2 Millionth AGR Member Promotion

[ALC Rail Writer]

Well I'm out-- the CL is sold out on the 20th, it doesn't matter which direction y'go-- coach seats are sold out.

 

[jmbgeg]

Just got the e-mail and registered for a share of the 2,000,000 AGR points Amtrak will be handing out for travel on 8-20-09. It says points will post by 10-1-09, and will not post with other points earned on that day.
LINK

In my opinion, Amtrak would stimulate a lot more incremental travel if eligibility for this promotion applied to all August 2009 travel.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

This promo gave me the perfect excuse to squeeze in a "train day," starting with a run on the Heartland Flyer down to FTW, where I'll dish out $5 and grab an all day pass and ride the Trinity Rail Express over to Dallas Union Station-that will be my first ride on those funky looking Bombardier doubledeckers, and if I'm lucky, I may get a chance to ride the Budd RDCs as well. Just over an hour in DAL before I turn back to FTW and a Heartland Flyer ride back to Norman. Total train cost including the TRE just a few cents above $45. Not bad considering I'll be stacking on those extra Summer Bonus Points as well!

 

[espeefoamer]

I will be travelling on 8-20. Now I have to decide whether I will ride to SAN or SBA. :unsure:

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

Just got the e-mail and registered for a share of the 2,000,000 AGR points Amtrak will be handing out for travel on 8-20-09. It says points will post by 10-1-09, and will not post with other points earned on that day.
LINK

In my opinion, Amtrak would stimulate a lot more incremental travel if eligibility for this promotion applied to all August 2009 travel.

Then everybody would get rewarded a fraction of a point!

 

[sky12065]

This promo gave me the perfect excuse to squeeze in a "train day," starting with a run on the Heartland Flyer down to FTW, where I'll dish out $5 and grab an all day pass and ride the Trinity Rail Express over to Dallas Union Station-that will be my first ride on those funky looking Bombardier doubledeckers, and if I'm lucky, I may get a chance to ride the Budd RDCs as well. Just over an hour in DAL before I turn back to FTW and a Heartland Flyer ride back to Norman. Total train cost including the TRE just a few cents above $45. Not bad considering I'll be stacking on those extra Summer Bonus Points as well!

Why do I get a gut feeling that if you bought points for $41.25 to receive 1691 points (based on 1500 points and includes current bonus and CC points) that you might make out better than what you'll wind up receiving when the final distribution per person is established? That is, unless you really want to take the time (or is that do the time :unsure: )and do the traveling!

I know it's a gamble :huh: to "do the buy" instead of "do the travel," but it is an alternative one could consider who only does the traveling for the offer.

 

[Bob Dylan]

This promo gave me the perfect excuse to squeeze in a "train day," starting with a run on the Heartland Flyer down to FTW, where I'll dish out $5 and grab an all day pass and ride the Trinity Rail Express over to Dallas Union Station-that will be my first ride on those funky looking Bombardier doubledeckers, and if I'm lucky, I may get a chance to ride the Budd RDCs as well. Just over an hour in DAL before I turn back to FTW and a Heartland Flyer ride back to Norman. Total train cost including the TRE just a few cents above $45. Not bad considering I'll be stacking on those extra Summer Bonus Points as well!

Why do I get a gut feeling that if you bought points for $41.25 to receive 1691 points (based on 1500 points and includes current bonus and CC points) that you might make out better than what you'll wind up receiving when the final distribution per person is established? That is, unless you really want to take the time (or is that do the time :unsure: )and do the traveling!

I know it's a gamble :huh: to "do the buy" instead of "do the travel," but it is an alternative one could consider who only does the traveling for the offer.

A perfect example Joe of dilemas faced by those with gaps in the system!I get the impression that the Op wants/needs :lol: to make this trip anyway!Im making a similar trip later this month(AUS-DAL-FTW-AUS)both for the points and the train

rides,with the various bonus programs,using the AGR MC etc. Ill get more points than I can buy and they are RAIL MILES!

Those of us lucky enough to have short day trips available on AMTRAK(ie AUS-TAY-AUS which I will take on 8/20 and

the travelers famous(or is that infamous?LOL)PDX-VAN,WA-PDX return)will use these,I understand your point and wish

everyone was fortunate enough to be able to hop on a train for a day trip!

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

This promo gave me the perfect excuse to squeeze in a "train day," starting with a run on the Heartland Flyer down to FTW, where I'll dish out $5 and grab an all day pass and ride the Trinity Rail Express over to Dallas Union Station-that will be my first ride on those funky looking Bombardier doubledeckers, and if I'm lucky, I may get a chance to ride the Budd RDCs as well. Just over an hour in DAL before I turn back to FTW and a Heartland Flyer ride back to Norman. Total train cost including the TRE just a few cents above $45. Not bad considering I'll be stacking on those extra Summer Bonus Points as well!

