Seven Star Transportation Credit when companion cannot fly?

I haven't been gambling much in the past couple years, but I'm planning on making a run at 7* in the next couple of months. I'm not really an advantage player, but I only play video poker and pretty much refuse to play anything less than FP JoB. I'm pretty sure that after I complete my initial run, CET hosts aren't going to be terribly interested in giving me anything much more than the bare minimum.

Anyway, I mostly travel with my father, who has a whole slew of medical issues that make planning trips more difficult. We travel primarily by train, though we have successfully taken a reasonably comfortable transcontinental trip by booking him on a lie-flat redeye route.

How flexible is Total Rewards when it comes to the transportation comps, either the annual perks or via offers? I'd be fine if Passport can book Amtrak directly, or offered the transportation costs as points or free play. Folio credits wouldn't be nearly as useful unless the balance can be refunded after the trip, we're not big spenders.

I expect my 'home' casino to be Harrah's Lake Tahoe, with most other trips in New Orleans and perhaps Atlantic City. If anyone has any experience or advice - or perhaps a particularly good host in Tahoe - it'd be much appreciated.

Hi Synergistic:

Welcome to the board. I do not have information on the non-airline transportation questions for Seven Stars. I do get offers for "transportation reimbursement" at such places as Rincon and occasionally for Kansas City and Council Bluffs, IA all you need to do with those is hand over the coupon regardless of whether you flew, drove, or took the train.

To the extent you take the Seven Stars annual trip to Harrah's New Orleans, you will not be given "folio credit" which is use it or lose it, but will be issued 50,000 in Total Rewards Credits which you can use on that trip for expenses, convert to free play, or take with you for use on your subsequent trips.

FAB

I have never heard of them offering to pay for alternative travel for your Seven Stars trip.

For example, my home casino is in Vegas. Let's say I wanted my "trip" to be to Tahoe, but I wanted to rent a car to drive there instead of flying. Even if it would be cheaper, they would deny this.

Perhaps you can talk someone into this, but I have a feeling the answer will be no.

Thank you both for the quick responses.

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Originally Posted by FABismonte

Hi Synergistic:

Welcome to the board. I do not have information on the non-airline transportation questions for Seven Stars. I do get offers for "transportation reimbursement" at such places as Rincon and occasionally for Kansas City and Council Bluffs, IA all you need to do with those is hand over the coupon regardless of whether you flew, drove, or took the train.

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I'm glad to know that Rincon gives "reimbursement" offers, as I know we can get there. May I ask how the reimbursement is given?

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Originally Posted by FABismonte

To the extent you take the Seven Stars annual trip to Harrah's New Orleans, you will not be given "folio credit" which is use it or lose it, but will be issued 50,000 in Total Rewards Credits which you can use on that trip for expenses, convert to free play, or take with you for use on your subsequent trips.

FAB

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That is exactly my intention - I'm planning to combine my annual retreat with a cruise out of New Orleans. It's a completely asinine route via train to get from Florida to NO - via Washington and Chicago! - but meals are included with sleeper cars, I can work, and he enjoys the trip.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I have never heard of them offering to pay for alternative travel for your Seven Stars trip.

For example, my home casino is in Vegas. Let's say I wanted my "trip" to be to Tahoe, but I wanted to rent a car to drive there instead of flying. Even if it would be cheaper, they would deny this.

Perhaps you can talk someone into this, but I have a feeling the answer will be no.

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I seem to recall, eons ago, one of the 'big name' VP authors describing a long road trip where she and her husband were given credit for their travel without booking flights. Unfortunately, I can't remember for the life of me if this was allowed as an exception due to disability, via "reimbursement" offers like FAB described, or just a generous host. I could even be inventing that memory, it's hard to say.

Regardless, the responses are appreciated. I'm hopeful the benefits I'm looking forward to will not be overly butchered when 2015 program details are finalized. We spend a LOT of money to travel safely and comfortably each year, and I'll happily shift some of that spending to bankroll.

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Originally Posted by synergistic

I'm glad to know that Rincon gives "reimbursement" offers, as I know we can get there. May I ask how the reimbursement is given?

