New Chase Amtrak Bonus, Credit Card Lists Updated, 1-Day Amazon Kindle Fire Sale and Guess What I’m Not Bitching About (Because Everyone Else Already Has)!

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I’m in a corner suite at Trump Taj, Atlantic city. Unlike Vegas, a $20 trick had never landed me in a really nice suite in AC. I’m not really a gambler, so maybe a junior suite, or more often a better room in a better tower with a view. I guess, it’s a combination of the place being dead (after barely avoiding the shutdown) and a very nice front desk guy who has known me for years. Anyway, too bad I’m here for only two days. I could use some tranquility. 🙂

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Trump Taj Corner Suite, Atlantic City

Anyway, the Chase Amtrak bonus has been increased to 18,000 miles. It’s still not the 32,000 miles bonus that was available 3 or 4 years ago, but it’s better than 12,000. And if you ask me how I would use 18,000 Amtrak miles, here is how.

Chase Amtrak 18000 Bonus

Chase Amtrak 18000 Bonus

  1. I would transfer 7,000 UR points to raise the stack to 25,000.
  2. I would then buy a $200 Amtrak business class ticket or better yet grab a spartner and book a trip in a roomette (food is free for everyone in a cabin). Check Amsnag and Railserve for the listings of Amtrak coupons and discounts. They do exist.
  3. Then I would call Amtrak and transfer 25,000 miles into 75,000 Choice Privileges points. Yes, this is one of the shittiest and least flexible hotel programs out there, but it can be an incredible value if you play your cards right. If I did have a partner who hasn’t gotten the Chase Amtrak bonus in the last 2 years, I swear, I would beg her to apply for this card again. 150,000 Choice Privileges points can go a very long way in Europe.
  4. Unfortunately, you can’t complete the step 3 without the step 2. Amtrak wants you to sample its product hoping you fall in love with them. Only why unfortunately? If you don’t live on the East Coast, you might probably find some aspirational, roomette-worthy routes and that is money well-spent.

Or forgo the fancy stuff, and just go in coach wherever you want to. In addition to increased bonus, Amtrak also adds a Companion certificate. This is new. I don’t remember Chase and Amtrak ever offering a Companion certificate. Although, I think, there is a discrepancy.

Companion Ticket: Coupon valid for one (1) free companion fare when traveling with a paid regular (full) adult rail fare. Free companion and paying passenger must travel together at all times and have ticket issued at the same time. Valid for sale and travel completed within one year after qualifying for the companion coupon. Travel blackouts apply: January 3-5, 2014; February 14, 2014; February 17, 2014; April 17-18, 2014; April 21, 2014; May 23, 2014, July 3, 2014; July 6, 2014; August 29, 2014; September 1, 2014; October 10, 2014; November 25-26, 2014; November 29, 2014 – December 1, 2014; December 20-24, 2014; December 26-31, 2014; January 2-4, 2015; February 13, 2015; February 16, 2015: April 2-3, 2015; April 6, 2015; May 22, 2015; May 25, 2015; July 2-3, 2015; July 5, 2015; September 4, 2015; September 7, 2015; October 12, 2015; November 24-25, 2015; November 28-29, 2015; December 19-23, 2015; December 26-30, 2015; January 2-3 2016. Valid for travel as one (1) one-way or one (1) round trip on one reservation per coupon. Both tickets for roundtrip must be reserved at the same time. Valid for travel on all Amtrak services except joint Amtrak/VIA Rail service and 7000-8999 Thruway series. Free Companion offer may be combined with corporate discounts, but not combined with any other discount, coupon or Amtrak Guest Rewards redemption travel. Offer valid for coach rail fare only (Business class or Acela); not valid for sleeper accommodations, Upgrades to Business class or First Class is available upon full payment of applicable accommodation charges.

Can anyone explain to me how it’s valid for coach, yet Business class or Acela are included, and yet, upgrades to business class are available? Something doesn’t click here for me.

My best in the world travel credit card lists are updated. 

You can find them here and here. OK, enough said.

What I am not bitching about?

Delta taking the chart off the air. Not that it isn’t a shitty thing to do, but everyone has already ranted about it before me. And besides, does it necessarily mean they are going to screw us going forward? And if so, does it mean I won’t have a chance to unload whatever Delta miles I have? Well, we’ll see.

In any case, Dans Deals has links to all Delta charts that will surely come handy when you decide

+to take Delta to court. Bookmark them now!

Amazon has a Valentine sale on 4G LTE Fire HDX 8.9 for $299 today only.

I have no idea if there is a reseller value in it, but it surely sounds like a good deal. Should I get one considering that I don’t need it at all? 🙂

Amazon Sale on Fire HDX 8.9

Amazon Sale on Fire HDX 8.9

 

 

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[…] Hat tip to Lazy Travellers […]

[…] to Lazy Travelers for pointing this deal […]

MileCards.com

Here’s how we read the companion ticket fine print:

You *can* book Business Class on the Acela only (it’s the lowest possible class on those trains) and ‘upgrades to business and first class *are* available’ when you pay the accommodation charge on the coach fare. But no upgrades to sleepers.

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