Redeem AGR points online?

[sunchaser]

I know this is probably in the wrong spot on the forum, but I wanted you all to see it. Check out what I found on the Amtrak site. Click here

Is this new? Has anyone tried it yet? It does say one way only.

Feel free to move it to the appropriate location!

 

[Ryan]

You've always been able to book a one way, coach only, no connecting trains ticket online - it doesn't look like this can do much more?

 

[Trogdor]

You've always been able to book a one way, coach only, no connecting trains ticket online - it doesn't look like this can do much more?

While it's true that this feature has been up there for a while, to say that one could "always" do that is untrue.

IIRC, this feature has been available through Amtrak's website for about two years or so.

A long time ago (around when AGR started, or shortly thereafter), it was possible to book unreserved tickets using AGR's website (I did this once). The tickets were then mailed to you, as there was no option to have them picked up at a station. The form at that time was very low tech, and really just generated a request to AGR and an agent still had to process said request manually.

This option was dropped some time around 2003-2004 or so, whenever it was that all NEC trains became reserved. With only a couple of unreserved routes left, the ability to book award travel online was discontinued. The ability to book reserved coach has only been around since that feature was added to Amtrak's website in the last two years or so.

 

[the_traveler]

The restriction right now is that you can only book coach travel on a direct train. You could book a coach reward online from BOS-WAS or CHI-LAX - because those are the same the same train. However, You could not book an award ticket online from NHV-PGH or RNO-BFD - because you need to change trains! And you can not book sleeper awards online. Those you have to call AGR.

 

[sunchaser]

My apologies.

I was under the impression that AGR points could not be redeemed online.....I thought it was a 'new' feature. I had not noticed this feature before, so I thought it was new.