Amtrak Guest Rewards - Is Continental/Amtrak relationship changing?

I just read this in a thread here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass/993592-2010-onepass-program-changes.html) about CO's 2010 program changes:

Partner earning changes. Effective Oct. 27, Elite mileage bonuses, Elite Qualification Miles, and Elite Qualification Points will no longer be offered on flights operated by Emirates, Eva Air, Kingfisher, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, Amtrak and US Helicopter


What does this mean for Amtrak apart from what is mentioned here? Will we still be able to exchange CO miles for Amtrak points, and vice-versa?

I just read this in a thread here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass/993592-2010-onepass-program-changes.html) about CO's 2010 program changes:



What does this mean for Amtrak apart from what is mentioned here? Will we still be able to exchange CO miles for Amtrak points, and vice-versa?

Flights operated by Amtrak, hmm? They really should get someone to proofread their press releases. I would be so tempted to call them on that. "But it wasn't a flight! Where are my EQMs?"

What does this mean for Amtrak apart from what is mentioned here? Will we still be able to exchange CO miles for Amtrak points, and vice-versa?
Apart from what is mentioned there - EQM earning - nothing is changing according to CO Insider. There's a follow-up post later in the thread that addresses it.

Flights operated by Amtrak, hmm? They really should get someone to proofread their press releases. I would be so tempted to call them on that. "But it wasn't a flight! Where are my EQMs?"

Portions of certain Amtrak routes are assigned CO flight numbers. In December, for instance, I am taking CO flight 9415, which is an Amtrak train from EWR to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. So it's not a flight in the sense that you are on an airplane, but it's a "flight" in the sense that it is a mode of transportation that is assigned a Continental flight number. So the person who wrote the press release was simply using established nomenclature.

For AGR Select + members living outside the Northeast, the key question is: will we still get into CO Presidents Clubs, especially without a same day CO ticket? If not, the value of Select + just went down the toilet.

BTW, don't look for contractor Carlson Travel to explain such changes to members.

For AGR Select + members living outside the Northeast, the key question is: will we still get into CO Presidents Clubs, especially without a same day CO ticket? If not, the value of Select + just went down the toilet.

BTW, don't look for contractor Carlson Travel to explain such changes to members.

I wouldn't even want to consider the possibility. :( I'm cautiously optimistic, though, since the change is just a realignment in elite-qualifying activity done to coincide with (if not necessarily be integral to) CO entering Star Alliance.

I wouldn't even want to consider the possibility. :( I'm cautiously optimistic, though, since the change is just a realignment in elite-qualifying activity done to coincide with (if not necessarily be integral to) CO entering Star Alliance.

Am hoping once CO enters Star Alliance that Amtrak re-evals its relationships with airlines and UAL flyers hit the jackpot w/ ability to enter RCC w/ S+ (in addition to CO Club) :D

One can hope...

BTW, don't look for contractor Carlson Travel to explain such changes to members.
Per other threads in this forum, Carlson is no longer running AGR (since about a year ago?), but I'm not clear on who is.

Per other threads in this forum, Carlson is no longer running AGR (since about a year ago?), but I'm not clear on who is.

It's still Carlson. They are managing out of Canada now, but it's still Carlson who manages it.

Correct, it is still Carlson.

Initially it was unclear what was happening when word spread that the AGR offices were moving from Minneapolis to Canada and it was believed that Amtrak had made the change to a new company. The decision however was Carlson's, not Amtrak.

Even now it's still a bit unclear if Carlson actually directly operates the new AGR offices, or if they've subcontracted the work out to someone else. But as far as Amtrak is concerned, Carlson still runs the AGR program for them.

I just redeemed 30,000 pts at AGR for a trip on the Texas Eagle next July. When I was speaking to the CSR at AGR (kinda rhymes doens't it) they said they were based out of MinneSOHta and not Canada, I too, thought Carlson had move the ops to Canada, but this person was from the Twin Cities.

Interesting...

When I spoke to AGR a month ago, I was chatting with him about something and asked if he had ever ridden VIA RAIL since I knew he was based in Canada. He didn't deny it and was pretty informative.

Maybe we are annexing Minnesota to the Canadians so both propositions would be true :)

It's certainly possible that calls are fielded out of two locations.

It appears our CO PClub access is safe for now. Two Saturdays ago, I was chatting with the SFO club attendant about the *A transition process. It was she who actually fretted that Amtrak S+ access might end, since apparently other CO partner access arrangements to clubs were ending even outside of the SkyTeam divorce. She said she'd "send a telex to Houston" to clarify and let me know next time I was there. (She said I'm one of just two regulars at SFO who enter with S+! :p)

I was back last Saturday, and she said access for Amtrak S+ would continue, period. ^^^ The only variable is whether the clubs themselves will stay open. UA's site now indicates that CO will be moving terminals at many airports to co-locate with UA, which may mean club closures (such as at DEN, an announced site of co-location).

