Originally Posted by AnnaMcD
I would take the Platinum MR points and go Amex > Continental > Amtrak > UA. If I used the Platinum card only for the double point opportunities up to the 25,000 yearly limit, would that be a reasonable use of it?
Yes, that would actually work and there would be no dilution of your miles. You'll have to decide whether the hassle of the multi-step process and the wait involved is worthwhile. For example, some steps may involve getting a paper certificate and sending it in. To check the viability of various coversion schemes such as this one, take a look at Randy's mileage converter at
http://www.webflyer.com.