Is Amtrak status worth it?

Final Thoughts. Amtrak Guest Rewards Select status is comparable to entry-level elite status for an airline but has unique benefits you won't find elsewhere. Select status members receive benefits such as lounge passes, confirmed upgrade passes, and discount coupons for future travel.



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Elite Amtrak Membership Members 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.

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The more you travel, the more points you'll earn toward Amtrak reward travel, hotels, car rentals and more. Plus, by earning Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) throughout a calendar year, you'll qualify for even more perks and rewards.

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The higher the bid you can offer, the stronger the chance is that you'll win the upgraded seat. But submitting the minimum bid could also be worth it if your train is relatively empty or you're more flexible with your chances of scoring a better seat.

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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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Amtrak Guest Rewards® offers many ways to earn or redeem points to keep your account active. Points will expire if your account has been inactive for more than 24 months (no points have been earned or redeemed during that time).

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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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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.

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Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.

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Yes. Upgrades from Coach to Sleeping Car accommodations are available up until the moment of your departure by modifying your trip on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app. While you will pay the difference in fare, no change fee applies when upgrading to a room.

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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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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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The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

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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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