The OIG investigated an allegation that Amtrak
employees and their non-Amtrak associates were
submitting claims, accumulating, and redeeming
frequent flyer mileage on Alaska Airlines utilizing the
Amtrak/Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (AAMP) travel
partnership and not remitting the required funds associated
with those claims. We began an extensive
investigation into fraud by Amtrak employees in connection
with AAMP. As a result of the investigation and the
OIG’s subsequent Administrative Report to
Management, fourteen employees were removed from
service after being charged, and terminated after their
hearing. Effective July 15, 2007, Alaska Airlines discontinued
its AAMP travel partnership with Amtrak. They
also cancelled and revoked the Frequent Flyer Mileage
accounts of those Amtrak employees and non-Amtrak
individuals associated with this investigation.
In conjunction with the Alaska Airlines case, the OIG
conducted a separate investigation into an allegation of
misconduct on the part of an Assistant Superintendent
and Secretary tasked with preparing and ensuring that six
of the employees involved with the abuse were served
with charge letters within the proper time limits and prior
to the hearing date. As a result of the investigation, we
recommended that Amtrak management consider discipline
for both employees. This recommendation was
agreed to by management and resulted in ninety days
probation for the Assistant Superintendent and counseling
for the Secretary.