No annual fee Continental Mastercard

[Guest]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/1...annual-fee.html

 

[manderson]

It appears that one can transfer Continental Airlines points to Amtrak points if one is a member of the AGR "frequent traveler" program. Is that all members, or just Select? If it's for all members, this looks like a slick way to snag 25,000 to 30,000 points. Join Continental OnePass, get the credit card, earn 25,000 points, transfer to AGR points, cancel card within one year to avoid the annual fee.

Is there some catch I'm missing?

 

[AlanB]

You can always transfer points into AGR. What you cannot do as easily is to transfer points out of AGR. Too many people used AGR as a clearing house to move points around, some times even multiplying the points several times, so AGR had to restrict points going out.

Now to transfer points out of AGR you either need to have Select or Select Plus status, or you must have the AGR Credit card and have made at least one purchase on that credit card for Amtrak travel in order to transfer points out. Bottom line is that AGR wants to see that you're actually traveling on Amtrak before they'll let you transfer points out. They don't want to be a point laundering service, especially if you're not using Amtrak for travel.

 

[the_traveler]

It appears that one can transfer Continental Airlines points to Amtrak points if one is a member of the AGR "frequent traveler" program. Is that all members, or just Select?
...

Is there some catch I'm missing?

No, it's for all members! The restriction is only to transfer OUT OF AGR to CO - NOT from CO to AGR! (For AGR to CO, you need the AGR MC and a required level of spending.)