Why Are The Points So Much Different?

[John Bobinyec]

I was going to redeem some points on two trips:

From To Service Points

CYN CLT Carolinian 5500

CLT CYN Piedmont 1500

What????? If those tickets were purchased, the Piedmont is more expensive, because 76 on a Sunday night is a very popular train.

Why is the Carolinian over three times as expensive? Needless to say, I canceled that reservation and paid for the ticket. I'll use up my points on the Piedmonts instead.

jb

 

[BCL]

Piedmont is a "special route" with a 1500 point coach and 2000 point business class redemption. I'm guessing your route on the Carolinian is considered a one-zone coach redemption.

I went SEA-EMY on the CS as a one-zone coach redemption for 5500 points.

 

[BCL]

Follow up:

https://amtrakguestrewards.com/redeem/amtrakTravel/a23f28

COACH CLASS - SPECIAL ROUTES

Coach Class - Special Routes Reserved/Unreserved Coach
1,500 points
Item#: 1016

Special Routes include the following: Blue Water®, Wolverine®, Cascades®, Pacific Surfliner®, Capitol Corridor®, San Joaquin®, Hiawatha®, Downeaster®, The Lincoln Service®, Illini Service®, The Carl Sandburg®, Missouri River Runner, The Illinois Zephyr®, The Saluki®, The Hoosier State®, The Pere Marquette®, The Piedmont®, and The Heartland Flyer®.

 

[rrdude]

"Special Routes" are a super deal, IMHO. I use points on the Wolverine often, because it falls under this category.