posted
Now, here is something I've been meaning to ask. If you have a credit card with Amtrak Guest Rewards, no matter how many points you accrue for free travel, only your AMTRAK travel counts for the points to get you Amtrak Select or Select Plus status. If you happen to commute on Metro North in the NYC area or NJ Transit or Metra in the Chicago area or whatever commuter trains, and spend a lot on those local trains, even if you put it on your Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card, that travel has nothing to do with accumulation of points toward Amtrak Select and Select Plus.
However, when I was waiting in DC ACELA lounge on my way bound to FL, an Amtrak employee there told me that they believed people who commuted on MARC, which is something like Metro North etc etc, DO get their MARC train expenses put TOWARD AMTRAK SELECT/SELECT PLUS status and, since they spend lots commuting on MARC in a year, get to use the ACELA Lounge in DC because of it. Has anyone heard about this? Is it true???
If so, it seems kind of unfair to me. I would think the ACELA Lounge would be saved for people who spend big bucks on AMTRAK.
Or was I misinformed????
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Amtrak is the contracted operator for the MARC trains which use the Northeast Corridor tracks. (Those identified as 'Penn Line' trains.)
I don't know for certain but because Amtrak crews are operating these trains, it is entirely possible that MARC passengers are earning points towards AGR perks.....
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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