Amtrak Guest Rewards – How to Earn and Redeem Points

Every traveller or passenger loves getting rewards and discounts on their travel journey, and luckily, Amtrak provides guest rewards and several offers. Amtrak Guest Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards frequent Amtrak travelers with points that can be redeemed for various perks, including free train travel, upgrades, and access to lounges. 

Members earn points based on their travel spending and can also earn points through partnerships with retailers and other travel providers. But how does it all work? What are the benefits, and how can you maximize your points? This guide will break it all down. In this detailed article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Amtrak Guest Rewards, including how to sign up, how to earn and redeem points, member benefits, and frequently asked questions.

What is Amtrak Guest Rewards?

Amtrak Guest Reward is the loyalty program offered by Amtrak, which allows members to accumulate points based on their travel or purchases. The points earned can be redeemed for free or discounted Amtrak travel, hotel stays, car rentals, and even merchandise. The program is free to join and open to every passenger, whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned rail enthusiast. 

The program is designed to benefit frequent Amtrak travelers with valuable perks and benefits, like priority boarding, access to lounge services, and the ability to earn points for Amtrak travel, including tickets, upgrades, and many more. However, the guest rewards policy varies depending on real-time scenarios. Get more detailed information through the Amtrak official website or mobile app. 

How to Earn Amtrak Guest Rewards Points?

There are various ways through which you can earn the Guest Rewards provided by Amtrak. Here are the ways through which you can earn Amtrak Guest Rewards. 

Amtrak Travel

The primary way to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points is by traveling with Amtrak. Points are awarded based on the ticket price, and the number of points you earn depends on your fare and travel class.

• Basic Fares: Amtrak members earn points based on the fare paid, excluding taxes and fees. For example, for every $1 spent, members generally earn 2 points.
• Upgrades: When you upgrade to a higher class (e.g., from coach to business class), you earn additional points based on the price difference between the two classes.
• Premium Services: If you choose premium services such as First Class or sleeper cars, you’ll earn a higher amount of points compared to standard coach tickets.

Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card

Amtrak has partnered with the Bank of America to offer a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn points on everyday purchases. The Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard comes with significant sign-up bonuses and offers points for both travel and non-travel-related purchases. Benefits include:

• Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on Amtrak purchases
• Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases
• Sign-up bonuses: New cardholders can earn up to 20,000 points after making their first purchase and spending a certain amount in the first 90 days.

By using the credit card for everyday expenses, you can rack up points without even stepping on a train!

Earning Points Through Amtrak Partners

Amtrak has a wide variety of partners in several industries, from car rentals to hotels and even shopping. Through these partners, you can earn points on purchases you might already be making.

• Hotel Stays: Amtrak has partnered with major hotel chains such as Marriott, Hilton, and Choice Hotels. By booking stays through Amtrak’s partner hotel programs, you can earn points that go toward your Guest Rewards balance.
• Car Rentals: Partner car rental services like Avis, Budget, and Hertz allow you to earn points on your rental. Just be sure to mention your Amtrak Guest Rewards number when booking.
• Dining: Some restaurants offer points when you dine at their locations, allowing you to earn while eating out.
• Online Shopping: Amtrak has an online shopping portal where you can earn points for shopping with brands like Apple, Best Buy, and Macy’s.

Special Promotions and Deals

Amtrak periodically runs promotions that allow you to earn bonus points. These can include double points for certain routes, seasonal deals, or even limited-time partnerships with other brands. Keeping an eye out for these promotions is a great way to accelerate your points balance.

How to Redeem Amtrak Guest Rewards Points?

Once you’ve accumulated a decent number of points, you can begin to redeem them for various rewards. Below are the most popular options for redeeming Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

Free Amtrak Travel

The most common use of Amtrak points is for free train travel. Points can be redeemed for a ticket to any Amtrak destination in the U.S. or Canada. The number of points required for a free ticket varies depending on the route and time of year.

• Standard Reward Tickets: For most trips, you can redeem points for a standard award ticket, which generally starts at 800 points for shorter trips.
• Upgrades: Points can also be used to upgrade to a higher class of service, such as from coach to business class or from business class to a sleeper car.
• Flexible Tickets: You can use points to buy flexible tickets that allow changes to your travel dates without incurring fees.

Hotel Stays

Amtrak Guest Rewards points can also be used to book stays at partner hotels. The number of points required for a hotel night depends on the hotel, location, and availability.

• Marriott: If you are a member of both Marriott Bonvoy and Amtrak Guest Rewards, you can transfer points between the two programs for booking hotel stays.
• Hilton: Similar to Marriott, Hilton Honors members can transfer points to Amtrak for hotel stays or use Amtrak points to book Hilton stays.

Car Rentals

You can redeem your points for car rentals through Amtrak’s partner car rental companies, including Avis, Hertz, and Budget. This is a great way to complete your travel experience, especially when your train ride ends in a location where public transportation isn’t as convenient.

Merchandise and Gift Cards

If you’d prefer not to use your points for travel, Amtrak Guest Rewards also has an online store where you can redeem points for a variety of items, such as:

• Amtrak merchandise: Apparel, bags, and other branded items.
• Gift cards: You can also exchange points for gift cards to popular retailers, including Amazon, Starbucks, and more.

Donation to Charity

If you’re feeling charitable, Amtrak Guest Rewards members can also choose to donate their points to various nonprofit organizations and causes.

Amtrak Guest Rewards Membership Tiers

Amtrak Guest Rewards offers several membership tiers, each providing different benefits. These tiers are designed to reward frequent travelers with exclusive perks.

• Member (Standard): This is the entry-level membership for those who sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards. Members enjoy the basic benefits of earning points on travel and accessing discounts on travel-related purchases.
• Select Plus: To achieve Select Plus status, you must earn 5,000 points in a calendar year. Benefits include:
  • Through bonus points, you can earn an extra 25% in bonus points on eligible travel.
  • You get Priority boarding, through which you can enjoy faster boarding on most Amtrak trains.
  • With Baggage privileges, Select Plus members get priority baggage handling.
• Select Executive: This is the top tier, requiring 15,000 points in a calendar year. Benefits include:
  • Bonus points- Earn an extra 100% in bonus points on eligible travel.
  • Exclusive access to lounges- Executive members enjoy access to Amtrak’s Club Acela lounges.
  • Complimentary upgrades- Eligible for complimentary upgrades to First Class or Business Class on select routes.

Frequently Asked Questions