Why do I get a gut feeling that if you bought points for $41.25 to receive 1691 points (based on 1500 points and includes current bonus and CC points) that you might make out better than what you'll wind up receiving when the final distribution per person is established? That is, unless you really want to take the time (or is that do the time :unsure: )and do the traveling!

I know it's a gamble :huh: to "do the buy" instead of "do the travel," but it is an alternative one could consider who only does the traveling for the offer.

The schedule of the HF is perfect for a nice 1 day escape, and since I've already hoofed enough shoe leather in downtown FTW, I'll take this chance to try out the TRE and be able to sit back ON A TRAIN and think about those poor souls who have no train nearby to enjoy. If I just wanted the points, I'd dump my car in Purcell the night before, ride back with a friend, enjoy 15 big minutes on the HF next morning and have it all over long before lunch.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

This promo is pretty interesting. I'm still not sure if its worth it. I understand it comes with the summer promo points on top. I could run out to Yonkers, NY for a few bucks, then take MetroNorth home. It would be like $60 while part of me is think, take advantage of Summer Promo Points, and go to Boston on Acela...then whatever points come out of this promotion are a bonus...

 

[transit54]

Well, I just bought my ticket. $7.65 (NARP) from Waterbury to Essex Jct, VT. I'll take the commuter bus down after work (free for me, as I work for the transit agency) and hop on the train back to Essex, then the bus home. I'm mostly interested in how many points I get - in fact, I'd probably be less inclined to do this if this was a more defined promotion. But even if I end up getting 20 or 30, that's 220 or 230 points for $7.65 between the base 100 rail points and the summer promo. Not a bad deal in my book.

 

[Rumpled]

Dang, the Angels are out of town that day.

Might have to make a pure points run.

Fares have gone up, so my cheapest trip is $7.20 to Santa Ana.

Or maybe I'll spring for a $7.65 to San Juan Cap.

I could return either by Metrolink (gotta check schedules on that) or have a long dinner/drinks and Amtrak back later that night.

 

[the_traveler]

I feel the same way!

If I didn't have travel planned for that day anyway, I may not have "traveled to earn points". But since I had already planned my trip to depart PDX on 8/20, and need to purchase a ticket for a segment that day, it works out for me! (BTW: I purchased this ticket months ago.)

So I'll take the extra 20-50 points or whatever it works out to be. (I'd rather it be 2 million - but I don't want to be too greedy! :lol: ) I was planning on only 100 points, but with the summer bonus it is now 200 points - so I'll be happy with "only" 220 points!

 

[Ispolkom]

I feel the same way!
If I didn't have travel planned for that day anyway, I may not have "traveled to earn points". But since I had already planned my trip to depart PDX on 8/20, and need to purchase a ticket for a segment that day, it works out for me! (BTW: I purchased this ticket months ago.)

So I'll take the extra 20-50 points or whatever it works out to be. (I'd rather it be 2 million - but I don't want to be too greedy! :lol: ) I was planning on only 100 points, but with the summer bonus it is now 200 points - so I'll be happy with "only" 220 points!

And didn't you save money anyway on this ticket because of the recent Empire Builder sale? You've got all the angles covered.

 

[the_traveler]

Yes! :lol: (Somebody has to do it - and the_traveler is happy to comply! )

 

[ScottC4746]

When I saw this promo, I immediately started thinking about how I could use it. The problem is that I only have the Empire Builder to work with. I even came up with the route with the shortest layover, St. Paul-Staples-St. Paul. The problem is that train #7 leaves MSP at 11:15 p.m. and gets to Staples at 1:42 a.m. Train #8 reaches Staples at 4:09 a.m. and gets me back to St. Paul at 7:05 a.m.
Hmm, more than two hours in Staples in the middle of the night when the only thing working is their one traffic light? For probably a few hundred AGR points? I'm too old for that stuff.

Now if I lived somewhere trains traveled more frequently...

I remember in the 80's I took Sunset from Houston to San Antonio and slept in the train station until the Sunset the other direction came through. I have a healthy respect for the homeless now...no fun sleeping on a bench.

 

[The Metropolitan]

Well, I'm booked #151 BAL-WAS on this thing, taking a loooooong detour on the way to work. I know my luck and probably would have not gotten my ticket lifted in time if I'd have only booked to BWI.

"Uh, yeah, this is the Conductor, hold at the BWI platform, I'm calling the Police, got a man here thrusting a ticket in my face screaming something about bonus points!"

