How much does it cost to buy points on Amtrak?

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.



Without a promotion, Amtrak Guest Rewards points cost 3.77 cents per point. As of February 2026, Amtrak is running a high-fidelity "Buy Points" promotion through February 28, offering up to a 50% bonus. This tiered bonus allows you to purchase points for as low as 2.51 cents each if you buy 10,500 points or more. The standard increments for buying points are 500-point blocks, and you are generally capped at purchasing 50,000 points per calendar year (though this limit is often waived for elite "Select" members). Buying points is most "worth it" when you are just a few hundred points short of a high-value "Award Flight"—for example, a long-distance roomette booking—where the "cents-per-point" value of the redemption exceeds the 3.77c purchase price. For those looking to maximize their points, using a "Preferred Mastercard" to earn 3x points on travel is generally more cost-effective, but these "Flash Sale" bonuses represent the cheapest way to "top up" an account for an immediate trip.

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Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®*: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on dining and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else.

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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!

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YOUR ROUTE TO REWARD TRAVEL Redeeming your points is easy and exciting—with reward travel starting at just 400 points to over 500 destinations. Ready to ride?

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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.

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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!).

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Although you can't book Amtrak tickets through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards to book the hotel that awaits you at the end of your journey. You can also transfer points to Chase hotel partners like IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

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All your meals are included You can enjoy good food, drinks, with a window seat to view incredible scenery. In addition to our regular menu items, kids can get all their favorites onboard. All food onboard is handled with the utmost care for your health and safety.

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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.

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Roomettes. Equipped with a landscape window in every room, our roomettes are perfect for the solo traveler or a couple of adventurers. Each room has two comfy seats, two beds, outlets and a fold-down table.

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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.

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Amtrak trains and accommodations tend to sell out during holidays and peak travel periods. Because fares vary based on the date and time you travel.

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The $99-annual-fee Amtrak credit card features a limited-time welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first three billing cycles (as of March 2023).

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Amtrak Network Amtrak 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).

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