posted
I see many affiliates for this feature. How does one walk into Barnes & Noble (for example) and buy things and apply these toward Amtrak Guest Rewards?
No plans to get a card, but this should be possible anyway.
Thanks for the insight.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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First step is to apply for an Amtrak Guest Rewards Master Charge credit card that is issued by Maryland Bank; National Association, or MBNA. Their web page lists the numerous affinity cards, of which Guest Rewards is merely one, they issue.
After approval and receipt of the card, start shopping at the various partcipating merchants and the reward points, both the basic points for using the card anywhere as well as your bonus points for use at the participants, will be credited to your Amtrak reward point account.
D. David Member # 4055
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Well according to their site, just purchasing from these places is all I need to do and the MC isn't a requirement. So how is it done? Are the receipts submitted? Does one give the card at the register do the sale is transmitted via code to Amtrak?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Oh, in other words, Mr. David, you wish to use another card ('Daddy, what's cash?") and have points credited to your Amtrak rewards account?
Don't know about that one, even though I think the only merchant that works with is Amtrak.
D. David Member # 4055
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LOL. Exactly.
I guess I'll have to buckle and call them.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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A review of this page which leads to the "Mall" certainly suggests that you must use the Amtrak Guest Rewards Master Card in order to earn reward points
Lest we forget, there has to be something "in it' for the card issuer and Amtrak. I think the issuer must "buy' those points from Amtrak when they are awarded for use elsewhere (i.e. Barnes & Noble). "What's in it' for the issuer is the merchant discount fee and the 65% probability that the cardholder will carry a balance subject to 18% Finance Charges.
I tend to think credit cards are analagous to "reverse Robin Hood'. While taxation largely represents confiscating the "haves' to support the "have nots', with credit cards the 'have nots', i.e. those who "rob Peter to pay Paul' or take a cash advance from Master Card to make the miniumum payment due Visa, are subsidizing the "haves' who simply write out a check for the "New Balance' each month and accordingly incur no Finance Charges or other fees.
D. David Member # 4055
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Thanks...
According to support, certain things like Hilton and various affiliates will take your Guest Rewards number during the transaction. I've applied for the card anyway.
sbalax Member # 2801
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I posted this in the other string about the Guest Rewards Card.
This appeared in the Summer/Fall Continental Quarterly ("Published for employees of Continental Airlines and their families."
CO's OnePass Partner Marketing Group generated more than $400 million in revenue in 2004, or roughly 5 percent of the company's revenue. They bring in revenue through the sale of OnePass miles to more than 100 marketing partners that, in turn, award the miles to customers for doing business with them.
CO's OnePass partners include credit and debit card issuers, telecommunication companies, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, grocery stores, mortgage companies, utilities and restaurants. The airline also has agreements with online retailers that offer miles when shoppers enter their sites via "ShopOnePass" at continental.com. These retailers include Target, Sears, L.L.Bean, Gap, Circuit City, Dell, Netflix, Barnes & Noble and Macy's.
Aside from generating revenue, Partner Marketing aims to build loyalty to CO through the frequent flyer program.
So, that's pretty much how it works. You get points or miles by using the cards but to get the "bonus" points you need to shop online using the "portal".
We have both the Continental and GuestRewards Cards. We pay the balance off every month so the only cost is the yearly fee on the CO card. There is no annual fee for the GuestRewards card. We have more than 500,000 OnePass miles with virtually none coming from air travel (We travel on employee passes) and close to 50,000 on the Guest Rewards Card.
One nice feature is that Continental and Guest Rewards allow the transfer of points/miles between the two programs and we have used this to "top off" the Guest Rewards account when we were a few points short.
I hope this helps answer your original question.
Frank in GORGEOUS SBA
North Coast Hiawatha Member # 2323
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i didnt know there was a yearly fee for the amtrak card....
sbalax Member # 2801
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I mispoke and have corrected the post. There is a fee for the Continental Card but not for Guest Rewards.
Frank in still sunny and warm SBA
North Coast Hiawatha Member # 2323
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I see People get 2 points for each dollar spent on amtrak travel. So if i use my guestrewards credit card do i get 3 points (an additional point for using the credit card?)
North Coast Hiawatha Member # 2323
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Also Frank in Sunny Santa Barbara---do you happen to know a Jim Sutherland from Washington Wimp Watch.Org?
I work in a Senators Office in DC, and this organization is sending rubber chickens to all senators they deem to be a "wimp". Return address is Santa Barbara, CA.
Its quit amusing to me. Ive got one of these chickens as an amusement item at my desk.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Don't know the guy. It's not the small town it was when I moved here for college in 1959.
Frank in, finally, sunny SBA.
snake Member # 2430
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Frank in GORGEOUS SBA wrote:
quote:One nice feature is that Continental and Guest Rewards allow the transfer of points/miles between the two programs and we have used this to "top off" the Guest Rewards account when we were a few points short.
Don't OnePass/Guest Rewards transfers have to be done in blocks of 5,000 points/miles?
D. David Member # 4055
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It's all moot. My credit rating is still "artist status" LOL
sbalax Member # 2801
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Snake--
Yes, the transfers must be done in blocks of 5,000 points/miles.
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