Ideas for AGR Amtrak Travel Awards

[jmbgeg]

I use my AGR points for sleeper awards. Here are a couple of ideas for new award categories:

-Half off paid roundtrip fare award: Some of the hotels and other travel providers have offered 50% off purchase price awards for a certain point redemption level. What about an award where you could purchase a sleeper rail fare and accomodation for 50% of the best available fare for a roomette, family bedroom or deluxe room? If they wanted to limit the number of redemptions, limit it to rooms avilable 7 or 10 days from departure. That could help clear remaining room inventory. Others might argue that it would be wrong-headed because it would discount high bucket fares.

-Require less points for a round trip award than a one way: Allow for round trip awards at 80% or 90% of two one way awards.

Let's see who agrees or disagrees. :unsure:

 

[BeckysBarn]

How about paying the coach fare & upgrading, with points, to a sleeper.

I do like the 50% off ideas.

 

[Bob Dylan]

How about paying the coach fare & upgrading, with points, to a sleeper.
I do like the 50% off ideas.

Ill go with this idea,its excellent!!!

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

That's all well and good-- but AGR already allows such crazy routings that you are able to get a 50% return on the amount you spent to get those points...

I think the AGR system is already more than fair.

 

[Neil_M]

I think the AGR system is already more than fair.

Only if you live in the US or Canada.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

I think the AGR system is already more than fair.

Only if you live in the US or Canada.

Oh cry me river.

 

[Neil_M]

I think the AGR system is already more than fair.

Only if you live in the US or Canada.

Oh cry me river.

Not crying child, just making a point.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

Well considering Amtrak is a national rail network for the USA-- I don't see why they should have to go through hoops to please people from the UK with AGR. Provide good service, always. But you have some serious entitlement issue with Amtrak-- it doesn't owe you more than anybody else. Your lame criticisms of AGR could easily be said for those of us who live outside the NEC or West Coast...

 

[Neil_M]

Well considering Amtrak is a national rail network for the USA-- I don't see why they should have to go through hoops to please people from the UK with AGR. Provide good service, always. But you have some serious entitlement issue with Amtrak-- it doesn't owe you more than anybody else. Your lame criticisms of AGR could easily be said for those of us who live outside the NEC or West Coast...

If you pay cash to travel on Amtrak then why should your country of residence matter? National network for the US? So only US citizens can use it?

"Going through hoops"?? Drivel. Utter drivel. How would me being in the UK make any difference to Amtrak?

How is it any different to you being a member of BA's frequent flyer scheme or me being in Continental's?

If you are a customer of an organisation, then why are some people excluded from any reward scheme? When I was in Portland earlier in the year a coffee shop offered me a card to get a free drink after buying 6, or something similar. How is that different to Amtrak AGR?

Proper explanation please, not your usual nonsense.

Ok, just did a quick maths session and my Amtrak mileage is just over 15,000. Less than some on here, but more than others, so why do I not get the same entitlement?

 

[rrdude]

I agree, I can think of no reasonable explanation of requiring living in the USA as a condition for membership. IF it's an "Administrative Burden" (costs more to mail tickets, handle disputes, etc., etc.) then simply slap a reasonable FEE on those who live outside USA.

As far as I can decipher, your money is just as good as my money to Amtrak. You paid them cash, you rode the trains, you DESERVE to accumulate the points.

I'm assuming that you have considered setting up "phantom USA address" and found this not acceptable?

(I've never read the fine print, on almost anything, let alone the AGR T&C, so forgive my ignorance)

 

[Neil_M]

I'm assuming that you have considered setting up "phantom USA address" and found this not acceptable?
(I've never read the fine print, on almost anything, let alone the AGR T&C, so forgive my ignorance)

The first line states you should be 'a resident of the US or Canada', so strictly speaking I suppose even just having a 'safe' address would be wrong, but I wonder what is the worst that can happen? Get booted out of the scheme and lose the points I don't get anyway?

