chauming

Spg changed its rules lately. Any points will extend expiration. Amtrak is now number 1. Although many euro airlines don't extend expiration for any reason whatsoever.

dougdd

Jet Blue airways requires usage of points within a year or they automatically expire.

Air Tran credits automatically expire within a year or two (possibly longer) if not used.
It's hard to redeem 3-4 credits when 8 are required for a one-way trip.

LaQuinta hotel points, from what I've read, must be used within the year they're earned.

Amtrak's 3 yr. train travel requirement doesn't seem so onerous to me, particularly if you can take a short trip.

jamesteroh

And I found out the hard way you lose all your spirit airline miles if there is no activity in 90 days. So three years is very generous

nerd

My airline accounts expire after 18 months with no activity. Amtrak expires after 36, but requires you to travel, or obtain their credit card. The credit card is free. How much does your AA/UA/DL card cost you over 3 years? $250?

It's a loyalty program. Maybe Amtrak doesn't care about members who haven't traveled with them in 3 years. Seems to make sense.

jackal

I was as loyal to Amtrak as anyone based in Alaska could possibly be. I traveled whenever I could, but sometimes it was hard to find an Amtrak train to make a point run on when I was in places served only by once-a-day long-distance trains...or, worse, places like SGF, which doesn't have an Amtrak station within 100 miles.

That said, I never had any major issues with the 36-month expiration policy, since I was always able to travel on Amtrak at least every couple of years. Had they shortened it, I would likely have raised a ruckus, though.

nerd

Raised a ruckus because the free credit card (the get-out-of-jail-free card here) was not an option?

jackal

I was speaking in the past tense. It wasn't until relatively recently that it was announced that the card would prevent points from expiring. And yes, I do have the card.

It is no longer an issue, as I now live close to Amtrak and use it regularly. In fact, proximity to Amtrak is one of the factors that led me to choose my current location.

jamesteroh

Airline miles never expires on Delta now. I do pay $150 for my Delta am ex but it is well worth it for me since I get 20,000 MQMs a year which is almost enough to advance me a whole tier on their system (AFIAK the Amtrak card doesn't get you Tier Qualifing Points)

With most airlines where the miles expire, as long as you have ANY activity in the account that extends them. Most airlines partner with Rewards Network and I never use my debit card, but I have it linked to a United RN account, and use it at a deli near my office that is part of RN once a year just to keep my united account current (I have a lot of miles and never fly them anymore but have a lot of miles I want to use someday just not sure when).

I agree completely though it is a loyalty program and if someone isn't going to use the company in three years, they really aren't that loyal of a customer. The one area I feel amtrak is being unfair with is not counting a redemption in the three year period. If someone is redeeming points/miles on a partner they are still using them.

beltway

Or just ask the OP (or a mod) to update post #1. (IMO anyone who starts a thread should be willing to assume responsibility for curating updates to the subject.)

mlshanks

Of course, Amtrak is also terrible about posting points... I rode 4 trips in the beginning of last December on a cash-paid CA rail pass that used the 7 days of travel.

A week later, I called AGR to ask about posting.
"Oh, it will only post after the 21 days have expired."

Checked again in January, after the 21 days.
"We show no record..."
I provided all the information & was promised this would be resolved.

Now it's July, and I get the dreaded e-mail that I haven't used Amtrak in almost 3 years.

AGR has no records of my calls or my travel.

Wasted another few hours on the phone...until they finally acknowledge that:
Yes, I rode.
Yes, I'm entitled to my AGR points.
Yes, their phone trees are screwed up and that many calls get misconnected and answered by people who can't help the customers.

AND THAT ALMOST ALL PASS PURCHASERS WHO WANT AGR CREDIT WILL END UP HAVING TO CALL TO OBTAIN POINTS...BECAUSE AMTRAK'S SYSTEM RARELY CREDITS PASS PURCHASES.

Yeah, I'm wondering why I put up w/ AGR's nonsense. The train crews are fine, the station crews are hit-and-miss. And the AGR & national reservations are TERRIBLE.

Brendan

I rode Amtrak from Milwaukee to Chicago this April on a regular revenue 1-way ticket & got my points promptly. I now have a measly 597 points & no out-transfer privs, but my account is safe for 3 years in case I earn or transfer into AGR in the future.

I lost interest in AGR when it restricted out-transfers several years ago in the Choice Privs. bonanza turned fiasco.

casinoguy

I'm posting my statement and the Amtrak reply as to why I'm losing 40,000 points. Apparently its now paid activity PRIOR to points being posted!!! Transaction Date Description
Earned Redeemed
05/31/2012 Expired Points Show Details Adjustments -40,000
12/26/2011 Continental - Point Transfers Show Details Other Earning 20,000
12/09/2011 Continental - Point Transfers Show Details Other Earning 20,000 Dear Ronald Miller,

Thank you for contacting the Amtrak Guest Rewards Service Center.

Your points expired on 5/31/12, as there was no purchased Amtrak travel listed in your account for three years prior to this date. You have not traveled on Amtrak to earn Tier Qualifying Points. Subject to the terms and condition of our Loyalty Program,
points earned under the Program will not expire as long as the Program continues and the Member travels on Amtrak using their Membership Number within a 36-month period. If no paid Amtrak travel is recorded or reported within 36 months, your points will expire. You can view all Point and Travel activity in the "Recent Transactions" section of MyAmtrak on www.amtrakguestrewards.com. Points earned under the Program will not expire if the member is an active cardholder of the Amtrak Guest Rewards� World
MasterCard� issued by Chase Bank.

Sincerely,

Jenna
Amtrak Guest Rewards Service Center

3Cforme

That's consistent with recent posts in the big 'points expire' thread, itself more than four years old.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...-miles-11.html

lo2e

Right - I think they make it pretty clear that you need to actually TRAVEL on Amtrak within three years in order for your points not to expire, regardless if you get points other ways like transferring, through their shopping partners, etc.

nerd

If only they could make it clear in your Account Summary and show some sort of expiration date.