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Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
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So yesterday I called my local travel agent to get a couple Amtrak tickets. I want to use some Amtrak bonus points for a free one-way.
Agent says that only Amtrak can redeem bonus points, so I need to book through Amtrak reservations.
Call Amtrak reservations, answer about a dozen computer-generated questions, enter my member number ... and get put on hold for over an hour, then (of course) an automatic hangup.
Call again, go through same touch-tone fun, this time get "our reservation agents are currently busy, please call again". Automated hangup again.
Call again 20 minutes later, same touch-tone fun, get through all the way to a human being - and am told the reservation system is currently unavailable.
Call again around 7pm. Busy signal all evening.
So this morning I call again. Touch-tone fun. Finally get agent who says: "To use your bonus points, you have to book through our Member Benefits number. I can't access your bonus records from the reservation system".
After some colorful gnashing of teeth, about 20 minutes ago I called the Member Benefits number. Punch in a gazillion touch-tone replies, and get "Member Benefits is open to serve you from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday. Please call back during business hours."
And to top it off nicely - if I call on Monday it'll be too late for them to mail me the tickets for the Thursday trip. I'd have to pick them up at the closest Amtrak station, which is a two hour drive away. And as my train leaves at 11:30pm, and the station closes at 6pm, it would be a looooooong wait in between.
argh.
T.
Agent says that only Amtrak can redeem bonus points, so I need to book through Amtrak reservations.
Call Amtrak reservations, answer about a dozen computer-generated questions, enter my member number ... and get put on hold for over an hour, then (of course) an automatic hangup.
Call again, go through same touch-tone fun, this time get "our reservation agents are currently busy, please call again". Automated hangup again.
Call again 20 minutes later, same touch-tone fun, get through all the way to a human being - and am told the reservation system is currently unavailable.
Call again around 7pm. Busy signal all evening.
So this morning I call again. Touch-tone fun. Finally get agent who says: "To use your bonus points, you have to book through our Member Benefits number. I can't access your bonus records from the reservation system".
After some colorful gnashing of teeth, about 20 minutes ago I called the Member Benefits number. Punch in a gazillion touch-tone replies, and get "Member Benefits is open to serve you from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday. Please call back during business hours."
And to top it off nicely - if I call on Monday it'll be too late for them to mail me the tickets for the Thursday trip. I'd have to pick them up at the closest Amtrak station, which is a two hour drive away. And as my train leaves at 11:30pm, and the station closes at 6pm, it would be a looooooong wait in between.
argh.
T.