Is Select worth it?
 

Hi all,

Looking for help in validating my thought that a "mileage run" for Select Status on AGR isn't worth it.

Just curious as to the value of Select (not Select Plus). I work in NYC & parents live in DC. I'm usually buying the $49 fares, with the occassional (i.e. 2-3x/yr Acela fares as my company's corporate office is in DC as well).

I'm at 4200 points for the year & was planning on driving down to DC this weekend to visit my parents. I could take Acela down & back instead.

Driving would be about $120 RT or so with gas & tolls - train would be about $330 on Acela RT, so an additional $210 to drive (not counting the potential cost of renting a car and/or taking taxis while I'm in DC as I'll be there for a few days)

The only benefit I can see from Select is 25% more points. I don't think I'm going to hit 5000 select points again next year as I'm switching jobs & may not have the same 2-3 Acela trips from work), so I doubt it's worth it (because $210 is worth more than 1,250 extra points if I were to hit 5000 again next year, right?

So, really, not worth the extra $210 (and I'm ok driving since it saves renting a car for a few days when I'm down there), right?

Thanks!

I'm not sure of the quantities of each but you get a few coupons when you hit select. I believe they were:
-1 class upgrade
-10% off ticket or day pass to club acela

Aside from the points, the other benefit is a number for rewards redemptions that's supposed to pick up faster.

So there's monetary value in those, but I don't know if you can say it's worth $200+. I don't think the 10% coupon applies to the $49 fares.

If you're not planning on many trips next year to build extra points, I'm not sure how much value you'd be getting out of the status.

Agreed then - not worth it. I don't mind coach on Amtrak & I have lounge access through UA already.

I got three of each when my welcome kit arrived in the mail. The upgrade coupons are great on the Acela--especially this year, when an upgraded trip earns tier qualifying points as if you'd paid for F--but worth little on regional trains.

If your new job does have you back on the Acela, you can get five upgrade coupons for 10,000 points. I think that's a pretty good value compared to spending 4,000 points for a one-way regional fare that, as you said, can go for just $49 in advance.

In 2014, the Select kit will contain 2 upgrades (electronic), 2 10%-off coupons (electronic), and 2 lounge passes (paper). We couldn't accommodate a hybrid coupon (10% "or" lounge pass) in the new electronic format, so this seemed like the best alternative.


Anthony

Anthony,

Can you tell us what the S+ and SE kits will have?

I'm incredibly disappointed to hear that there will only be two upgrade coupons in the S package. :td:

I don't ever use the lounge passes because I normally upgrade or travel with my H (who is S+).

Same as previous years, because there were no hybrid coupons to worry about. Four one-class upgrades and two companion coupons. They are electronic.

Anthony