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).
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.
How much are Amtrak Credit Card points worth? The Amtrak Credit Card rewards points' value varies depending on where and when you use them, but they can be worth up to a little more than 3 cents apiece. At worst case scenario you can redeem points for gift cards, and your Amtrak points are worth 0.75 cents each.
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.
Onboard. In most circumstances, you must purchase a ticket before you board a train. On most Amtrak trains, only the full, undiscounted, unrestricted fare will be available for purchase onboard the train. This is regardless of reservations made or fares previously quoted by ticket agents, Amtrak.com or elsewhere.
Points will be credited to a Member's account within 3 weeks after the completion of the Member's Amtrak trip. Points for 8000-series Thruway service travel may take up to 90 days to be credited.
With a variety of benefits and perks, the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® and Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard® are your tickets to new experiences. Use your card everywhere you shop, dine or travel to earn rewards faster.
If the passenger does not produce a valid ticket or proof of payment, the conductor may ask them to pay the fare or exit the train at the next station.
For a truly unique experience when traveling in First Class, Amtrak offers private rooms on many routes across the country. A private room is the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight.
In almost all cases, Amtrak seats are not assigned. The exception is Acela Express route seats and business class seating on the Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto, and Vermonter. Otherwise, Amtrak has a first-come, first-serve seating policy for coach seats.
Many tickets allow you to break your journey – getting off the train at a station somewhere on the route between your start and end stations before continuing your travel. Breaking your journey means you do not have to make the whole of your journey at the same time or, where allowed, on the same day.
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).
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!).
Across the country, Amtrak trains last year were on-time only 60% to 70% of the time in many states, although on-time performance rose to more than 90% in the nation's northeast corridor, from Washington, D.C., to New York City. In Michigan, the on-time rate was only 43%.
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.