No Amtrak travel in 3 years, lose all your miles
Oct 4, 2011, 8:39 am
#107
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Ugh
I had an AGR account, which I used to xfer points into CO miles. There was no value in redeeming for train trips as the fares are ridiculously cheap in Chicago. I haven't lived in Chicago for over a year (and prolly haven't travelled to Milwaukee for over two years). I recently got started with Audience Rewards and had made xfers to AGR since April '11. Between that and my HH double dip, I had amassed 5200 points, which I found I couldn't xfer to CO because I was not AGR Select (a change that was new to me). I found out today that these points (all accrued in '11) were taken away without notice. I called AGR and spoke w/ a supervisor named Fran. She basically threw a rock at my head, and said "we're trying to re-engage customers." If by re-engage they mean muscle, then forget it. I have trips planned btwn NY and DC over the next 18 months, and was expecting to use Amtrak for at least half of those, but I guess I'll just keep them all w/ AA or DL shuttle. 
Oct 4, 2011, 10:13 am
#109
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
The points I accured in '11 were all partner points as indicated above. I told her that they were accured in '11, but she didn't seem to care. My only options are to take an Amtrak train trip in the next 30 days or lose the points forever.
Oct 4, 2011, 1:45 pm
#110
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AGR, PC, HH no status as I stopped paying for travel
Posts: 1,454
get help
Try sending a PM to Amtrak Insider. She has helped others with similar problems.
In fact there is another thread with a similar problem.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...einstated.html
In fact there is another thread with a similar problem.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...einstated.html
Oct 4, 2011, 2:24 pm
#111
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
Uxb, when did U last ride Amtrak? If it was during/ before Sep. 2008, then under the rules U lose ALL points to expiration--incl. newly-earned partner points 
!
to expiration--incl. newly-earned partner points !
Oct 4, 2011, 3:21 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Oct 4, 2011, 3:22 pm
#113
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Try sending a PM to Amtrak Insider. She has helped others with similar problems.
In fact there is another thread with a similar problem.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...einstated.html
In fact there is another thread with a similar problem.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtra...einstated.html
Oct 5, 2011, 10:27 am
#114
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
It would be nice if:
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
Oct 5, 2011, 10:47 am
#115
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,905
It would be nice if:
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
Oct 5, 2011, 10:51 am
#116
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Oct 5, 2011, 4:01 pm
#117
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
It would be nice if:
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
1. The AGR website has some reasonably easy way to allow a member to determine when their points will expire. A line entry that states "Your points expire MM/DD/YYYY" would be a novel idea.
2. AGR would e-mail members 60 days or so before points expire just as a "heads up".
Right now, points expiration is like an attack by a stealth bomber. By the time you get the hang of what's happening, it's too late.
On a side note: Amtrak told me to f- off even though they arbitrarily pulled these points in September w/o any notice of the rule changes or their intent to pull.
Oct 5, 2011, 4:30 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
That sucks, but it's a loyalty program, after all, not something that exists simply to allow you to launder points.
Oct 5, 2011, 5:58 pm
#119
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Yes, I realise that, but I had intended to use the programme again this year. Part of my new job requires frequent travel to DC. From NY that means shuttle or Amtrak. I would use whatever was cheaper. Sometimes that is the shuttle and sometimes that is Amtrak. I should've at least been given til the end of the year before they started pulling points capriciously.
Oct 5, 2011, 6:25 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Yes, I realise that, but I had intended to use the programme again this year. Part of my new job requires frequent travel to DC. From NY that means shuttle or Amtrak. I would use whatever was cheaper. Sometimes that is the shuttle and sometimes that is Amtrak. I should've at least been given til the end of the year before they started pulling points capriciously.
1) You didn't keep up with the T&C's on how accounts are managed, and haven't been on a train for over three years.
2) AGR kept your account active past the cutoff.
3) AGR offered to reinstate your points if you would get on a train within 30 days.
How is that capricious (not that I even know the definition of the term)? AGR does enough wrong as it is (e.g. posting my return trip before I left on my outbound), but this sounds like they really tried to keep you onboard. The fact it doesn't fit your schedule is the only issue, which you control not AGR.
As for your upcoming travel plans, if Amtrak is still cheaper than air and you have the time, why would you not choose the train? Spite? Again, under your control and not AGR.