No Amtrak travel in 3 years, lose all your miles
Oct 5, 2011, 7:41 pm
#121
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
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 6, 2011, 7:51 am
#122
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
So as I understand it:
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.
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.
Last edited by uxb; Oct 6, 2011 at 7:58 am
Oct 6, 2011, 9:05 am
#123
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AGR, PC, HH no status as I stopped paying for travel
Posts: 1,454
Spite suits me fine. Advance notice of pending account action is the real question. I think that, as well as notification of T+C changes are both necessary and proper. If every airline, guest and other loyalty programme can provide ample notice of a change in T+C or point expiration, then why not Amtrak? They did me no favour in keeping my account open. It was there for me to use or not use. I finally decided to use it again, and they plundered it. I don't know how you could sit and argue in favour of this policy.
Try the following phrase. I messed up and my points expired. It was my responsibility to understand the T&C's of the AGR program.
Oct 6, 2011, 9:18 am
#124
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
You are wrong and ridiculous. I didn't mess up, and I didn't let my points expire. AGR went into my account in the middle of a year, and stole my points under the guise of "points expiration."
Oct 6, 2011, 10:54 am
#125
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 167
It takes three years from the last ride on AMTRAK metal before your points expire. That's over 1000 days! Asking you to take one trip on a train every 1000 days doesn't seem too difficult, it's less than a 0.1% commitment of your time to keep the account active. It's a day trip to a nearby city, an overnight at worst (so you can keep your hotel accounts alive too!)
If I'm to understand uxb correctly, if he took a ride in January of 2008, he should have until December of 2011 to maintain his points, but that's significantly more than three years... 2008, 2009, 2010 and all of 2011. Know your anniversary dates, look at your transaction history (to see your most recent trips) and be happy that AGR exists and is so liberal with their requirements when other rewards programs can require participation every two years, 18 months or, at one local restaurant, five visits in a 90 day rolling period!
0.1%
My AGR account is mostly for the long distance trips I take on Auto Train and out west. It's been slow to accumulate points, but meeting the 'once every three years' requirement isn't that much of a mind bender because I can rely on a trip at least once every other year or so. Eventually one of those trips will be free and maintaining the account for over a decade will have paid off.
If I'm to understand uxb correctly, if he took a ride in January of 2008, he should have until December of 2011 to maintain his points, but that's significantly more than three years... 2008, 2009, 2010 and all of 2011. Know your anniversary dates, look at your transaction history (to see your most recent trips) and be happy that AGR exists and is so liberal with their requirements when other rewards programs can require participation every two years, 18 months or, at one local restaurant, five visits in a 90 day rolling period!
0.1%
My AGR account is mostly for the long distance trips I take on Auto Train and out west. It's been slow to accumulate points, but meeting the 'once every three years' requirement isn't that much of a mind bender because I can rely on a trip at least once every other year or so. Eventually one of those trips will be free and maintaining the account for over a decade will have paid off.
Oct 6, 2011, 12:17 pm
#126
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,905
I don't understand the hostility here. Sure, it's the member's fault for not riding Amtrak for 3 years, but displaying an expiration date is a customer service issue that many other programs have recognized. There's no reason why Amtrak shouldn't display it.
Consider this: I transferred miles to AGR during my third year. If I hadn't burned them on train tickets they would have expired within a few months despite the transfer date. That kind of policy is counter-intuitive and non-standard.
Consider this: I transferred miles to AGR during my third year. If I hadn't burned them on train tickets they would have expired within a few months despite the transfer date. That kind of policy is counter-intuitive and non-standard.
Oct 6, 2011, 12:34 pm
#127
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 takes three years from the last ride on AMTRAK metal before your points expire. That's over 1000 days! Asking you to take one trip on a train every 1000 days doesn't seem too difficult, it's less than a 0.1% commitment of your time to keep the account active. It's a day trip to a nearby city, an overnight at worst (so you can keep your hotel accounts alive too!)
If I'm to understand uxb correctly, if he took a ride in January of 2008, he should have until December of 2011 to maintain his points, but that's significantly more than three years... 2008, 2009, 2010 and all of 2011. Know your anniversary dates, look at your transaction history (to see your most recent trips) and be happy that AGR exists and is so liberal with their requirements when other rewards programs can require participation every two years, 18 months or, at one local restaurant, five visits in a 90 day rolling period!
0.1%
My AGR account is mostly for the long distance trips I take on Auto Train and out west. It's been slow to accumulate points, but meeting the 'once every three years' requirement isn't that much of a mind bender because I can rely on a trip at least once every other year or so. Eventually one of those trips will be free and maintaining the account for over a decade will have paid off.
