Amtrak Guest Rewards

[AlanB]

So in either case I'd rather pay cash (well, credit card).

And of course - get some more points! :lol:

If only I had good credit! That would seem to be the best way to get AGR points, using one of their cards...

It's probably not a bad way to earn points, but I'm not sure that it's the best way and it's certainly not the only way. I joined the program within the first week of Amtrak offering it. I've never had an AGR credit card, yet I've redemed points for Amtrak trips totaling 275,000 points.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

So in either case I'd rather pay cash (well, credit card).

And of course - get some more points! :lol:

If only I had good credit! That would seem to be the best way to get AGR points, using one of their cards...

It's probably not a bad way to earn points, but I'm not sure that it's the best way and it's certainly not the only way. I joined the program within the first week of Amtrak offering it. I've never had an AGR credit card, yet I've redemed points for Amtrak trips totaling 275,000 points.

But you use(d) the Acela a lot... FC even, at somebody else's expense. When you're on your own, like I am... hell, a one-zone reward seems like a miracle.

 

[the_traveler]

It's probably not a bad way to earn points, but I'm not sure that it's the best way and it's certainly not the only way.

But you use(d) the Acela a lot... FC even, at somebody else's expense. When you're on your own, like I am... hell, a one-zone reward seems like a miracle.

Personally speaking for myself, i have only been on Acela a few times (mostly because AE does not stop at KIN and because of the cost - I pay for it myself). Most of my points come from using the credit card. We are a family of 4, and I buy mostly "luxuries" - like gas and food. My average bill is $1,500 to $2,000 a month. Computed for a year - that's a free trip for doing what I would pay for anyway!

 

[Long Train Runnin']

"luxuries" - like gas and food.

:lol: Living large in RI :lol:

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

It's probably not a bad way to earn points, but I'm not sure that it's the best way and it's certainly not the only way.

But you use(d) the Acela a lot... FC even, at somebody else's expense. When you're on your own, like I am... hell, a one-zone reward seems like a miracle.

Personally speaking for myself, i have only been on Acela a few times (mostly because AE does not stop at KIN and because of the cost - I pay for it myself). Most of my points come from using the credit card. We are a family of 4, and I buy mostly "luxuries" - like gas and food. My average bill is $1,500 to $2,000 a month. Computed for a year - that's a free trip for doing what I would pay for anyway!

I use my Chase debit card for rewards points, it's kind of fun-- things I guy anyway (including my tuition) end up earning me 4 points to the dollar. The AGR card is a great way to keep earning AGR points even on the months I sometimes go without traveling. I don't buy things on credit, really. I have one credit card and I find out when I am going to get paid and buy something on the card then pay it back, usually even before I get my statement. I can't tell you how many statements show that I made $800 in transactions in a month but that I owe them nothing.

It's too bad credit is so tight right now, otherwise I think I'd have a shot at getting the AGR card-- the problem is I wonder if they're going to stop using that program someday when I do have good enough credit and then *poof* the option is taken away from me!

 

[JayPea]

I use my AGR credit card for just about every purchase, be it gas (of which I don't use much, maybe 20 gallons/month), food, and all my bills, as well as miscellaneous purchases. I only wish I could talk my landlord into accepting credit cards for rent! :lol:

I notice that 1-800-Flowers.com has a limited time offer: 25 points for every $1 spent. All I can say to that is Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!! :lol:

By using the Buy Points option, especially now that there is now no $15 surcharge, and with my usual spending habits, I earn enough for a 2-zone roomette trip each year. Next year, right after the first of the year, I plan to buy the whole entire 10,000 point maximum limit at one time. At my place of employment, you get five sick days a year, and if you don't use them, you get a year-end check for the days you don't use. Since I never miss work and wouldn't use sick pay if I did, it amounts to a nice Christmas bonus....far larger than the $275 needed to purchase that many points. What a great Christmas present to myself......purchasing bonus points!!! That 10,000 will put me well over the amount needed for a 2-zone bedroom award. Where to go next year???? :lol:

 

[Shanghai]

I use my AGR credit card for most of my purchases. My biggest mistake I made was to give my wife a card, so now I get many AGR points, but have to pay the bill!!

I agree with The Traveler, one might as well get points for the purchases. If you pay cash, you get nothing!! Between my travels and credit card, I manage to collect several thousand points each year. I will take a trip to visit a cousin in Montana, my sister in California and to ride the infamous Sunset Limited.

 

[Railroad Bill]

I just picked up some additional points today on my Chase MC by paying for our foursomes' golf greens fees and then just collecting the cash from the other three guys. Make a deposit into the bank account later.

I am now known as the "Amtrak Golfer" by the club houses. Several have decided to get a card and do the same thing with their group.

The only problem now is the other guys in the group say they might shut me off since all these free Amtrak trips takes me away from the golf game

Oh well it looks like I am going to miss the group for another two week trip soon

Railroad Bill in very sunny/warm northern Ohio

 

[the_traveler]

The only problem now is the other guys in the group say they might shut me off since all these free Amtrak trips takes me away from the golf game

You mean they're going to run you out of town - on the rails? :lol: