St Petersburg,FL - Dearborn,Mi 2 Zones???

[Rail Freak]

This cant be true, can it? Just got off the phone with AGR. The agent told me that STP-DER is 2 zones. I said to her " STP-TOL is one zone, but if I take that bus to Dearborn, it's 2??? She said "Yep"!!! Tell me it aint so!!!!!

 

[the_traveler]

Is it possible to pay for the bus from TOL? Or worst case, redeem to CLE (1 zone) and pay for the rest (1 stop & the bus).

 

[PRR 60]

This cant be true, can it? Just got off the phone with AGR. The agent told me that STP-DER is 2 zones. I said to her " STP-TOL is one zone, but if I take that bus to Dearborn, it's 2??? She said "Yep"!!! Tell me it aint so!!!!!

Can't tell you it ain't so because it is so. The zone boundaries are hard and fast. Detroit is a zone boundary, and Dearborn is west of Detroit, so Dearborn is in the Central Zone. When it comes to AGR award travel and the zone system, sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you. With Florida to Dearborn, the AGR zone bear is very hungry.

You could ask if you could book the bus as paid travel thus ending your AGR trip within the Eastern Zone. The bus requires a connecting train reservation, which technically you would have. There are some indications that the practice of combining award and paid travel is running into issues, but it might be worth a try. You could also just take the bus as far as Detroit. That would be one zone.

 

[Rail Freak]

The problem is, I dont drive,but I quess that's my problem! Well Dearborn, I aint gonna be seeing that museum after all!!!

Thanx

 

[Rail Freak]

I could get out of bed at 3am , switch to a coach seat in Cleveland. No, that's right, according to the AGR Agents that Z-17 has been talking to, I would have to deal with the 'Forced Stopover Rule', which would mean getting a Hotel for the night in Cleveland & then pay $70 for CLE-DER!!! WHEW!!!!!!

 

[PerRock]

Is it even possible to get from the Dearborn Amtrak station to The Henry Ford (I presume that is the museum your referring to) without a car?

peter

Edit: Google Maps says it's possible, not really straight forward however, involves a mile+ walk. So if your up for that much walking, you might be better just walking to the museum instead. Getting there from Detroit isn't that bad, bout an hour & half city bus ride, although these are Detroit Transit City Buses, so idk if I would take them.

PS. Locations in Michigan aren't the best to get to on Amtrak from the East Coast.

 

[Rail Freak]

Is it even possible to get from the Dearborn Amtrak station to The Henry Ford (I presume that is the museum your referring to)?
peter

I have no idea. I'm still working on getting to Dearborn!!! But if I must spend points for a 2 zone trip, you can bet your bippie I'll be flying to LAX & starting my train portion from there! (on the Texas Eagle) :hi:

 

[the_traveler]

Or just head down to Sarasota or Ft Myers (I forget which) and see Henry Ford's winter home! And also his next door neighbor's winter home, Thomas Edison! Both museums are great, and the two properties are next to each other.

 

[crescent2]

You usually have good luck with AGR. Will they let you combine a 1-zone award with a paid ($$) segment?

If not, is there a way to book travel from your ending city in the eastern zone to Dearborn that doesn't involve Amtrak? Then you could take a taxi to and from the museum.

I could get out of bed at 3am , switch to a coach seat in Cleveland. No, that's right, according to the AGR Agents that Z-17 has been talking to, I would have to deal with the 'Forced Stopover Rule', which would mean getting a Hotel for the night in Cleveland & then pay $70 for CLE-DER!!! WHEW!!!!!!

On that note, I also phoned AGR and got a No to redeeming two awards without a forced overnight stopover. Count me in the boat with Z 17. The agent was very pleasant and helpful with other questions, and seemed sure of the policy. I can't book it yet, anyway, because it's too far in the future. Hoping Insider can provide some help with that policy before time to book.

 

[I always rode the Southern]

If I had to use a 2 zone I would definitely try to get more bang for my points by going to Chicago and then IF AGR allows a reward and cash, the wolverine to Dearborn which is $33. If AGR does not allow us to use our awards like this, as they always have before, it will definitely affect my loyalty to them. (I can always book a 2 zone to chicago, so amtrak loses nothing if I add $33 to take a trip to dearborn from there) Disallow it and it may cost them my $$$ in the long run.

 

[railbuck]

Book a one-zone award to Toledo.

Then buy a paid ticket for the rest of the trip. Using multi-city search, enter Toledo to Dearborn as segment one (which will give you the bus) and Dearborn to Detroit as segment two (on the Wolverine). This will cost $6 more than the bus by itself, but you can't book the bus by itself anyway.

Since there's over 5 hours between the bus and the train, if you happen to take a walk and get distracted on your way back to the station and miss your connection, it's not likely anyone will notice.

If you're returning the same way, combine the bus from Dearborn to Toledo with coach from Toledo to Sandusky (first stop), then start the award. If your room is unoccupied they may let you move in right away, or if you do need to stay in coach it's less than an hour.