If I'm to understand uxb correctly, if he took a ride in January of 2008, he should have until December of 2011 to maintain his points, but that's significantly more than three years... 2008, 2009, 2010 and all of 2011. Know your anniversary dates, look at your transaction history (to see your most recent trips) and be happy that AGR exists and is so liberal with their requirements when other rewards programs can require participation every two years, 18 months or, at one local restaurant, five visits in a 90 day rolling period!
0.1%
My AGR account is mostly for the long distance trips I take on Auto Train and out west. It's been slow to accumulate points, but meeting the 'once every three years' requirement isn't that much of a mind bender because I can rely on a trip at least once every other year or so. Eventually one of those trips will be free and maintaining the account for over a decade will have paid off.
I don't understand the hostility here. Sure, it's the member's fault for not riding Amtrak for 3 years, but displaying an expiration date is a customer service issue that many other programs have recognized. There's no reason why Amtrak shouldn't display it.
Consider this: I transferred miles to AGR during my third year. If I hadn't burned them on train tickets they would have expired within a few months despite the transfer date. That kind of policy is counter-intuitive and non-standard.
Consider this: I transferred miles to AGR during my third year. If I hadn't burned them on train tickets they would have expired within a few months despite the transfer date. That kind of policy is counter-intuitive and non-standard.
Oct 6, 2011, 1:52 pm
#128
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 167
To find your last transactions:
Log into AGR.
Go to 'My Account' tab
Under 'Transactions' put the dates of history you want into the search criteria ( I was able to go back to January 1, 2000).
The most recent 'Travel Earning' transaction is your anniversary.
-=-=-
When was your last AMTRAK metal ride based on that?
Log into AGR.
Go to 'My Account' tab
Under 'Transactions' put the dates of history you want into the search criteria ( I was able to go back to January 1, 2000).
The most recent 'Travel Earning' transaction is your anniversary.
-=-=-
When was your last AMTRAK metal ride based on that?
Oct 6, 2011, 2:32 pm
#129
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
They are claiming my last trip was in July '05. Assuming that is true, then they still didn't pull out my points on an anniversary date. It was an arbitrary pull without any notice.
Oct 6, 2011, 4:15 pm
#130
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 167
Since I lost those points, I've been vigilant about keeping the account 'active' and my wife and I frontload her account so we can build up to that big 3 zone trip eventually by making supplemental purchases through the rail mall.
The only strangeness in your post is your statement of 'assuming that were true', meaning you think you rode AMTRAK metal sometime between 2005 and today, and when you did so you gave them your reward number. Did you?
As to 'no notice', that's part of what folks keep trying to tell you. How points expire is in the FAQ, and unless you intentionally opted out, you get a statement every month in email linking back to the AGR site. At least take comfort that others can learn from this and take precautions against losing a commodity, even if they don't use that commodity very often.
Oct 6, 2011, 5:32 pm
#131
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
Looking back, early in my AGR time, I also lost points way back when - mostly the free 'sign up' bonus and one LD trip before we started really using the system. That pull wasn't on an anniversary - instead it looks like it coincided with booking well ahead for another trip at the end of the year, which means the system may only check when you're booking a ticket and it realizes that your account has been dormant too long and makes the adjustment.
Since I lost those points, I've been vigilant about keeping the account 'active' and my wife and I frontload her account so we can build up to that big 3 zone trip eventually by making supplemental purchases through the rail mall.
The only strangeness in your post is your statement of 'assuming that were true', meaning you think you rode AMTRAK metal sometime between 2005 and today, and when you did so you gave them your reward number. Did you?
As to 'no notice', that's part of what folks keep trying to tell you. How points expire is in the FAQ, and unless you intentionally opted out, you get a statement every month in email linking back to the AGR site. At least take comfort that others can learn from this and take precautions against losing a commodity, even if they don't use that commodity very often.
Since I lost those points, I've been vigilant about keeping the account 'active' and my wife and I frontload her account so we can build up to that big 3 zone trip eventually by making supplemental purchases through the rail mall.
The only strangeness in your post is your statement of 'assuming that were true', meaning you think you rode AMTRAK metal sometime between 2005 and today, and when you did so you gave them your reward number. Did you?
As to 'no notice', that's part of what folks keep trying to tell you. How points expire is in the FAQ, and unless you intentionally opted out, you get a statement every month in email linking back to the AGR site. At least take comfort that others can learn from this and take precautions against losing a commodity, even if they don't use that commodity very often.
Oct 14, 2011, 10:24 am
#132
In Memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, Amtrak Exec
Posts: 3,262
While perhaps not the most ideal solution to the problem of expiring AGR points, one could sign up at AwardWallet. They offer Apps for both the iPhone & Android phones, however one doesn't even need to use their Apps if you don't have a smart phone. One can just use a regular web browser on any phone/computer.
