Originally Posted by
byronczimmer
So... I thought that when booking AGR for long distance, that you had to take the shortest number of segments (if available), and only if that route wasn't available could you extend the route.
So if CHI-SEA was available on the Empire Builder, you couldn't opt to take CHI-??? on the California Zephyr, and then run the coast on the Starlight.
Likewise, you couldn't take CHI-POR on Empire Builder and finish the trip POR-SEA.
If something has changed, that's great.
If not, I fear that though you CAN book it on AGR, you'll be charged extra points for the extra 'one zone segment'.
If it is booked as one trip then the charge is for the zones traveled through. For example I am going to Lax from NYP the most direct route of course is the Late Shore Limited and the Zephyr or Chief. The schedule also show the Carolinian to Washington, the Capitol Limited to Chicago, The Empire Builder to Portland and the the Coast Starlight to LA.
The same number of points for either route.
What used to happen was that people for example would book from LAX to NOL. The most direct route was a train to CHI and the The City of New Orleans for a 2 zone reward. Amtrak also used to only charge the two zone if you went from LAX to Chi, CHI to WAS and then WAS to NOL. you traveled through 3 zone but were only charged 2 this loophole has been closed.