Amtrak S+ should also still have access to any shared lounge where there's an actual CO attendant at the front desk (like at ORD, where CO ditched staffing the DL nee NW lounge in favor of one of the UA lounges after moving terminals).

(She said I'm one of just two regulars at SFO who enter with S+! :p)

I was back last Saturday, and she said access for Amtrak S+ would continue, period. ^^^ The only variable is whether the clubs themselves will stay open. UA's site now indicates that CO will be moving terminals at many airports to co-locate with UA, which may mean club closures (such as at DEN, an announced site of co-location).

Amtrak S+ should also still have access to any shared lounge where there's an actual CO attendant at the front desk (like at ORD, where CO ditched staffing the DL nee NW lounge in favor of one of the UA lounges after moving terminals).

I'm probably the other SFO regular. BTW, thanks for the ORD info. I'd figured we were out of luck there. Which RCC to use at ORD?

I'm probably the other SFO regular.

:D^

BTW, thanks for the ORD info. I'd figured we were out of luck there. Which RCC to use at ORD?

No problem; it's the RCC by B7. I last tried a few weeks ago and was turned away by the UA attendant who said that a CO ticket agent was already stationed upstairs but that a CO attendant wouldn't start until today.

I offer no guarantee that CO will admit us, since we don't know how the terms of the local lounge agreement with UA might affect CO partners like Amtrak (at least, it's not readily apparent on .bomb or continental.com). I'll be in ORD in two weeks, so I'll try then. That would be quite a disappointment if the terms aren't as favorable as they were with the NW club.

Not sure I understand this correctly? Can we now access RCC in SFO while flying UA, with S+? Typically they are in different terminals from where the COPC is.

Not sure I understand this correctly? Can we now access RCC in SFO while flying UA, with S+? Typically they are in different terminals from where the COPC is.

Now that's wishful thinking.

We're talking about Presidents Club access. Amtrak S+ cardholders only have access to Presidents Clubs. At ORD, apparently there's a single RCC that has a CO agent (like the former ORD Worldclub), so that facility MAY be designated a joint RCC/PC. But confirmation from GoAmtrak awaits his visit referenced above. I'll believe it when I hear it.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.81 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Now that all President's Club members are welcome at United RCCs (effective yesterday), I've been wondering if we have any shot of getting into RCCs (aside from the ORD B8 example) with our Select Plus cards. I already have a UA RCC membership, but would love to save the $400 by not renewing next year.



I assume the odds of being able to use the RCC are quite slim, but in light of yesterday's announcement I can start hoping..

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.81 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Now that all President's Club members are welcome at United RCCs (effective yesterday), I've been wondering if we have any shot of getting into RCCs (aside from the ORD B8 example) with our Select Plus cards. I already have a UA RCC membership, but would love to save the $400 by not renewing next year.


I assume the odds of being able to use the RCC are quite slim, but in light of yesterday's announcement I can start hoping..

The odds are nil, unless it is genuinely a joint club (really a one-off). And with club consolidation over the next couple of years, the number of Presidents Clubs will shrink. So Amtrak members are likely to lose DEN, and later SFO.

Well, darn, the ORD RCC that CO is supposedly using has closed for renovations for the next seven weeks (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus/1011892-ord-b6-rcc-close-renovations-beginning-11-2-2009-reopening-week-12-21-a.html). I'll see if I can find out whether CO is staffing another lounge during this interim period.

Well, darn, the ORD RCC that CO is supposedly using has closed for renovations for the next seven weeks (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus/1011892-ord-b6-rcc-close-renovations-beginning-11-2-2009-reopening-week-12-21-a.html). I'll see if I can find out whether CO is staffing another lounge during this interim period.

No love at ORD for now. :(

I called both the RCC and PC service centers, and neither knew whether CO are staffing ORD RCCs now or will once B6 reopens. A CO Service Director at ORD also had no idea.

I went to the B18 RCC just to see. There was no one from CO there. The UA agents were very courteous and sympathetic, but were pessimistic that CO would staff B6 once open and/or that UA would let non-PC or non-*A partner members in due to space limitations. One agent asserted that they'd need to "triple the space" to make that work. She sent me away with "You seem like such a nice young man, but..." :D

So, it should be interesting to see what happens as of next month. I have no planned tips trips to ORD but I'm sure I will soon enough. Hopefully one of you can report back sooner.

Is there a reciprocal benefit- CO Presidents' Club members getting Club Acela access, or the like?

I have a US Airways Club membership, which I am told will now give access to Presidents Clubs. I assume that wouldn't also get Club Acela access now?

Can Continental miles still be transferred into Amtrak points, and vice-versa?

