MilesBuzz! - Amtrak

http://www.msnbc.com/news/496026.asp

Hey! This is an idea I thought of years ago! I'm glad to see Amtrak getting more involved with a loyalty program.

For those who don't bother to click on the link, you will be able to earn miles/points with United, Continental, Midwest Express, Hilton, Starwood, Marriott and Hertz.

Also, as many of you already know, you can earn Alaska miles when traveling on Amtrak along the west coast. Very handy for people like me that commute regularly to Portland from Seattle.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop (http://www.mileageworkshop.com)

My sister in law would much rather take the train than fly. This Frequent Traveller notion was even a topic of discussion this past holiday weekend when she travelled from SAV to Connecticut. Only if it was announced before the holiday http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Great find selfdestrc. To enroll, go to: http://www.amtrakguestrewards.com

Also... If you take an Amtrak trip within 90 days of your enrollment, you'll
receive an enrollment bonus of 500 points when you sign up online

[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 11-29-2000).]

Maybe I just didn't find it but...

what is the redemption ratio? Is one Amtrak point equal to one mile?

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop (http://www.mileageworkshop.com)

Amtrak Guest Rewards® Rewards Participants

As a member of Amtrak Guest Rewards®, you can earn points that turn into valuable rewards.
http://www.amtrakguestrewards.com/docs/prog_partners.cfm

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Seems they aren't yet providing much info! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

BTW, This was also posted earlier at:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003770.html

Originally posted by doc:
Seems they aren't yet providing much info! Ahh... that's nothing a little phone call can't help out! I called the 1-800 number and got to speak to a very friendly CS Rep by the name of Mary. She said that this was their first day and that the phone volume was much higher than expected causing longer than desired "hold times".

The point conversion is still in the "planning" stages and is subject to change until things are finalized in January '01. Anyways, here is the quick run down that she went over with me:
5k Amtrak Points = 5000 UA, CO and Midwest Xpress miles (for clarification, you pick... not all 3!)
10k Amtrak Points= 1 weekend night at Marriot
15k Amtrak Points= 1 anytime night at Marriot
5k Amtrak Points= 10k Hilton HHonors points

Hope that helps some

I got the same info as Chexfan when I called (yes, I knew that I should of checked FlyerTalk first as should of known that somebody would of beat me to the punch).

The only additional information that I got was that there will be a way to convert into the Starwood program, but the details weren't there yet. The reason that this is is so exciting, if 1 AmtrakReward Point equals 1 Starwood Point (to make it like the CO and UA transfers) that would be great because Starwood points can then be transfered 1 to 1 to many airline programs.

Even more interesting would be if they allow reverse transfers from CO or UA into Amtrak. Then, we could launder miles from CO or UA to Amtrak to Starwood to AA (or any other freq. flyer program).

I wait with baited breath (but not holding out to be that lucky).

STEVE - if orphan miles from Amtrak can go to them, then Starwood, it will the best scheme ever! Can someone in the USA please keep this thread updatedon the Starwood deal please?

The only additional information that I got was that there will be a way to convert into the Starwood program, but the details weren't there yet. The reason that this is is so exciting, if 1 AmtrakReward Point equals 1 Starwood Point (to make it like the CO and UA transfers) that would be great because Starwood points can then be transfered 1 to 1 to many airline programs.

Even more interesting would be if they allow reverse transfers from CO or UA into Amtrak. Then, we could launder miles from CO or UA to Amtrak to Starwood to AA (or any other freq. flyer program).

If this proves correct, this will be THE best miles scheme in the world IMHO. Not for earning, for moving and storing them etc.



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~ Glen ~

and let's be sure to shout this over the rooftops as long and as hard as we can, given that nothing is final yet, there is still plenty of time for adjustments to be made to prevent transfer in/transfer out fluidity.

I for one know that I expect Amtrak to act as my laundry and certainly none of the loyalty programs actually can expect that the people with huge piles of points in their respective programs are actually loyal customers.

The blind greed shown by some will do horrendus damage to FF programs that DO benefit loyal, revenue-generating (even more than that...a customer that generates a profit) customers. The whole idea of FF/hotel programs is rewarding loyalty without cannibalizing the core business (read revenue)... Give away the perishable product with a minimal marginal cost. They were not designed to be, nor can they tolerate, being anything else

Looks like Guest Rewards is only avalable to the Americans and Canadians.