Has anyone got a 'sensible' suggestion why this is so?

 

[Ispolkom]

If you are a customer of an organisation, then why are some people excluded from any reward scheme? When I was in Portland earlier in the year a coffee shop offered me a card to get a free drink after buying 6, or something similar. How is that different to Amtrak AGR?

I don't know why membership is restricted, but I do notice that this is a common feature to frequent traveler programs in both the United States and the United Kingdom. To join Virgin Trains "Traveller" scheme you have to be a resident of England, Wales, or Scotland. To join the Irish Ferries Frequent Traveller Scheme you have to be a resident of Ireland, Great Britain, or Northern Ireland.

Here's an exception: you can earn Continental miles traveling on SNCF trains.

 

[Upstate]

That's all well and good-- but AGR already allows such crazy routings that you are able to get a 50% return on the amount you spent to get those points...
I think the AGR system is already more than fair.

Thats right: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. More appropriately, if its broken in a fashion that is beneficial to you, count your lucky stars and don't complain. If they go and look at changing things they might realize some of their other ducks are not in a row.

It is full of agents that are clueless, problems posting some points, elite levels that are pretty much pointless outside of the NEC, and the list could go on. On the other hand I can call from eleven months out up until I think it is four hours before I want to travel and book a cross country trip and as long as the class of service that I want is available I can get it. Where else can you get that kind of availability with no additional miles/points.

 

[rrdude]

But let's think for a moment here. WHAT are these loyalty programs gonna do when you sign up using a "buddy's" address? Send the AGR police to your door, to verify that you live where you say you live? In this day and age of travel, many people spend half their time away from their "main" residence anyway.

Even if the TOC state "must be a resident", or "must reside in", or "must have to like to eat broccoli when it is snowing in Florida.." My point is to sign up anyway.

You spent the money, Amtrak earned the revenue, enjoy the points...............

 

[alanh]

I think it's simply that they don't want to mail to international addresses (apart from Canada).

 

[AlanB]

It is full of agents that are clueless, problems posting some points, elite levels that are pretty much pointless outside of the NEC, and the list could go on.

While I realize that I do live along the NEC and most certainly do get to partake of all of the benefits of elite status, personally I think the two biggest benefits are the special phone numbers that avoid Julie and get me to a live agent faster when I do need one and the 50% bonus points for every trip I take. I for one cannot imagine how taking a short run for say $20 one way and getting 150 points instead of 100 points is pointless.

At least in my book that is huge, earning 1.5 points every time you travel. Even at the Select level getting 1.25 points is still a big deal. Not quite as nice as Select Plus' 1.5, but still nice.

Sure it's great that I can pop into a Club Acela anytime I want, but if that was one of the major selling points for elite status, I sure wouldn't go out of my way to make sure that I attain Select + status. If it happened, great. But I wouldn't go take one extra ride that I didn't need to take just to attain that status. For that 50% bonus, I would take one more trip if need be to attain status.

 

[AlanB]

I think it's simply that they don't want to mail to international addresses (apart from Canada).

That may be a part of it, but I strongly suspect that Amtrak simply feels that they don't have enough potential members from other countries to go through the needed hoops to comply with the laws of each country that they open membership up to. And they do have to conform to the laws of any country if they open up membership to that country. There is a maze of regulations out there.

 

[jis]

I for one cannot imagine how taking a short run for say $20 one way and getting 150 points instead of 100 points is pointless.

Whether it is 100 or 150 points certainly it is not pointless. Afterall it *is* 100 or 150 point and that is quite pointful! :lol:

 

[Neil_M]

I think it's simply that they don't want to mail to international addresses (apart from Canada).

That may be a part of it, but I strongly suspect that Amtrak simply feels that they don't have enough potential members from other countries to go through the needed hoops to comply with the laws of each country that they open membership up to. And they do have to conform to the laws of any country if they open up membership to that country. There is a maze of regulations out there.

