Originally Posted by idealflyer
Been looking online and trying to redeem 6500 points for NE Business one way. Was told by Amtrak rep I could use Washington-New York-Toronto but online, Canada is not included. Another Guest Rewards representative said I could go to CBN- near Niagra Falls Canadian border crossing, but would have to buy separate ticket CBN-Toronto??
Toronto and other cities on the Maple Leaf are not valid destinations when using AGR points, because once the train crosses the border it becomes a VIA Rail train. Yes it is still the same physical Amtrak cars that you started out in from NYC, but all Amtrak personel exit the train at the first stop in Canada, Niagara Falls.
At that point employees from VIA Rail board the train and operate it to Toronto. They collect seperate fares for operating that portion of the ride to Toronto. Since VIA has their own rewards program, they don't accept AGR reward tickets.
If one buys a ticket from NYC to Toronto, Amtrak actually issues you two tickets. The Amtrak conductor will take the first ticket, the VIA Rail conductor will lift the second ticket after you cross the border. If you happened to live in Canada, then VIA would issue you two tickets one for the VIA conductor, one for the Amtak conductor.
The Cascades service to Vancouver and the Adirondack to Montreal remain under Amtrak control even after crossing the border, so AGR rewards are valid on those trains.