Amtrak is a great alternative if you don’t want to fly. It is a railway company in the United States and Canada that connects over 500 destinations. If you travel by train frequently, you will be able to get many valuable perks with Amtrak Guest Rewards, their loyalty program.
See our best credit card bonuses here.
Keep reading for a complete guide to earning and redeeming benefits with Amtrak Guest Rewards.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Quick Facts
| Personal Credit Cards | Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard Amtrak Guest Rewards Platinum Mastercard |
| Business Credit Cards | No business credit cards |
| Redemption Options | Amtrak travel Non-Amtrak travel Dining Entertainment Shopping Points poolingTransfer to a partner program |
| Value Per Point | $0.025 |
Amtrak Guest Rewards Elite Status
There are three elite status tiers with Amtrak Guest Rewards. The amount of Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) you earn in one year will determine your qualification.
| SELECT | SELECT PLUS | SELECT EXECUTIVE |
| 5,000 TQPs | 10,000 TQPs | 20,000 TQPs |
The type of ticket you purchase determines the rate you earn TQPs. Regular tickets earn two TQPs for every dollar you spend. Business-class tickets get a 25% bonus, and Acela first-class tickets enjoy a 50% bonus.
As you gain a higher status, you will earn more perks:
| PERK | SELECT | SELECT PLUS | SELECT EXECUTIVE |
| Point bonus on Amtrak travel | 25% | 50% | 100% |
| One class upgrades | 2 | 4 | 4* |
| Companion coupons | None | 2 | 2 |
| Access to ClubAcela & Metropolitan Lounge | 2 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Access to United Club | None | Unlimited | Unlimited |
*Plus one class upgrade for every 3,000 TQPs.
For updated information, click here for our source.
Earning Amtrak Guest Rewards
Amtrak Guest Rewards is free to join. Once you have your member number, you can start earning points on Amtrak travel:
| Welcome Bonus | 500 points for your first Amtrak trip within 90 days of joining. |
| All Tickets | 2x points |
| Business-Class Tickets | 2.5x points (25% bonus) |
| Acela First-Class Tickets | 3x points (50% bonus) |
Points are credited to your account once you finish your trip.
*Click here for our source.
Amtrak offers two co-branded rewards cards:
| WORLD MASTERCARD | PLATINUM MASTERCARD | |
| Welcome bonus | 20,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: 90 days |
N/A |
| Bonus value | $500 | $300 |
| Ongoing rewards | 3x on Amtrak travel 2x on other travel 1x on everything else |
2x on Amtrak travel 1x on everything else |
| Other perks | 5% rebate Amtrak award travel Companion coupon One-class upgrade Station lounge pass Fast track to elite status No foreign transaction fees |
10% Food & Beverage Rebate 5% rebate Amtrak award travel No foreign transaction fees |
| Annual fee | $79 | $0 |
Hotel stays. Earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points when you stay at Choice Hotels or Wyndham Resorts. Simply make a reservation through RocketMiles or the Amtrak Hotels & Cars portal. For current earning rates, click here.
Car rentals. Earn points for each day you rent a car from Budget, Enterprise or Hertz. For current earning rates, click here.
Cruises. Earn four Amtrak Guest Rewards points for every cruise dollar spent. Plus, enjoy bonus amenities from TravelStore.
Flights. Earn points when you fly United and take Amtrak to connect to or from Newark Liberty International Airport. For earning rates, click here.
With Amtrak Guest Rewards, you will be able to earn their points by shopping at the following retailers and specialty partners:
| PARTNER | POINTS |
| 1800Flowers | 10x points |
| Audience Rewards | 100 points/ticket |
| NRG | 10,000 points |
| Rail Passengers | Up to 25,000 points |
| Samsonite | 1,000 points + 15% discount |
| Survey Points Club | 250 points/first survey Additional points/survey |
| Teleflora | 750 points/bouquet |
| Vinesse Wines | 2,000 points/membership 3x points/wine purchases |
Amtrak Guest Rewards also offers a referral program that will give you points for each person you refer and that takes a paid Amtrak trip within their first 90 days. Both you and your referral will receive 500 bonus points.
