Amtrak Guest Rewards - Quick help needed w/ AGR reward cancellation

I may have to cancel my 2 zone roomette for 7/14 from ABQ - Orlando for DD & I.

Does anyone know what the penalties are? Do I lose the points? I've called in twice & gotten 2 different answers.

Thanks!!

You won't lose the points, or pay any cancellation fee. One nice perk(s) in AGR.

nerd is correct, although how that refund gets processed depends on whether or not you already have your tickets.

If you haven't had the tickets mailed to you or if you haven't picked them up from a station yet, then getting the reservation cancelled and the points refunded is as simple as calling AGR and having them do it for you over the phone; by the time you hang up, the full point value of the trip will be back in your account.

If you HAVE the tickets in your possession, then you'll need to mail the tickets back into AGR. First, however, call AGR, let them know that you would like to process a refund and cancellation, and they'll give you the address to which you mail the tickets. When you mail them, send them at least via certified mail with a signature requirement. You don't want those tickets getting lost. You could also consider sending them with insurance estimated at the value of the cost of the trip in rare case that the carrier somehow loses the tickets. Once AGR receives the tickets, the refunded points will show back up in your account.

Rafi

I've called in twice & gotten 2 different answers.

Whom did you call? AGR (1-800-307-5000) or Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL). Only AGR agents really know anything about award tickets.

Do be aware of the seven day cancellation policy on sleeper accommodations.

For paid tickets, you don't get a refund if you cancel an accommodation within seven day of departure. To be honest, I don't know if AGR does the same (only letting you change dates or something).
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1093553975057&pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FSimple_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy

Just got off the phone w/ AGR again. Was told that as long as I call them by 7/13, get the info to mail the tickets back to them, I will get all my points back.

I will call again later as well. On their site it says no refunds. But in the Terms & conditions, it says all points will be credited back.

Confusing!!!!! And the 1st person I had talked to a couple weeks ago at AGR said no refunds, 2nd said refund if 7 days or more out.

Just make sure you mail them to AGR in Minnesota and not Amtrak Refunds in Philadelphia.

You could also consider sending them with insurance estimated at the value of the cost of the trip in rare case that the carrier somehow loses the tickets.

The one time I mailed tickets back, the post office told me that insurance is based upon cost and not value. So even though the tickets had a value of about $1600.00, because they cost me $0.00 that is how much I would get from the insurance if they were lost.

The one time I mailed tickets back, the post office told me that insurance is based upon cost and not value. So even though the tickets had a value of about $1600.00, because they cost me $0.00 that is how much I would get from the insurance if they were lost.

I don't think that is entirely correct. I dug around the USPS site and found the following tidbits:

Security is key when you’re sending valuables through the mail. Whether you are sending jewelry, antiques or just expensive clothing, getting insurance provides that security. Insure your package only for what its contents are worth; you’re only covered for the actual value at the time and place of mailing.

Can a claim be submitted for the full price of a lost airline ticket?

No. You may only file for the price of filing the Lost-Ticket Report with the airlines. It is the customer's responsibility to file a Lost Ticket Report with the appropriate airline.

The insurance is based on the value of the mail-piece, not the cost. Even if it was, there is a cost to purchase reward tickets and it is in the form of points. AFAIK, Guest Rewards doesn't have a lost-ticket fee.

I did have to call AGR on an unrelated matter this morning and asked what they do if a reward ticket is lost in the mail. The agent I spoke with said she has never had it happen and never recommends people insure tickets when mailing them back. If something happens she said the member would get the points credited back if something was lost.

All I would recommend doing it putting delivery confirmation on the mail-piece. That was you have proof of mailing and proof of delivery should anything go wrong.

Any time that I have insured mail they told me at my post office that if I need to make a claim that I have to have a receipt for what I paid for the item that was lost.