Train Trip Houskeeping

[kevin_standlee]

While reviewing the Worldcon Train Trip reservations (six reservations, seven total one-way legs) and looking through my Amtrak account, I realized that I'd made two mistakes.

1. On two of the "revenue" trips, I had forgotten to enter Lisa's Rail Passengers Association (former National Association of Railroad Passengers) membership number, thus not getting the 10% discount off the rail fare. (The discount does not apply to the room cost.)

2. I had two "companion fare" coupons, good for a one-way free companion fare except on certain blackout dates. (And as it happens, we're traveling on one of those blackout dates.)

So I called Amtrak, waited through the queue, and asked the agent if she could retroactively apply these things. Somewhat to my surprise, she could, and did, applying the refund back to my Amtrak credit card. Net savings: $243.60.

Deciding that I felt lucky, and confirming that a revenue ticket can be cancelled with 100% refund if done so >121 days before travel (which it was), I called Amtrak Guest Rewards, waited out their queue, and used my remaining AGR points to book the LAX-SJC trip on points. The agent was then also able to cancel the revenue ticket I booked a couple of days ago and refund it as well, saving another $261.80.

Totaling everything up, I spent 132,558 AGR points (less a 6,628 rebate) to purchase $3,366.40 worth of train travel (thus worth approximately 2.5 cents per point). My net purchase of revenue tickets was $2,479.50.

Ignoring the fact that the points aren't free, but were earned through a credit card program, I calculate that using Amtrak Guest Rewards points points and coupons that go with the related credit card program saved about 58% over purchasing all of the trip as revenue tickets. Of course now there's almost nothing in the AGR account and it's time to start accumulating points again for another trip someday. It will take some years before I accumulate enough points for a "big win" like this one.

Incidentally, although getting through to agents has been a massive wait, I must say that every Amtrak agent with whom I worked on this cross-country odyssey has been nice to work with and was able to accomplish most of what I wanted. There were a couple of times where what I wanted wasn't possible — AGR devalues their points during certain holiday periods, as I've discussed here ‐ but I don't blame the agents for having to tell me this. They were all polite and helpful. There just aren't enough of them, and they're massively backlogged as people are trying to book tickets, especially given that the Amtrak web site rarely seems to actually work for purchasing a ticket.

Comments

[lindadee]

Be grateful. I'm trying to deal with the USPS regarding a break-in to our mailroom, and I'd rather bang my head against the wall any day of the year.

[kevin_standlee]

Ouch! My sympathy.

[garyomaha]

I may be feeling almost as much joy in your success with Rewards points as you feel. I wonder if there's a name for that condition, other than empathy. It's also a vicarious thrill because we haven't done any traveling recently and have nothing special planned. Anyway, congratulations on your accomplishments!