Mileage run options for 40 TQP out of Washington, DC
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 140
Mileage run options for 40 TQP out of Washington, DC
I miscalculated the way TQP's are calculated, and even after diverting a few driving trips to Amtrak in December, I find myself 40 TQP's short of 5000 points.
I am based out of Washington, DC and have time on Friday and Saturday for a mileage run. I am seriously considering spending $33 on a "flexible" rate ticket to take the Northeast Regional from Union Station to Alexandria, and then taking the Blue Line back into the district.
Are there any more time-efficient ways for me to get the extra TQP's?
I am based out of Washington, DC and have time on Friday and Saturday for a mileage run. I am seriously considering spending $33 on a "flexible" rate ticket to take the Northeast Regional from Union Station to Alexandria, and then taking the Blue Line back into the district.
Are there any more time-efficient ways for me to get the extra TQP's?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: WAS
Posts: 339
Union Station to New Carrollton is currently running $21 on a number of trains for those days (it's 2 TQP per dollar, right?), and is a slightly shorter trip than WAS->ALX. Whether it's more time-efficient depends on what metro line you want to be on for your return, though.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
NCR or ALX would be your friends. Rockville is another option if you'd like to use the Cap instead. It's actually "too cheap" ($9-17) but otherwise it's a valid option.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,477
WAS-NCR is definitely the most time-efficient option--headways are shorter on the Orange Line now that we have a break from SafeTrack work. What it doesn't have compared to going to ALX or RKV is any new scenery compared to the NEC.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
I suspect scenery isn't a major factor for the OP.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 140
Thanks! I wound up taking WAS-ALX, partly because the return trip from ALX was slightly more-convenient for me. Departure out of Union Station was delayed, so it was about a 2-hour odyssey for me. At the end of the day I'm not entirely convinced that the status was worth it, but hey, I get to say that I've done a mileage run on Amtrak.