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I receive coupons from Rincon by mail. It typically comes with a four part single page of coupons: (1) Free Play; (2) Hotel offer with food credit; (3) Spa Credit and (4) Travel Reimbursement coupon. I am looking at my current travel reimbursement coupon and it states "Receive $400 in travel reimbursement when you visit Harrah's Resort Southern California." There is no restrictions as to flights or any statement that I need to bring receipts, boarding passes, ect. And I have never been asked for any documentation.

I recall I received this kind of offer the first time on an unsolicited basis and have kept getting them every quarter based on my visiting Rincon once a year. I assume I initially fit their profile based on my past action in Las Vegas or maybe Lake Tahoe and because I live in Silicon Valley, CA. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to initiate such a travel reimbursement offer. My host at Rincon is more of an order taker than anything else in my experience.

I also think that if you lost a LOT of money on a casino trip, you can sometimes get your "air fare comped" through a host whether or not you have flown as long as what you ask is within the host's budget for losing players. I am not suggesting that as a strategy, but rather as salve to a gambler's wound.

FAB

Maybe your best bet is to simply call Passport at 1-800-984-8004 (they're open 'til 6pm PST, I think), and find out.

Gosh, I always drive to Vegas... even when I have offers that include free air travel. I could get a plane from Burbank or LAX but why bother? I would love to get some sort of reimbursement -- even for the $60 of gas.

Good questions synergistic and thanks for joining and for posting.

Well, I called Passport yesterday, and the rep said that unfortunately they can only book air travel. She did say that she 'imagines' that a host would be able to work something out, because they're all required to make reasonable accommodations for disabilities.

I believe I'll be making the first trip solo anyway, so hopefully I'll have made contact with a good host who can tell me what options they have to work with us.

Thanks again for the help and the welcome =)

Hi Synergistic:

The Seven Stars Insider website states this regarding the Annual Seven Stars trip: "Air transportation, valued at no more than $1,200, is made through Caesars travel agency, Passport Travel. (For those of you who, due to medical conditions or personal reasons, are unable to fly, contact your host about other potential transportation options.)"

This is not an official CET website but the author is pretty knowledgeable. So it looks like a diligent host might be able to help you.

FAB

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

Gosh, I always drive to Vegas... even when I have offers that include free air travel. I could get a plane from Burbank or LAX but why bother? I would love to get some sort of reimbursement -- even for the $60 of gas.

Good questions synergistic and thanks for joining and for posting.

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Hi Alan, we have always been reimbursed for gas on every single trip to Caesars Windsor casino. Our drive from Toronto to Windsor is 3.5 hrs without traffic. We typically filled our tank before exiting the highway and refill tank again when we arrived at the casino. Average reimbursement is about $100. My understanding is that hosts can reimburse their clients upto $150 for transportation without requiring their boss's approval. It is within their discretionary power to do so. As long as your host agrees to this arrangement, you can get reimbursed on every trip. For us to get reimbursed, we just pop into host office and any available host can issue reimbursement voucher upon presenting gas receipts. We then take the voucher to the cashier cage to get our cash back. We've always paid gas on credit card to get points but we get cash back.

I am going to ask about gas reimbursements. Thanks Kduong. I will post what I am told.

I checked with some hosts at Caesars including a host supervisor who said they never heard of gasoline reimbursements. Regarding airfare: "Airfare reimbursements outside of the Seven Star/Diamond trips are based on a certain criteria we have and is awarded at the end of the stay."

I know of players who have flown into Vegas and get their airfare reimbursed, but they can gamble $25,000 or more during a trip.

I am guessing that this is something decided at the local property level.

Las Vegas wouldn't give gas reimbursements because of the massive number of players driving there from California and Arizona. They would be bogged down with countless requests and giving away way too much money.

I took a 7 Stars trip to Harrah's Southern California and was able to get a $200 rental car reimbursement. I first asked for gas but they said they only did rental cars, and they said it was in lieu of the limo (which I thought they'd gotten rid of anyway).

If not on a 7 Stars/Aspirations trip, I'm able to get flight reimbursement up to a certain amount, and at the start of the trip.


max

Rincon does indeed offer $200 because there is no limo.
As far as your other travel reimbursements, your play could very well justify them.