To supplement your points earnings, you can also buy points in increments of 500. The smallest bundle of 500 points will cost you $18.85. You can also buy points for family and friends. You may buy or receive up to 30,000 points in a calendar year.
People Also Ask
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!
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.
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!).
Points will expire if your account has been inactive for more than 24 months (no points have been earned or redeemed during that time). From traveling on Amtrak® to beautiful destinations across the U.S. to earning points on shopping, check out the many ways to keep your Amtrak Guest Rewards account active.
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.
Join Amtrak Guest RewardsAs a member, you'll earn 2X points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel, plus a 25 percent points bonus on business class travel and a 50 percent points bonus on Acela first class travel. You can also earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points with partner hotels, car rental agencies, retailers and more.
Amtrak makes the bulk of its money from ticket sales, primarily from short-distance trips, and mainly from one, the Northeast Corridor line. Amtrak also receives significant subsidies from the government to keep it running.
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).
While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.
Why is Amtrak sleeper car so expensive? Heavy demand for private rooms on many routes has prompted Amtrak to charge the highest fares that passengers will pay.
It was supposed to become self-supporting after a transition period, but it has never earned a profit and it consumed more than $50 billion in federal subsidies over five decades to 2020. In fiscal year 2021, Amtrak had revenues of $2.1 billion, expenses of $4.1 billion, and a loss of $2.0 billion.
Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.
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.