Central Region Award Destinations

[jmbgeg]

Later this year I should hit 60,0000 AGR points and have enough for a two zone round trip bedroom award at 60k or three zone one way bedroom award at 50k.

Let's focus on the two zone award. My home is in SPK, so I am on the EB line. My next trip is to CHI next week. More AGR miles. If I use a two zone RT bedroom award, I would travel first to CHI on the EB. I love Chicago and that could be my destination. If not, where do you suggest within the Central zone I travel that would be a qualifying connection with the 3:50 EB arrival and similarly connect on the return? I know that destination preferences are subjective in the eye of the beholder. I would stay two nights in the destination city and then return. Vacation.

My other options would be:

-Use a one way award in a bedroom SPK-CHI-NYP and visit New York. Return trip would be paid.

-Spokane>Chicago>Washington>Miami or Ft. Lauderdale on a one way award; paid return. Do you think that AGR would recognize that three train routing for award travel?

I really like the Florida idea (after hurricane season), even if the paid return costs a chunck of change.

Critiques?

 

[Ispolkom]

Later this year I should hit 60,0000 AGR points and have enough for a two zone round trip bedroom award at 60k or three zone one way bedroom award at 50k.
Let's focus on the two zone award. My home is in SPK, so I am on the EB line. My next trip is to CHI next week. More AGR miles. If I use a two zone RT bedroom award, I would travel first to CHI on the EB. I love Chicago and that could be my destination. If not, where do you suggest within the Central zone I travel that would be a qualifying connection with the 3:50 EB arrival and similarly connect on the return? I know that destination preferences are subjective in the eye of the beholder. I would stay two nights in the destination city and then return. Vacation.

My other options would be:

-Use a one way award in a bedroom SPK-CHI-NYP and visit New York. Return trip would be paid.

-Spokane>Chicago>Washington>Miami or Ft. Lauderdale on a one way award; paid return. Do you think that AGR would recognize that three train routing for award travel?

I really like the Florida idea (after hurricane season), even if the paid return costs a chunck of change.

Critiques?

Looking at Amtrak.com, it looks like they *want* you to go SPK-CHI-MIA, so that wouldn't be a problem. Another option that comes up (and should be bookable, though I know there have been problems) is Spokane-Chicago-Charlottesville-Richmond-Miami, taking the Cardinal between Chicago and Charlottesville and a bus from Charlottesville to Richmond. That would give you good scenery, but no baggage car on the Cardinal and a short bus leg. Since the Cardinal is generally a more expensive train, you could take that out and travel back to Spokane via Washington.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Later this year I should hit 60,0000 AGR points and have enough for a two zone round trip bedroom award at 60k or three zone one way bedroom award at 50k.
Let's focus on the two zone award. My home is in SPK, so I am on the EB line. My next trip is to CHI next week. More AGR miles. If I use a two zone RT bedroom award, I would travel first to CHI on the EB. I love Chicago and that could be my destination. If not, where do you suggest within the Central zone I travel that would be a qualifying connection with the 3:50 EB arrival and similarly connect on the return? I know that destination preferences are subjective in the eye of the beholder. I would stay two nights in the destination city and then return. Vacation.

My other options would be:

-Use a one way award in a bedroom SPK-CHI-NYP and visit New York. Return trip would be paid.

-Spokane>Chicago>Washington>Miami or Ft. Lauderdale on a one way award; paid return. Do you think that AGR would recognize that three train routing for award travel?

I really like the Florida idea (after hurricane season), even if the paid return costs a chunck of change.

Critiques?

Looking at Amtrak.com, it looks like they *want* you to go SPK-CHI-MIA, so that wouldn't be a problem. Another option that comes up (and should be bookable, though I know there have been problems) is Spokane-Chicago-Charlottesville-Richmond-Miami, taking the Cardinal between Chicago and Charlottesville and a bus from Charlottesville to Richmond. That would give you good scenery, but no baggage car on the Cardinal and a short bus leg. Since the Cardinal is generally a more expensive train, you could take that out and travel back to Spokane via Washington.

This one sounds really good, so does the NYP one,both are great trips,Im planning a similar one in the fall but not as much AGR travel!