Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
We don't recommend this card for most points and miles travelers, as it's probably not worth using a 5/24 spot. It might make sense if you only take an occasional Amtrak trip and don't want to pay an annual fee. You'll earn 2x points on Amtrak purchases, receive a 10% rebate on onboard food and beverages, and get 5% of your points back when redeeming for Amtrak travel. If you ride Amtrak with any regularity, though, the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard offers significantly more value for its {%annualFee%-121} annual fee.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard is best suited for occasional Amtrak travelers who want to earn a few extra rewards without paying an annual fee. If you know you'll take a trip or two on Amtrak but don't ride often enough to justify the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard, this card can provide some value. It offers a 15,000-point welcome offer after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
Cardmembers receive:
- 2x points on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases
- 2x points on dining
- A 10% rebate on onboard food and beverage purchases
- A 5% points rebate when redeeming points for Amtrak travel
There isn't much else here to offer with this card, but since there is no annual fee, that's not surprising. The bigger consideration is that opening this card uses one of your 5/24 spots. If you travel on Amtrak with any regularity, we'd suggest paying the low $99 annual fee for the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card so you can take advantage of its annual companion coupon, one-class upgrade coupon, and station lounge pass.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
You probably shouldn't get this card if:
- You're under 5/24 and have more valuable Chase cards you still want to open.
- You rarely travel on Amtrak, since there isn't much value here beyond the Amtrak-specific earning and rebates.
- You travel on Amtrak regularly enough to use the annual perks of the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard. In that case, the Preferred card can provide significantly more value despite its $99 annual fee.
What to Know About Amtrak Guest Rewards
Amtrak Guest Rewards can provide excellent value for train travel, particularly now that you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to the program.
- Amtrak points can be redeemed for train travel throughout the U.S., with redemption prices generally tied to the cash cost of the ticket.
- You can expect to get between 2.5-2.9 cents per point in value on Amtrak redemptions.
- Bilt Rewards transfers to Amtrak Guest Rewards at a 2:1 ratio, providing a new way to add to your Amtrak points balance without riding Amtrak or using an Amtrak credit card.
- Amtrak offers two co-branded credit cards that earn Guest Rewards points and provide additional benefits when traveling by train.
How The Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card Fits In The Amtrak Guest Rewards Ecosystem
Amtrak offers one other credit card: the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card.
The Preferred card is the better option if you ride Amtrak at least a few times per year and can use its annual travel perks. It has a 25,000-point welcome offer after spending $1,500 in the first three months, and its $99 annual fee can be easy to justify if you use the companion coupon and other benefits.
The Preferred card offers:
- A round-trip companion coupon
- A one-class upgrade coupon
- A station lounge pass
- 3x points on Amtrak purchases, including onboard purchases, plus a 20% rebate on onboard food and beverage purchases
- 2x points on dining, travel, transit, and rideshare purchases
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
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