Great tip! This may save me from blowing another Saturday on a mileage run.

If you find yourself with excess points in your Amtrak account you can always transfer to Hilton, as I have been doing annually (though for some reason held off this year - I must have had a sixth sense about this offer!) The AGR:HH ration is 1:2, which isn't horrible, particularly if your points originated in the nonepass program.

Additional tip: To transfer miles from CO call 713-952-1630 and choose option 4. Be sure to emphasize that you are transferring to Amtrak not another CO account (I almost jumped when they told me there was a $15/1K fee, but that does not apply to Amtrak transfers).