Tinker to Evers to Chance
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,371
Tinker to Evers to Chance
Im relatively new here and Id appreciate some advice and comments. Although Ive redeemed my share of international premium seat awards Ive also saved lots of miles, more than a few hundred thousand on each of United/Continetal, American, US Air and Delta. Im not a business traveler yet Ive managed to maintain Premier Executive on United for several years by doing a couple of MRs each year and taking advantage of credit card EQM promotions. Ive got lifetime Gold on American mainly through BD and Credit Cards bonuses (THANK YOU FT!). My plan is to achieve lifetime Platinum and then not worry about maintaining status with United.
I just signed up for the Amtrak and Choice Hotels programs, I dont have any plans to actually travel or stay with either of them. Im thinking about transferring 300,000 or 400,000 or 500,000 United/Continetal miles to Amtrak then to Choice then to American. As far as I can tell Ill lose 40% of the initial miles in the process but it might be worth it to me. (A quick search for Amtrak and Choice credit cards didnt reveal any major (>50,000) sign-up bonuses so Im not certain getting either of their credit cards would be helpful and worth the hit to my ability to get other credit cards.)
Im wondering if theres a flaw in my understanding of the transfer process that Im not aware of. Do the Amtrak or Choice programs require any real participation (a train ride or a hotel stay)? Is there a limit to the number of miles or points that can be transferred? Is the process highly time consuming? Is there a significant $ cost? Anything else?
Thank you very much.
I just signed up for the Amtrak and Choice Hotels programs, I dont have any plans to actually travel or stay with either of them. Im thinking about transferring 300,000 or 400,000 or 500,000 United/Continetal miles to Amtrak then to Choice then to American. As far as I can tell Ill lose 40% of the initial miles in the process but it might be worth it to me. (A quick search for Amtrak and Choice credit cards didnt reveal any major (>50,000) sign-up bonuses so Im not certain getting either of their credit cards would be helpful and worth the hit to my ability to get other credit cards.)
Im wondering if theres a flaw in my understanding of the transfer process that Im not aware of. Do the Amtrak or Choice programs require any real participation (a train ride or a hotel stay)? Is there a limit to the number of miles or points that can be transferred? Is the process highly time consuming? Is there a significant $ cost? Anything else?
Thank you very much.
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BNA
Programs: No preference
Posts: 1,176
Is the transfer important enough to you to basically lose an international first award ticket? ... or two?
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: OKC (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma
Programs: Marriott Gold; IHG Platinum; Insomnia Cookies
Posts: 514
The Amtrak to Choice transfer has restrictions and a fairly small cap:
https://amtrakguestrewards.com/redeem/hotelPoints/4013
You either need Amtrak status, or the credit card and Amtrak spend. Even then, it's limited and it would take you several years to make that transfer. It doesn't make a lot of sense.
https://amtrakguestrewards.com/redeem/hotelPoints/4013
You either need Amtrak status, or the credit card and Amtrak spend. Even then, it's limited and it would take you several years to make that transfer. It doesn't make a lot of sense.
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BNA
Programs: No preference
Posts: 1,176
This may see obvious, but have you gotten all of the AA cards? Both personals and then churning of the business? Also, signing up for a couple of Hilton cards then transferring can get you another 60k or so.
#5
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,055
#6
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
One thing to wonder about is whether Amtrak would change their program significantly without any notice.
But you don't have to wonder-they've did it twice in he past. The first time they limited the number of miles that you can transfer in a year to 25k, which restriction may still be in effect. The second time was to eliminate certain partners to which miles could be transferred.
I don't know when Amtrak will again change its program without advance notice, but I plan my activities on the assumption that, based on the past, they may well do so.
But you don't have to wonder-they've did it twice in he past. The first time they limited the number of miles that you can transfer in a year to 25k, which restriction may still be in effect. The second time was to eliminate certain partners to which miles could be transferred.
I don't know when Amtrak will again change its program without advance notice, but I plan my activities on the assumption that, based on the past, they may well do so.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,371
Is the transfer important enough to you to basically lose an international first award ticket? ... or two?
This may see obvious, but have you gotten all of the AA cards? Both personals and then churning of the business? Also, signing up for a couple of Hilton cards then transferring can get you another 60k or so.
(from multiple authors) The Amtrak to Choice transfer has restrictions and a fairly small cap:
You either need Amtrak status, or the credit card and Amtrak spend
At 25,000 points per year it would take decades to transfer 500,000.
You either need Amtrak status, or the credit card and Amtrak spend
At 25,000 points per year it would take decades to transfer 500,000.
Redemption of Amtrak Guest Rewards points for Choice Privileges points is only available to the following members with the associated annual point transfer caps, inclusive of all transfers, as outlined in the program Terms and Conditions:
Members with current Amtrak Guest Rewards Select or Select Plus status, with an annual point transfer limit of 50,000
Cardholders of the Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard issued by Chase Bank with an Amtrak travel spend on the card of over $200 per calendar year, with an annual point transfer limit of 25,000 per year
Members with current Amtrak Guest Rewards Select or Select Plus status, with an annual point transfer limit of 50,000
Cardholders of the Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard issued by Chase Bank with an Amtrak travel spend on the card of over $200 per calendar year, with an annual point transfer limit of 25,000 per year
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,135
?? asked and answered so we'll close 'er down.