to carry-on her luggage onto a plane or train due to concerns about checked luggage getting lost - so for her, I would imagine that having more-accessible onboard storage areas and level boarding (so that...

IMO the breakfast pricing is still reasonable considering it's on a train. Our local Denny's charges $12.29 for a veggie omelet with potatoes and toast, plus $3.69 for orange juice or $3.49 for a coffee and $3.99 for four sausage links. Assuming the breakfast comes with a side, an equivalent...

I've found this to generally be the case as well. There's been times where it's just been easier to drop off my bag the night before at the station, or pick it up the next day, and it's never been a problem. I guess I haven't stress tested the limits of it, but I would have no hesitation in...

My bonus points just posted! Nice little boost to think about using on some upcoming trips.

Part of the issue for Amtrak is that many platforms are too short to hold the passenger consist + baggage car. Some of them require two stops already if there's both coach and sleeper passengers at the station. In those cases, it'd likely be impossible to have the baggage car plus all relevant...

VIA's up to 4 full days on the train (Toronto - Vancouver is 4 days 1 hour 15 min.) The Canadian is a wonderful on-board experience, but it's terrible as a transportation method. Pre-COVID Amtrak did the entire trip as well, albeit with transfers, and it ran daily and took less time than VIA...

I've never booked it myself, but according to the Amtrak website it's only for passengers with a disability "who travel with a wheeled mobility device." However, there's also a later part that says that you'd just have to self-certify that you need "one of the features of the accessible room...