Originally Posted by
sechs
A hate to break it to people, but Amtrak Guest Rewards is actually here to reward Amtrak guests, not as a conduit for your travel point schemes. While I don't think that anyone disagrees that they do a sloppy job of it, there's no reason to complain when you try to exploit a loophole, they clamp it shut, and you get stuck. Especially months after the fact, when there was time to do something it.
True statement. While I feel there is some good value in redeeming for train travel, especially as I am oftentimes traveling with a bike or 17' kayak (Amtrak only charges me $5 for the kayak, whereas I couldn't even get it on a plane) I was hit for the first time not being able to convert AGR points to Choice. Historically I would happily convert my 5,000 AGR to 25,000 Choice and even when it went down to 15,000 I would still do it occiasionally as I thought there was some value to be had for me.
The problem I have with the $200 spend on Amtrak travel to redeem for a hotel reward is that I have so many freaking AGR points, why would I ever pay for Amtrak travel?!?! I redeem AGR points each and every time. AGR is reaching the end of its useful life for me. Other than train travel I don't feel that there are any redemptions of interest.