Converting from a paid reservation to an AGR award

[jmbgeg]

I am fully aware that AGR can't process a paid reservation and Amtrak's regular and Select reservation lines can't do an AGR reservation. Otherwise I could call AGR to cancel my first reservation (below) and rebook AGR.

I made a long distance reservation using the Select line over the weekend and have until the 6th to pay for it. Decided that I may want to pull 40,000 miles for a round trip bedroom award instead of paying $1,784 for the ticket. Problem is that rooms are sold out on the first leg. If I cancel the standard reservation to free up the space to make the AGR award, any idea how fast the cancelled room(s) should pop back up in available inventory? That's kind of rolling the dice...

 

[AlanB]

The room should return to inventory almost immediately, the problem is you have to be quick.

And I'm not sure what happens if there is a wait list. In that case, it is possible although unlikely, that the room is not returned to inventory.

 

[jmbgeg]

The room should return to inventory almost immediately, the problem is you have to be quick.
And I'm not sure what happens if there is a wait list. In that case, it is possible although unlikely, that the room is not returned to inventory.

I once waitlisted a request for a paid bedroom. I kept watching the website for a room to become available. It did. Six hours later they had not assigned me the room from the waitlist (and I had been told I was #1 on the list. I called back and only then did they assign me the room. Waitlist sometimes works; othertimes not.

 

[jmbgeg]

The room should return to inventory almost immediately, the problem is you have to be quick.
And I'm not sure what happens if there is a wait list. In that case, it is possible although unlikely, that the room is not returned to inventory.

Good news to report. I made the change today. Very helpful AGR CSA.

First he checked available bedrooms on my dates and routes (EB and CS). He found out what I knew. On some legs there were no bedrooms or family bedrooms.

Next he booked my return AGR legs first, and grabbed available bedroom space.

Lastly, he patched through a three way call with an Amtrak CSA; had me confirm that I wanted to cancel my standard reservation, and at the momment I cancelled my first reservation, he grabbed the bedrooms I needed for my outbound AGR legs. Masterful work. Both agents were great. It made my day and saved me almost $1,800. On the other hand, I dropped from just short of 120,000 AGR points to just under 80,000. Once I get back up to 80,000, that's once again an available two zone bedroom award or two one zone RT's. My three zone bedroom RT is back off in the horizon.

 

[AlanB]

Way cool!

Glad to hear and see that there are AGR agents out there that will go the extra mile for members. Making a three way call is above and beyond.

 

[jmbgeg]

Way cool!
Glad to hear and see that there are AGR agents out there that will go the extra mile for members. Making a three way call is above and beyond.

And the total time the AGR agent was on the line with me was 30-40 minutes. Very diligent agent.