As mentioned above, we don’t recommend that you transfer any of your points and miles into Amtrak Guest Rewards points because you will lose value. However, if you’re slightly short on points towards a free Amtrak trip, you can transfer poitns from the following loyalty programs:
| PROGRAM | RATE |
| Audience Rewards | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Choice Privileges | 32,000 : 5,000 |
| Hertz | 600 : 500 |
| Hilton Honors | 10,000 : 1,500 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 6,000 : 1,200 |
Unfortunately, if you are part of another major transferable rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards®, you will not be able to transfer your points.
You can also buy Amtrak Guest Rewards points in increments of 500 at $18.85. In one calendar year, you’re allowed to buy up to 30,000 points. This maximum does not apply to Select Executive members, who don’t have limits on point purchases.
Earning Amtrak Guest Rewards With Transfer from Hilton Honors
If you need to convert your Amtrak Guest Rewards points, Hilton Honors is an option.
Here are some co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards that offer generous welcome offers with plenty of points to transfer to Amtrak.
 The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass(R) Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually. You'll earn: • Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. • Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. • Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year. This card does carry a $150 annual fee & no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
 The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. You'll earn: • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. • 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. • 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year. This card comes with $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so you can enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
 The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a welcome offer of 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. You'll earn: • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases. • Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter. • Enjoy up to $240 back each year (in the form of statement credit) for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton. • Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club program is required. Terms apply. • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors Gold status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay. In addition, you can enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. This card has a $195 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) Terms & Limitations Apply. |
Redeeming Amtrak Guest Rewards
Amtrak doesn’t offer a fixed award chart. Rather, their point pricing is related to the cash cost of the ticket. To get the best value for your points, use them for trips when the cheapest (Saver Fare) tickets are sold out. Other factors may include the type of train, class of ticket and departure times.
Use your Amtrak Guest Rewards points for other travel services. Partners include:
| PARTNER | RATE |
| Best Western | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Budget | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Celebrity Cruises | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Choice Privileges | 5,000 points = 15,000 Choice Privileges points |
| Disney | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Fairmont | 12,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Hilton | 10,000 points = 10,000 Hilton points |
| PARTNER | RATE |
| Applebee’s | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Brinker International | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Darden Restaurants | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Red Lobster | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Outback Steakhouse | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Panera Bread | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Ruth’s Chris | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Starbucks | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
Use your Amtrak Guest Rewards points for gift cards from the following entertainment partners:
| PARTNER | RATE |
| AMC Theaters | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Audience Rewards | 1,000 points = 1,000 Showpoints |
| Disney | 12,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Regal Entertainment Group | 6,000 points = $50 travel card |
| Spa Week | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
Use your Amtrak Guest Rewards points for gift cards from the following retail partners:
| PARTNER | RATE |
| 1800Flowers | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| AutoZone | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Barnes & Noble | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Bath & Body Works | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Bed, Bath & Beyond | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Bloomingdale’s | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Burlington | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| CVS Pharmacy | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Disney | 12,000 points = $100 gift card |
| GAP | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Kohl’s | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| L.L. Bean | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Lowe’s | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Macy’s | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Nike | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Nordstrom | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| PetSmart | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Pottery Barn | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| REI | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| Saks Fifth Avenue | 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Staples | 6,000 points = $50 gift card |
| TJ Maxx | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Top Golf | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
| Williams Sonoma | 6,000 points = $50 gift card 10,000 points = $100 gift card |
Pooling Amtrak Guest Rewards points will get you (or your friends) rewards faster. You can transfer up to 100,000 points per account in a calendar year.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Tips & Tricks
You should use your points for Amtrak award travel in order to get the best value. If you book “Saver Fares,” the lowest-cost option, or a promotion like “Double Days” you will get an even better deal.
Families can utilize the 50% discount on paid fares and redemptions for kids ages 2 to 12 when traveling with an adult.
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Conclusion
If you are taking short trips up and down the coast, I recommend looking into Amtrak. You won’t have to go through long airport security and all the other inconveniences of travelling by airplane. Additionally, Amtrak Guest Rewards points are very valuable, especially if you follow our tips and tricks mentioned previously.
Furthermore, be sure to check out our best credit card bonuses here.