If you create an account and provide the details on your accounts, AGR, hotels, airlines, etc., not only will they track the balances in all of your accounts in one place, but they also track point expiration dates and they will send you an email if you have points about to expire. They also display the expiration dates right in the one page display the shows the balances of each account registered with them.
If you create an account and provide the details on your accounts, AGR, hotels, airlines, etc., not only will they track the balances in all of your accounts in one place, but they also track point expiration dates and they will send you an email if you have points about to expire. They also display the expiration dates right in the one page display the shows the balances of each account registered with them.
Apr 20, 2012, 9:06 am
#133
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Just read this entire thread.
I am working outside of the US at the moment and I have just realized that all my Amtrak points (30k) are scheduled to expire in about three weeks. I haven't lived in the US in about three years, and I am not supposed to be back in the US for another two months, so I could use some advice!
If I buy a ticket and have it sent Express Delivery to my US address (since I can't collect it at a station), is that enough to get the points, or does the ticket still need to be scanned by a conductor? I realize some posters in this thread don't think this is entirely ethical, which I respect, so other solutions would be welcome.
Also, does it still take about a week for points to post?
Note that I don't think the AGR Chase card will work, since I just applied for (and got approved for) the BA Chase card two days ago (didn't know about the AGR card at the time).
Would appreciate any advice. The email I received (which was automatically filed into a folder I don't check very often) says my points will expire on May 4th.
And I'm not blaming AGR for this -- it's my own fault for not being attentive!
I am working outside of the US at the moment and I have just realized that all my Amtrak points (30k) are scheduled to expire in about three weeks. I haven't lived in the US in about three years, and I am not supposed to be back in the US for another two months, so I could use some advice!
If I buy a ticket and have it sent Express Delivery to my US address (since I can't collect it at a station), is that enough to get the points, or does the ticket still need to be scanned by a conductor? I realize some posters in this thread don't think this is entirely ethical, which I respect, so other solutions would be welcome.
Also, does it still take about a week for points to post?
Note that I don't think the AGR Chase card will work, since I just applied for (and got approved for) the BA Chase card two days ago (didn't know about the AGR card at the time).
Would appreciate any advice. The email I received (which was automatically filed into a folder I don't check very often) says my points will expire on May 4th.
And I'm not blaming AGR for this -- it's my own fault for not being attentive!
Apr 20, 2012, 9:30 am
#134
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
Just read this entire thread.
I am working outside of the US at the moment and I have just realized that all my Amtrak points (30k) are scheduled to expire in about three weeks. I haven't lived in the US in about three years, and I am not supposed to be back in the US for another two months, so I could use some advice!
If I buy a ticket and have it sent Express Delivery to my US address (since I can't collect it at a station), is that enough to get the points, or does the ticket still need to be scanned by a conductor? I realize some posters in this thread don't think this is entirely ethical, which I respect, so other solutions would be welcome.
Also, does it still take about a week for points to post?
Note that I don't think the AGR Chase card will work, since I just applied for (and got approved for) the BA Chase card two days ago (didn't know about the AGR card at the time).
Would appreciate any advice. The email I received (which was automatically filed into a folder I don't check very often) says my points will expire on May 4th.
And I'm not blaming AGR for this -- it's my own fault for not being attentive!
I am working outside of the US at the moment and I have just realized that all my Amtrak points (30k) are scheduled to expire in about three weeks. I haven't lived in the US in about three years, and I am not supposed to be back in the US for another two months, so I could use some advice!
If I buy a ticket and have it sent Express Delivery to my US address (since I can't collect it at a station), is that enough to get the points, or does the ticket still need to be scanned by a conductor? I realize some posters in this thread don't think this is entirely ethical, which I respect, so other solutions would be welcome.
Also, does it still take about a week for points to post?
Note that I don't think the AGR Chase card will work, since I just applied for (and got approved for) the BA Chase card two days ago (didn't know about the AGR card at the time).
Would appreciate any advice. The email I received (which was automatically filed into a folder I don't check very often) says my points will expire on May 4th.
And I'm not blaming AGR for this -- it's my own fault for not being attentive!
If you do this, make sure the ticket gets scanned/lifted.This too is technically unethical and against the T&Cs, but...
Apr 20, 2012, 9:51 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Don't they have the occasional security checkpoint now? Wouldn't they check your ID against the ticket in that case?
I suppose I could try applying for the AGR Chase card, but not sure if I would be approved, given I just applied for another Chase card two or three days ago…