I just booked us, using Guest Rewards Points, VAC-SEA (Business Class on the 5:45PM Cascades on 20 May 2011) continuing the next day SEA-SBA on #11 in Bedroom C, Car 1131. The agent, Patricia in Philadelphia, was really sharp and pleasant to work with.
I wasn't aware you could break a trip. She said that you can as long as you continue within 24 hours of the break.
I also wasn't aware that since the Bedroom was for 1 or 2 people the Business Class VAC-SEA was also for 1 or 2. The name of the second person can be changed with no charge.
The total was 20,000 points until she reminded me that, since I have the Guest Rewards Credit Card, I would get a 5% rebate bringing it down to 19,000 points for a bit more than $1,000.00 worth of travel and meals!
The airline frequent flyer programs could learn a lot!
Frank in cool and clear SBA
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Very interesting that you can make a 24 hour break in an AGR trip. That opens up lots of possibilities: an overnight in Portland on CS, or a day in DC on a NY trip on a Silver train.
But, I guess that does not mean that you could connect in Chicago from today's train from the east coast to tomorrow's train on a western route as that would be slightly more than 24 hours.
This option would be more useful if there were more routes with 'two a day'.
Posted by Room Service (Member # 2405) on :
quote: since I have the Guest Rewards Credit Card, I would get a 5% rebate
Is that something new? That has never been offered to me.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Hmmmm.....I never knew about the 24 hour break either. Boy, that could really make trip planning easier so that you don't have to worry or stress about making a connection with a train (just overnight in a hotel and you can relax and not worry if you're late).
Thank you for the info!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
About 'breaking' the trip -
It has always been acceptable to have an overnight layover in cases where the next available train continuing on to your ultimate destination does not depart until the next day.
In this case coming in to Seattle from Vancouver and then getting the next morning's Coast Starlight.
Now I wonder if, by using the 24 hour rule, one might, for instance, ride #3 westward, stop for 24 hours in Winslow, AZ, and then continue on the next days' #3 without incurring a charge for a separate trip?
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
My concern was that since there is a connecting, same day service (The very early BUS from VAC.) I would have to take that or use two rewards.
As I said, I was really pleased with the customer service I got from Guest Rewards.