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:: Late-Breaking News |
Amtrak Guest Rewards to Reopen Transfers to Choice Privileges
(Posted: Dec 14, 2007)
According to Michael Blakey, Amtrak's Senior Director for Loyalty Marketing, the exchange option was temporarily closed due to high volumes of exchanges, and will be re-opened Dec. 14.
Choice Privileges joined the Amtrak Guest Rewards program as a partner at the end of May earlier this year. Recently, Amtrak introduced a very lucrative exchange opportunity through the Choice Privileges program where Amtrak Guest Rewards members could convert 5,000 Amtrak points to 25,000 Privileges points, which could then be converted to 5,000 frequent flyer miles with several airline programs.
On Dec. 1, Amtrak changed the exchange rate, offering members 15,000 Choice Privileges points in exchange for 5,000 Guest Rewards points - a reduction of 10,000 points. Then, on Dec. 6, the redemption option was closed entirely.
Once the exchange option is reopened, Amtrak Guest Rewards members will again be able to transfer points from Guest Rewards to their Choice Privileges account at a rate of 5,000 to 15,000 points, and transfers will be completed for members who were in the middle of a transfer when the closure occurred. According to Blakey, the exchange option will remain in effect through the end of 2007, at which time changes to the program will be instituted. As of Jan. 1, 2008, the Guest Rewards exchange program will only be available to elite members (Select and Select Plus) and members who hold an Amtrak co-branded MasterCard. Elite members will be able to transfer at a rate of 5,000 Guest Rewards points to 15,000 Choice Privileges points.
A few members have reported points being removed from their Choice Privileges accounts, points which had been transferred from Amtrak Guest Rewards. According to Blakey, the only members who have been impacted by these removals are those who opened more than one Amtrak Guest Rewards account, which violates the programs' terms and conditions. He told us that any points removed from Choice Privileges accounts will be returned back into the members' Guest Rewards account.
Previous comments:
Jay
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 12:38am (MT)
This is great news!
Getiton
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 1:41am (MT)
We always knew Randy was the POWER to cut through all the confusion.The man has proved it again,Thanks to our Leader.
Brendan
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 3:57am (MT)
Oh-so-thank-U, Randy!
This will help many FTers, but not me, as I have hit my 2007 limit. I still won't be able to transfer out the 10K AGR I still have--not even to Hilton nor CO nor Midwest!
none@none.com
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 4:56am (MT)
Will elites transfer at the 15k rate or the old 25k rate?
Firewind
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 5:20am (MT)
Nothing quite like a Highly Placed Henry getting into the act to broker a deal. And leave it to Randy not to mention anything about his own role in the article. Brilliant! And thank you.
Firewind
posted: Dec 14, 2007 at 5:22am (MT)
Oh - what about ChoicePrivileges? Was the onus all on Amtrak?
Ghostdog
posted: Dec 15, 2007 at 4:00pm (MT)
My dance instructor taught me it takes two to tango, so Choice is just as much a party to this as is Amtrak.
Does anyone really believe Randy brokered a deal? That\\\'s not exactly the business he\\\'s in.
newflyer
posted: Dec 17, 2007 at 7:32pm (MT)
I just called Amtrak to try and transfer to Choice and was told all transfers were suspended until after the 1st of the year.
So this is NOT open as indicated in the article.
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