AGR Points vs Rail points

[boxcar479]

When I check My AGR acount balance it shows, Point Balance:5010

Rail Points: 0

What is the difference between Points vs Rail Points? I thought once I gained 5000 Points I would gain Select status.Can someone tell me the deifference?

 

[BeckysBarn]

Rail points are for actual train travel. Your total AGR points may or may not include rail points. In your case, the total does not include rail points. Looks like you haven't traveled on a train using your AGR number since January 1, 2010.

 

[Ryan]

Rail points are only earned by actually riding trains at a rate of 2 points per dollars spent.

Rail points are the only points that count towards status - points earned by other means (AGR card, points for shopping, bought points, bonus points (from promotions, status, etc)) aren't good towards select status but can be redeemed for trips.

Edit: Becky also correctly pointed out that your rail points "reset" every January 1st - you only earn status by earning 5,000 rail points in a calendar year.

 

[Guest]

Rail Points = Base points earned by traveling Amtrak. 2pts/$ or 100 pts minimum or 500/750 for Acela city pairs. No S/S+ bonus, no promos.

Points = everything else.

 

[DivMiler]

"Rail Points" are the points you have earned in the current calendar year by actual Amtrak travel (and not including bonus points from promotions). This number is less than or equal to your total point balance. The amount of the "Rail Points" is useful only for determining if you have earned Select or Select Plus during the current calendar year.

The Point Balance includes points earned from Amtrak travel, bonus points from promotions, the Amtrak Guest Rewards Shopping Mall, the Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard from Chase, and elsewhere.

 

[the_traveler]

As stated, rail points help determine Select or Select+ status by actual rail travel during the calendar year. (That is from January 1 to December 31 only!)

If for instance the only travel you did was on Dec 23, 2009 (when you earned 3,520 rail points) and January 4, 2010 (where you earned 3,293 rail points), you still would not have earned Select status. That is because 3,520 count for 2009 and the other 3,293 count for 2010! So neither 2009 or 2010 would have earned over 5,000 rail points during that calendar year!

 

[boxcar479]

As stated, rail points help determine Select or Select+ status by actual rail travel during the calendar year. (That is from January 1 to December 31 only!)
If for instance the only travel you did was on Dec 23, 2009 (when you earned 3,520 rail points) and January 4, 2010 (where you earned 3,293 rail points), you still would not have earned Select status. That is because 3,520 count for 2009 and the other 3,293 count for 2010! So neither 2009 or 2010 would have earned over 5,000 rail points during that calendar year!

So Since I earned 5010 points all in Dec. 2009 I achieved select status if only just for a short time <_< . I will be getting an earlier start this year and take advantage loopholes . THANKS GUYS

 

[the_traveler]

So Since I earned 5010 points all in Dec. 2009 I achieved select status if only just for a short time <_< . I will be getting an earlier start this year and take advantage loopholes . THANKS GUYS

Unless ALL of your 5,010 points were from TRAIN TRAVEL ONLY during 2009, you would not be Select! (NOT from signing up for AGR, NOT for shopping, NOT for bonuses like double points, etc... - only train travel!)

 

[AlanB]

So Since I earned 5010 points all in Dec. 2009 I achieved select status if only just for a short time <_< . I will be getting an earlier start this year and take advantage loopholes . THANKS GUYS

Unless ALL of your 5,010 points were from TRAIN TRAVEL ONLY during 2009, you would not be Select! (NOT from signing up for AGR, NOT for shopping, NOT for bonuses like double points, etc... - only train travel!)

If you actually did earn 5010 rail points in Dec, then your Select Status will be valid until February 28, 2011.

But again the key is, were all those points just from riding Amtrak? If any part of that 5010 was a bonus, even the sign up bonus of 500 points, then you did not achieve Select status.

 

[Ryan]

So Since I earned 5010 points all in Dec. 2009 I achieved select status if only just for a short time <_< . I will be getting an earlier start this year and take advantage loopholes . THANKS GUYS

Unless ALL of your 5,010 points were from TRAIN TRAVEL ONLY during 2009, you would not be Select! (NOT from signing up for AGR, NOT for shopping, NOT for bonuses like double points, etc... - only train travel!)

If you actually did earn 5010 rail points in Dec, then your Select Status will be valid until February 28, 2011.

But again the key is, were all those points just from riding Amtrak? If any part of that 5010 was a bonus, even the sign up bonus of 500 points, then you did not achieve Select status.

Er, 28 Feb 2010, right?

 

[DivMiler]

If you actually did earn 5010 rail points in Dec, then your Select Status will be valid until February 28, 2011.
But again the key is, were all those points just from riding Amtrak? If any part of that 5010 was a bonus, even the sign up bonus of 500 points, then you did not achieve Select status.

Er, 28 Feb 2010, right?

No, AlanB is correct. (Of course!)

 

[Guest]

If I am reading this correctly, rail points expire after a year. So, does that mean this is true?

You buy 10k points in May

You earn 2.5k points from travel in July

You have 12.5k points until Dec 31, after that you only have 10k???????

