AGR - Is this possible?

[ToltecQueen]

Hi there -

We are trying to figure out what to do with our points before the deadline. We are on the east coast and love the Empire Builder, the Coast Starlight, and the Zephyr. I have been running numbers and we can do the Builder in a bedroom for less in the new system from the east coast - but the Zephyr - is more economical with the old zone system if we are careful and if we fly to the West Coast.

What I am exploring right now is:

FLY - WAS to SEA

25K BR one Zone - SEA to DEN

#11 CS

#6 Zephyr

Stay in Denver for a few days

QUESTION - DEN to RAT on the thruway bus but needing to be one zone - so not sure how it works?

RAT to SEA -

#3 SWC

#14 CS

This is a guaranteed connection - and it seems to often make the connection.

But my concern is getting from Denver to Raton - and staying in the one zone BR redemption for 25K points.

This would cost us 50K points and still leave us lots of points for an Empire Builder trip in 2017 using the new system.

Thoughts? Advice?

Thanks!

 

[Train2104]

I would just book the DEN-RAT ticket through Greyhound. $28-32 depending on your travel date.

 

[ToltecQueen]

Thanks Train2104 - I will look into that.

 

[PaulM]

The real question is, is DEN to SEA via RAT a published route? If so, its one zone since Raton is on the boundary.

 

[Ryan]

It isn't. Just 5/14.

 

[ToltecQueen]

We are doing two trips - 25k BR - SEA TO DEN

staying in Denver

Then RAT to SEA - 25k points BR

We decided on a one way car rental to RAT where we will take a slow drive down the east side of rpthe front range, visit Capulin and then catch the SWC to the CS.

We are east coast. Ironically the CS is turning into our most ridden long distance train over the past few years. In the points system it is a great deal.

Still have about 40k points that we will rollover and hope for the best. I dislike flying - but I didn't want to use all our points and my vacation time going XC and we love DEN so the compromise is to fly to Seattle - but those are airline points that only allow RT. 30k RT per ticket.

Finalizing details deadline is soon.

 

[the_traveler]

fly to Seattle - but those are airline points that only allow RT. 30k RT per ticket.

Check your FFP rules. Some airlines (like AA and DL) now allow one way redemptions for 1/2 the cost of RT. I used this last year twice.

 

[Tennessee Traveler]

I have used one way redemption on AA with Aadvantage Miles regularly for several years. I have just now started flying and accumulating miles with Southwest and do not know their policy. I do a lot of one way flying because living in Nashville, TN, I fly from Nashville to begin all my Amtrak trips and usually fly home from a different airport near the end of my Amtrak trip.

 

[jebr]

Southwest will let you redeem for one-way trips with points (I think the policy is that you can redeem points at the ratio of 90ish points per $1 in fare, at least at the "Wanna Get Away" fare level.)

 

[ToltecQueen]

Points are through USAA credit card for flying. I use them because for 30k points I can book up to $500 fare. But only RT.