Originally Posted by fastflyer
Who are you calling High Rollers? AMTRAK tickets are as cheap as the bus on my NEC route. Even the Acela is inexpensive using a corporate discount. I am convinced that AMTRAK loses money on all routes possibly including NYP-WAS. I try to spend ten bucks in the cafeteria car each time so they get some kind of incremental revenue.
I don't understand how AMTRAK can give away points the way they do. I'm earning something like a free ticket every month.
I think that Amtrak makes money if someone uses the AGR Mastercard or at least signs up for one. I wonder if that source of revenue helps to pay for redeemed awards. Also I think Amtrak does well on Acela sales revenue wise since that seem to charge more than the airlines. Afterall, no one is in direct competiion with Amtrak on the Northeast corridor. The airports are not the same quick option that they used to be. Acela has powerports and many of the shuttle planes do not and all Acela seating is business class or first class.