 

[boxcar479]

If you actually did earn 5010 rail points in Dec, then your Select Status will be valid until February 28, 2011.
But again the key is, were all those points just from riding Amtrak? If any part of that 5010 was a bonus, even the sign up bonus of 500 points, then you did not achieve Select status.

Er, 28 Feb 2010, right?

No, AlanB is correct. (Of course!)

BUBBLE BURSTERS

Just means i gotta try harder!!!! But you guys were right about how i earned the points some were sign on bonus some were from the fall promotion.. Now I understand. Once again many thanks

 

[Ryan]

If you actually did earn 5010 rail points in Dec, then your Select Status will be valid until February 28, 2011.
But again the key is, were all those points just from riding Amtrak? If any part of that 5010 was a bonus, even the sign up bonus of 500 points, then you did not achieve Select status.

Er, 28 Feb 2010, right?

No, AlanB is correct. (Of course!)

It would help if I remembered that it was 2010 already! Right theory, wrong application!

Guest, the points don't expire - you'll still have 12.5k, but none of them will count towards status.

 

[Rail Freak]

If I am reading this correctly, rail points expire after a year. So, does that mean this is true?
You buy 10k points in May

You earn 2.5k points from travel in July

You have 12.5k points until Dec 31, after that you only have 10k???????

Here I go again, talking before double checking but, I thought you had 3 years to travel????

RF

 

[KayBee]

If I am reading this correctly, rail points expire after a year. So, does that mean this is true?
You buy 10k points in May

You earn 2.5k points from travel in July

You have 12.5k points until Dec 31, after that you only have 10k???????

Here I go again, talking before double checking but, I thought you had 3 years to travel????

RF

No, points dont ever expire if you take a train trip at least once every three years

At least until you use them! :lol:

 

[DivMiler]

The only reason to be concerned about Rail Points is if you are trying to reach Select or Select Plus. Otherwise, just look at your Point Balance. I'll likely never reach Select or Select Plus, so I don't really look at the amount of Rail Points I have. However, I have over 80,000 points from travel and other sources -- I keep an eye on the Point Balance!

(And make sure you have an Amtrak points-earning trip at least once every three years!)

 

[Trogdor]

The term "rail points" is just a confusing label within AGR that really should be renamed.

Instead (and I did submit this suggestion to them, but they simply responded by explaining to me what I already knew), they should be called "Select Qualification Points." Because that's exactly what they are. They have no bearing on your total point balance, they have no relation to when your points expire, and they do not in any way impact your ability to redeem points for free travel (or any other award).

It is merely a counter for the number of points you've accumulated in the calendar year which can qualify you for Select (or Select-Plus). Hence my suggestion of "Select Qualification Points" (and, to make it even less ambiguous, they should put the year in there as well, so it might be "2010 Select Qualification Points" in the header). If you're familiar with major airline frequent flyer programs, they tend to show a mileage balance, and another row for "elite qualification miles." This would be a similar concept. But, alas, we'll continue to have confusion as they choose to use the ambiguous term "rail points."

 

[frugalist]

(And make sure you have an Amtrak points-earning trip at least once every three years!)

If I last earned rail points on October 13, 2009, does this mean I would need to take another rail points-earning trip by October 13, 2012 to avoid having all my AGR points expire? Or is it based on a full calendar year, giving me until December 31, 2012?

Of course, as we all know, the world will end on the Winter Solstice 2012 when the Mayan calendar ends. :lol: :lol:

 

[the_traveler]

(And make sure you have an Amtrak points-earning trip at least once every three years!)

If I last earned rail points on October 13, 2009, does this mean I would need to take another rail points-earning trip by October 13, 2012 to avoid having all my AGR points expire? Or is it based on a full calendar year, giving me until December 31, 2012?

Of course, as we all know, the world will end on the Winter Solstice 2012 when the Mayan calendar ends. :lol: :lol:

It's 3 years from the date of your last Amtrak travel.

If you took a trip on October 13, 2009 and had 50,247 points at that time, you would have until October 2012 to extent the points. If on June 24, 2012 you have 86,372 points (all the additional from your credit card, shopping, etc...) and tae a train, it would extend ALL 86,372 until June 24, 2015!

And that trip does not have to be a big trip If there is a $3 one way trip near you, and you can earn AGR points for it, that will reset the clock!

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

Rail points are only earned by actually riding trains...

...and Amtrak Thruway buses?

 

[the_traveler]

Rail points are only earned by actually riding trains...

...and Amtrak Thruway buses?

I believe so!

 

[AlanB]

Rail points are only earned by actually riding trains...

...and Amtrak Thruway buses?

I believe so!

Thruway buses and Thruway trains count towards rail points.

 

[transit54]

Thruway buses and Thruway trains count towards rail points.

What's an example of a Thruway train right now? Something like ACES because Amtrak handles the ticketing?

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

Thruway buses and Thruway trains count towards rail points.

What's an example of a Thruway train right now? Something like ACES because Amtrak handles the ticketing?

I believe the NJT Atlantic City line is one,