YOUR ROUTE TO REWARD TRAVELRedeeming your points is easy and exciting—with reward travel starting at just 400 points to over 500 destinations. Ready to ride?
Elite Amtrak MembershipMembers who earn 5,000 or 10,000 points within a single year are upgraded to Select and Select Plus status, respectively. Both status tiers bring members additional discounts, unlimited lounge access, and double points on some car rentals.
As far as travel rewards points go, this is pretty exceptional value for those who enjoy taking Amtrak trains. Depending on how you choose to redeem your points, the 50,000-point welcome bonus would be worth between $1,100 and $1,400 in Amtrak tickets!
Amtrak points are worth more than most other reward currencies, with each point worth about 2.9c toward most train fares (or 2.56 on Acela fares). That means that the 40K offer on the Amtrak Rewards Preferred card will buy you well over $1,000 in train tickets (nearly $1200 on non-Acela service!).
Bids are placed with a sliding scale tool that has a minimum and a maximum offer amount—this is usually somewhere between $60 and $200 per upgrade. The higher the bid you can offer, the stronger the chance is that you'll win the upgraded seat.
Amtrak NetworkAmtrak operates a nationwide rail network, serving more than 500 destinations in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, on more than 21,400 miles of routes. It is the nation's only high-speed intercity passenger rail provider, operating at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph).
You, your spouse and eligible dependents are entitled to unlimited free and reduced-rate rail transportation on Amtrak, in addition to discounts from other travel industry providers. Additionally, through the Companion Pass Program, employees can have a guest accompany them while using their personal travel privilege.
Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.
Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train. To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.
To become a member, travelers must simply sign up online or by phone at 1-800-307-5000. That's when you'll receive a unique Amtrak Guest Rewards number. It's free to join, and if you travel within 90 days of becoming a member, you'll receive an additional 500 bonus points.