Since it was only $2 more, it seemed like a nicer deviation, and since I have the power points stacked on top of a Triple points promo, I know it'll merit at least 425 points, plus whatever this promo's bonus winds up to be.

Sort of wanted to ride back on the B&O, but I just didn't feel like getting up extra early to get #67. Still time to change my mind.

 

[RailFanLNK]

I'm debating as well. For me to pull it off, I pretty much sleep from Lincoln to Hastings on the #5, have about 1 hr layover than flip around and sleep from HAS to LNK. The departure times are 12:08am from LNK and 2:42am in HAS. Arrive back to LNK at 4:42am and then possibly sleep in my car or drive home for two hours more sleep. I will go nuts if it ends up being worth 2000 points or more or at least something considerable, I will be PO'ed if its a measly 45 points or something like that. Then....remember, are we going to have to fight tooth and nail to get the dang points which seems to be more of the norm anymore than the abberation?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'm debating as well. For me to pull it off, I pretty much sleep from Lincoln to Hastings on the #5, have about 1 hr layover than flip around and sleep from HAS to LNK. The departure times are 12:08am from LNK and 2:42am in HAS. Arrive back to LNK at 4:42am and then possibly sleep in my car or drive home for two hours more sleep. I will go nuts if it ends up being worth 2000 points or more or at least something considerable, I will be PO'ed if its a measly 45 points or something like that. Then....remember, are we going to have to fight tooth and nail to get the dang points which seems to be more of the norm anymore than the abberation?

We lucky ones who have convient connections/short runs feel your pain as Bill Clinton said,and the fight tooth and nail for bonus points and the amount

that we end up with may be -50 if millions ride that day(theres this Nigerian Prince waiting to give you $$$$$ :lol: )but as the traveler says:

anyone train with me on it is a good train!If I were a betting man Id wager that you probably will decide to go since you are a member of AU and theres not much hope for us!!!LOL

 

[Bob Dylan]

When I saw this promo, I immediately started thinking about how I could use it. The problem is that I only have the Empire Builder to work with. I even came up with the route with the shortest layover, St. Paul-Staples-St. Paul. The problem is that train #7 leaves MSP at 11:15 p.m. and gets to Staples at 1:42 a.m. Train #8 reaches Staples at 4:09 a.m. and gets me back to St. Paul at 7:05 a.m.
Hmm, more than two hours in Staples in the middle of the night when the only thing working is their one traffic light? For probably a few hundred AGR points? I'm too old for that stuff.

Now if I lived somewhere trains traveled more frequently...

I remember in the 80's I took Sunset from Houston to San Antonio and slept in the train station until the Sunset the other direction came through. I have a healthy respect for the homeless now...no fun sleeping on a bench.

Well the old Sunset Station benches were much more comfortable than the seats in the "new" AMSHAK in SAS!Longest night of my life

was spent waiting on the TE in that place,as Bill Clinton says, "I feel your pain"-at least it wasnt Beaumont!!!! :lol:

 

[RailFanLNK]

My name is Al and .....I'm Amtrakholic!

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

It's interesting that they are going to reveal an important business number, which might otherwise be confidential information: the number of customers who take advantage of a one-day promotion. Whether there are 1000 of us or 20,000 or 2 million (doubtful), we are going to know the number! (Divide 2 million by the number of points we get). That is, unless they play around with the numbers, which there is plenty of time to do before the promised posting date.

 

[transit54]

It's interesting that they are going to reveal an important business number, which might otherwise be confidential information: the number of customers who take advantage of a one-day promotion. Whether there are 1000 of us or 20,000 or 2 million (doubtful), we are going to know the number! (Divide 2 million by the number of points we get). That is, unless they play around with the numbers, which there is plenty of time to do before the promised posting date.

Well, I'd argue that the number isn't all that important, given the uniqueness and uncertainty of the promotion. Besides, I'd have to guess that such information is available via a Freedom of Information Act request to Amtrak, given that they're a public corporation.

 

[ScottC4746]

Just got the e-mail and registered for a share of the 2,000,000 AGR points Amtrak will be handing out for travel on 8-20-09. It says points will post by 10-1-09, and will not post with other points earned on that day.
LINK

Actually I am taking a vacation day that day and then go FUL-LAX-FUL.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Happiness is walking down to the mailbox and finding an Amtrak envelope with train tickets in it, in this case the ones for my 20 AUG run

 

[the_traveler]

My name is Dave ... and I'm an Amtrakholic.

I've heard there may be a cure in PDX or LAX or CHI or BHM or SAS or DEN or ABQ or BOS or WAS or SAC or ...! So I must keep riding to them until I find it! :lol: (I hope I never do! )