Originally Posted by martinplas

Mastercard ran a targetted promo last year that gave some EQM for a sign up bonus for their World Master Card. I think it was 2500 EQM.

Originally Posted by themicah

Amtrak is the only way I know of. You can either take the Acela Express between NYP and WAS or BOS, or you can take the CO codeshare Amtrak metal flights (but those require a connection to an actual CO flight at EWR).

Originally Posted by From the CO website:

Earn Base Miles, Elite Qualification Miles and Elite Qualification Point(s) (on qualifying fares) per Coach or Business class segment on Amtrak when you fly on Continental and make a connection at Newark Liberty International Airport to/from any of the following Amtrak destinations: New Haven Rail Station, CT; Stamford Rail Station, CT; Philadelphia 30th Street Station, PA; Wilmington Rail Station, DE. See the chart below for codeshare mileage accrual information.

Earn 500 Base Miles, 500 Elite Qualification Miles and one Elite Qualification Point per Business class segment or 750 Base Miles, 750 Elite Qualification Miles and two Elite Qualification Points per First class segment on Metroliner and Acela Express trains (no connecting flight required) between New York's Penn Station and the following train stations: Boston's South Station, MA; Boston's Back Bay Station, MA; Boston's Route 128 Station, MA; Washington D.C.


Mileage Accrual Chart


Continental Airlines (CO) flight number on Amtrak-operated segments

Eligible Continental Airlines Fare Classes OnePass Elite Qualification
Class of Service Purchased Fare Class Base Miles Elite Qualification Miles Elite Qualification Points
Business Class A, D 325 488 2
Coach Class Y, N, U 250 250 1
Discount Coach Class B, H, K, Q, S, T, V, L 250 125 0


In addition, OnePass Elite members will earn mileage bonuses based on their current Elite level:

Platinum Elite -- 125% mileage bonus

Gold Elite -- 100% mileage bonus

Silver Elite -- 50% mileage bonus

Originally Posted by kersie

You can also take a Metroliner, but then you must sit in Business or First (Acela's minimum service class is business, if I recall correctly). This could be an easy way to pick up some segments, especially in first class. Of course, Amtrak is often more than the corresponding flight to these cities!