Amtrak and Continental Airlines have been partners since 2002 and many members of both programs have been wondering what will happen now that Continental is merging with United. Amtrak Guest Rewards and United Airlines are reportedly working on developing a new partnership. The details of the partnership, however, have not been announced. In the meantime, members of Continental OnePass and Amtrak Guest Rewards can transfer miles into points or points into miles in increments of 5,000 miles/points at a 1:1 ratio through Dec. 31, 2011.
Amtrak Select Guest members will be able to access United Clubs through February 2012, and further information will be available after the programs finalize details about lounge access beyond February. Amtrak Guest Rewards members will be able to earn points on Continental codeshare flights through March 2012. Beginning in March, members can choose to earn Guest Rewards points on United operated flights.
Bottom line: It’s not clear yet whether Amtrak Guest Rewards and United MileagePlus members will be able to transfer points between the two programs at a 1:1 ratio and you have until Dec. 31, 2011 to complete transfers between Amtrak Guest Rewards and Continental OnePass. We suggest you complete your transfers between OnePass and Guest Rewards by Dec. 31, 2011 in case the new partnership with United does not include a reciprocal transfer agreement. There are restrictions for who can transfer points to miles: Amtrak Guest Rewards members must have Select or Select Plus status or must be holders of a Chase Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard with $200 of annual travel on Amtrak to transfer Guest Rewards points to Continental OnePass miles.
