Checking availability before transfering points
 

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'd like to get a sense of availability before committing to a points transfer. On the Redeem page of the Amtrak website, all I get is "not enough points" and can't figure out where to get this information. Thanks.

Amtrak does not maintain separate award inventory. You don't need to search via the "Redeem Points" route.

You mean if I can find available dates for purchase then I can use points? That would be awesome!

That's correct, with the caveat that you have to observe the blackout dates (listed in the AGR T&C's).

And even if you do have enough points, awards involving connecting trains and/or sleepers can't be booked online (you get a "No Availability" error message), so going the "Redeem Points" route is frequently useless.

We're excited about solving this limitation with our upcoming technology enhancements.

Anthony

Anthony, I haven't seen this discussed on the AGR website or here on FT. Can you elaborate a bit as to expected rollout date?

This would be a very welcome upgrade. Just this morning I had to book a r/t over the phone because the itinerary involves a change at NYP.

We are hoping to put as much of this in place as possible for the launch! We are very excited to expand the self-service capabilities of redemption travel. Integration has been a major goal for us.

Anthony

Integration - a noun meaning "staff reduction".

Self-service capabilities - euphemism for the above euphemism.

See? I DO speak corporo-baloney.

VKurtB: rest assured that you will still be able to make all of your complex award bookings with a phone agent if that is in fact your preference. We are just making new booking tools available to those who want them.

Anthony

Like many other FT'ers, I consider it a plus to be given more control over my booking process. I guess not everybody feels the same way. :rolleyes:

I sure hope your tech staff will also be able to integrate the Web and mobile app systems better. I recently made a revenue reservation on my Android app, and it appears in the "Upcoming Reservations" neither on the Web site *nor* on the app. I can only view it if I pull it up by reservation number.

thinking about transferring 15k points from Chase ultimate awards for the " Vancouver, Canada to Los Angeles' for early April 2016.

Is this bookable online and if I see availability on paid route, would it mean I will be able to book with points?

I'm pretty sure you're going to have to call on the phone. If you want to take the Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle and then the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles, the same-day Cascades arrives in Seattle after the Coast Starlight departs.

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that this was also in the works.