So go on then Alan, enlighten me. What possible regulations could stop me enrolling for AGR? After all, the airlines manage to deal with it, sometimes in several countries, I am sure BA wouldn't have a restriction on only UK residents joining the FF scheme. Why would the laws of the UK stop me joining? If I am a passenger with Amtrak in the US, and accept their T and Cs to travel, what difference would joining AGR make?

Sorry, dont buy it, or the postage cost thing, how much would it cost to send a welcome letter and maybe a membership card to the UK? A few dollars at most.

Hardly likely to tip the whole scheme into chaos is it?

 

[AAARGH!]

I think it's simply that they don't want to mail to international addresses (apart from Canada).

That may be a part of it, but I strongly suspect that Amtrak simply feels that they don't have enough potential members from other countries to go through the needed hoops to comply with the laws of each country that they open membership up to. And they do have to conform to the laws of any country if they open up membership to that country. There is a maze of regulations out there.

So go on then Alan, enlighten me. What possible regulations could stop me enrolling for AGR? After all, the airlines manage to deal with it, sometimes in several countries, I am sure BA wouldn't have a restriction on only UK residents joining the FF scheme. Why would the laws of the UK stop me joining? If I am a passenger with Amtrak in the US, and accept their T and Cs to travel, what difference would joining AGR make?

Sorry, dont buy it, or the postage cost thing, how much would it cost to send a welcome letter and maybe a membership card to the UK? A few dollars at most.

Hardly likely to tip the whole scheme into chaos is it?

As Alan said, there are regulations pertaining to membership in many countries. Of course BA and other arilines serve those countries and thus it is cost beneficial for those airlines to include them. However, as Amtrak does not serve anywhere outside of USA (and a bit of Canada), it makes no sense for them to spend the $$$ to include anywhere outside of theor service area.

Face it, you are on the wrong side of a cost / benefit equation. That's all.

 

[Neil_M]

As Alan said, there are regulations pertaining to membership in many countries. Of course BA and other arilines serve those countries and thus it is cost beneficial for those airlines to include them. However, as Amtrak does not serve anywhere outside of USA (and a bit of Canada), it makes no sense for them to spend the $$$ to include anywhere outside of theor service area.
Face it, you are on the wrong side of a cost / benefit equation. That's all.

But when I use Amtrak I am inside their service area...... Where I choose to live is of little interest to them.

Amtrak doesn't serve Hawaii or Alaska, but living there would be ok.

I still would like to know what these mythical 'regulations' are and how they work, if they exist at all.

 

[Ispolkom]

Sorry, dont buy it, or the postage cost thing, how much would it cost to send a welcome letter and maybe a membership card to the UK? A few dollars at most.Hardly likely to tip the whole scheme into chaos is it?

British rail frequent traveler programs don't allow non-British residents to join (at least this is true for the ones I glanced at). The Eurostar frequent traveler program requires its members to have an address in France, Belgium or the United Kingdom. Why should AGR be any different and allow membership of persons resident in countries Amtrak does not serve?

 

[Neil_M]

Sorry, dont buy it, or the postage cost thing, how much would it cost to send a welcome letter and maybe a membership card to the UK? A few dollars at most.Hardly likely to tip the whole scheme into chaos is it?

British rail frequent traveler programs don't allow non-British residents to join (at least this is true for the ones I glanced at). The Eurostar frequent traveler program requires its members to have an address in France, Belgium or the United Kingdom. Why should AGR be any different and allow membership of persons resident in countries Amtrak does not serve?

What sort of well reasoned and thought out argument is that? :lol:

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

Amtrak is subsidized by American tax dollars.

It's the same as it is anywhere else.

Your sense of entitlement is unjustified...

 

[Neil_M]

Amtrak is subsidized by American tax dollars.
It's the same as it is anywhere else.

Your sense of entitlement is unjustified...

So is Continental Airlines, but I bet I can join their loyalty scheme......

So if I am not an American tax payer, should I pay more for my fare?