PRR GG1

Hey all,

Now that Chase ultimate rewards points will no longer be transferable to AGR, what's your plan for collecting AGR points? The co-branded Amtrak cards are nice for the signup bonuses, but without the 2X points on dining / travel that Chase has, their value for accruing AGR points with everyday spend is limited (1X on all purchases). What's the next best thing? SPG transfers? Some multi-step transfer between other partners and eventually to AGR?

Thanks!

ambyr

Personally, I plan on riding trains.

musicalbox

I never had that card so my strategy is the same: put every single thing possible on the Amtrak card, including all purchases and auto-billed utilities and expenses. The only things that go on other cards are things specific to those that I have (Amazon, gas, etc.).

3Cforme

With current redemption rates transfers to AGR can be an excellent value for SPG points. Given the rates in effect 1/1/2016, for my points, using SPG at Starwood properties will bring more value.

My accrual strategy for 2016? Don't bother with AGR.

sdsearch

I plan on not accruing more, other than whatever occasional random partner earning I need to keep the ones I have alive.

I haven't found a use for them in the time since transfers to hotel programs stopped being available to people who don't ride Amtrak much, and I'm not sure how likely I am to find a lot of use for them in the future. (Where I live, in Los Angeles, it seems easier to either drive or fly than take the train anywhere, especially given constraints I have on time off from work.)

(I never transferred from Chase anyway, but it transfer for Diners Club once or twice I think. But that's going away too.)

beltway

It remains to be seen whether the new BofA cards are churnable.

jackal

I do not plan on making any special effort to earn Amtrak points in the future.

I applied for the new card, got the point bonus, and have now redeemed awards to largely complete my exploration of Amtrak's route network (with a few gaps easily filled by regular paid tickets). I plan on dumping the card soon.

Amtrak had the chance to make it easy for me to choose them by implementing a sensible same-day-change policy and improving their recognition of elite members, but instead, they completely gutted the program and made its rewards virtually worthless. So, I will not prioritize Amtrak travel and instead will choose to drive and/or fly where it makes sense to (which is more often than it makes sense to take the train). I will use what few points I have left to that end and will likely only earn and burn trifle amounts of points after that.

OZ Man

1000 point Milage runs thru January STM-BOS $111 Acela to try to keep S+ MDN-NHV mostly $6 for 200 pts as well, Researching Hilton Honors ways to transfer in via CITI Bank bonuses.
I say farewell on the 4th to Freedom/Sapphire transfers (closing early to make sure points post by the 7th.
I really hope we have the take 3 get one free in January before the change. I will plan on a few milage runs then.