Thanks.

I just spotted this thread and I am now a bit confused :confused:: maybe Amtrak should join Star Alliance :D (well, pretty much anybody else who wants to can :rolleyes:)!

-- Henry

Is there a reciprocal benefit- CO Presidents' Club members getting Club Acela access, or the like?
A CO PC membership will allow access to Club Acela, technically just in New York, however. I think, though, that a membership is often honored at the other clubs.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/alliance/amtrak.aspx
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245658203

Can Continental miles still be transferred into Amtrak points, and vice-versa?
Continental --> Amtrak: 5K increments, no cap, no restrictions
Amtrak --> Continental: 25K/50K annual cap, eligibility restrictions

A CO PC membership will allow access to Club Acela, technically just in New York, however. I think, though, that a membership is often honored at the other clubs.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/alliance/amtrak.aspx
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245658203


Continental --> Amtrak: 5K increments, no cap, no restrictions
Amtrak --> Continental: 25K/50K annual cap, eligibility restrictions

its honored in DC as well.

Continental --> Amtrak: 5K increments, no cap, no restrictions
Amtrak --> Continental: 25K/50K annual cap, eligibility restrictionsFor completeness, note also that

Amtrak --> Continental: 5K increments (at 1:1)

Just an update, the ORD B6 RCC is open again (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus/1030523-remodeled-ord-b6-rcc-now-open-12-21-2009-a.html) and it appears not to be a PC for our purposes. So, we can probably cross ORD off our list. DEN should be next once CO relocates to Concourse B. :td:

I'm definitely on the fence on buying a PC membership (or getting the Chase card w/access that appears to be cheaper)... I'm a frequent traveler on United and I go back and forth between WAS and NYP all of the time. I wish that PC access to WAS (or to any CA besides NYP) was "official" and written somewhere on their website. I suppose I could get the membership and refund it if things don't work out.

I'm in the ORD B6 RCC now (via UA access) and the CO agent upstairs just confirmed that ORD is no longer a Presidents Club location. I asked about DEN possibly closing with CO moving to the UA concourse. She called it a "strong possibility" and "something you might see at other locations down the line." I realize front-line employees are often the last to have this kind of info, but in this case I'm inclined to believe her. Enjoy the PCs at LAX and SFO while you can, folks!

I'm definitely on the fence on buying a PC membership (or getting the Chase card w/access that appears to be cheaper)... I'm a frequent traveler on United and I go back and forth between WAS and NYP all of the time. I wish that PC access to WAS (or to any CA besides NYP) was "official" and written somewhere on their website. I suppose I could get the membership and refund it if things don't work out.

You could get a Priority Pass card either directly or indirectly through Amex (first year free on Amex HH Surpass card) or IAPA (discounted). Allows access to multiple airline clubs regardless of airline (or train if connecting) flown on. Weak points though are not good for all airlines (few AA clubs and no DL/NW clubs but lots of USAir, Continental, and United clubs), and if using a higher tier of Priority Pass card typically the cardholder gets free entrance but additional guests are usually at a small charge. Now I wish Priority Pass would add Amtrak clubs but I doubt that will happen...gotta take the train more ;)

On Amtrak/Continental code share, think this is only for certain stations. In CT, I see Continental Z codes for some bigger shoreline stations like NHV, but not for whistle stops in Northern CT (I'm near the WND and WNL stations).

(She said I'm one of just two regulars at SFO who enter with S+! :p)

I'm probably the other SFO regular.

Shamelessly OT - I spent a few hours at the SFO Presidents Club using my S+ card last week (layover on an AA MR). Zipped over from T3 to T1, went through security, wandered down the concourse looking for signs... Took me a while to figure out that it's not an airside lounge!

I think SFO is the only PC I've been to that's outside security. The other ones I regularly visit - BOS/ATL/DFW come to mind - are all airside. Any other non-airside PCs?

I think SFO is the only PC I've been to that's outside security. The other ones I regularly visit - BOS/ATL/DFW come to mind - are all airside. Any other non-airside PCs?
LGA PC is landside according to my Priority Pass guide, but have never been at that one (usually EWR/HNL/former SJU/IAH for PC).
Landside clubs seem to be a vanishing breed but have their uses. Nice to meet non-flying acquaintances not going through security or to meet up with people going to various terminals past security, etc. There used to be a DL landside club at my home airport of BDL, but now just US airside. LAS used to have a landside US club but I think that's gone too.

LGA PC is landside according to my Priority Pass guide, but have never been at that one

Funny - reading this while sitting in LGA - never occurred to me to use the PC here but I will check it out! ^

EDIT: confirmed - it is landside. Behind the ticketing counters between A and B security checkpoints there is an up escalator to the CO PC (and RCC etc).

I got in under the wire just before last call. Thanks GadgetKen!