Are points needed amounts increasing?

[buddy559]

Sorry, couldn't think of a better way to word this. I thought I had read a while back that the point levels for awards were increasing. (Or did they already do that?) I have looked through every topic I can think of and can't seem to find it.

Trying to save up for a 2 zone roomette trip (20k) , and hoping it wont be more than that by the time I earn enough.

 

[SarahZ]

I don't recall anything recent. I know the bedrooms went up about... a year ago, maybe?

 

[the_traveler]

A couple of years ago, some awards increased in the points needed. However, the Roomette award levels did not rise at all. (They were - and still are 15/20/35K.)

I have not heard anything regarding an increase in the point levels needed.

 

[benale]

I hope the two zone roomette award stays at 20,000. We want to book a trip for next year and I have been slowly building points. If there is an increase, I hope Amtrak will give ample notice, so I can book my trip before it takes effect.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

These were the changes which took effect on April 1st of 2012.

Acela Express First Class increased from 10,500 to 12,000 at 14.29%
Business Class - Northeast Zone increased from 6,500 to 7,500 at 15.38%
Coach Class - Northeast Zone increased from 3,000 to 4,000 at 33.33%
Business Class - Special Route increased from 1,500 to 2,000 at 33.33%
Coach Class - Special Route increased from 1,000 to 1,500 at 50.00%
Bedroom - One Zone increased from 20,000 to 25,000 at 25.00%
Bedroom - Two Zones increased from 30,000 to 40,000 at 33.33%
Bedroom - Three Zones increased from 50,000 to 60,000 at 20.00%
Rule Buster* - First Class - Acela Express increased from 18,500 to 19,000 at 2.70%
Rule Buster* - Business Class - Northeast Zone increased from 11,500 to 13,000 at 13.04%
Rule Buster* - Coach Class - Northeast Zone increased from 5,500 to 7,000 at 27.27%

Average increase just shy of 25%

 

[buddy559]

Thank you all! I may have run across it while reading older posts and just not realized the date.

I'm working on a dream rewards trip to save for, and was going to just do a roomette R/T for 30K 1 zone. But If I can get 2 zone for 10k more that seems like the most efficient use of points.

I am trying to learn how to use the rewards trips. It seems it would be hard to use a reward one way, and pay for the other way. If you end up not being able to find low(er) bucket on your paid leg, it could end up not being much of a value over just booking the trip paid at low bucket.

Right now I am thinking La Plata, MO - SWC and then the Coast Starlight to PDX? I think I can get there and back on both trains in a roomette for 40K points.

(Through LAX)