Newbie with lots of BOS-NYP trips
Jun 8, 2016, 10:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: Delta GM
Posts: 39
Newbie with lots of BOS-NYP trips
I've taken a new job where I will be going from BOS-NYP and back every week.
I would love advice on how to best accumulate (should I get the credit card?) and use points (is there any way to optimize point use). I'm paying personally for all the trips, so I'd like to try to be able to save as much money as possible.
I'm assuming I should try to get status as fast as possible to maximize my points. If I get the credit card, does that mean I'll end up getting 5 points for every $1 spent (2 from the travel and 3 from the credit card?)
Thanks in advance.
I would love advice on how to best accumulate (should I get the credit card?) and use points (is there any way to optimize point use). I'm paying personally for all the trips, so I'd like to try to be able to save as much money as possible.
I'm assuming I should try to get status as fast as possible to maximize my points. If I get the credit card, does that mean I'll end up getting 5 points for every $1 spent (2 from the travel and 3 from the credit card?)
Thanks in advance.
Jun 9, 2016, 8:24 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: seattle
Programs: AGR, Alaska Air, CSP, IHG, Hyatt
Posts: 32
I'm not in the NE corridor so can't answer your questions, but did you know that there is a very active Amtrak-specific forum on another site? Take a look at http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/. You'll find lots of folks with lots of amtrak advice.
Jun 9, 2016, 12:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
I go weekly NYP-BAL and I tend to book my trips as early as possible, sometimes months in advance, to get the cheapest price. The best usage of points to save money, I find, is to use them whenever you've just missed booking the Saver fare and the cheapest bucket available is the one just above Saver. For my trips, that's $79. I tend to book maybe every fourth or fifth trip with points just to save the fare.
I do use the credit card and it also helps you achieve status if you have the version with a yearly fee.
I do use the credit card and it also helps you achieve status if you have the version with a yearly fee.
Jun 10, 2016, 6:28 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
When you are booking, take a look at Acela, even if you typically ride a conventional Regional train. Sometimes in the BOS-NYP market the Acela fares are not much higher than the Regionals, and besides the nicer train and faster trip, you get 2.5 points per dollar riding Acela - all counting toward status.
Jun 10, 2016, 11:08 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Either way, yes, you should get the card.
Jun 11, 2016, 7:05 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
I go weekly NYP-BAL and I tend to book my trips as early as possible, sometimes months in advance, to get the cheapest price. The best usage of points to save money, I find, is to use them whenever you've just missed booking the Saver fare and the cheapest bucket available is the one just above Saver. For my trips, that's $79. I tend to book maybe every fourth or fifth trip with points just to save the fare.
I do use the credit card and it also helps you achieve status if you have the version with a yearly fee.
I do use the credit card and it also helps you achieve status if you have the version with a yearly fee.
I supplement this with the credit card. The extra 4,000 TQP per year allows me to use points when I need to; in the past, I'd been reluctant to use points in fear of not retaining S+.