When it comes to travel in the United States, most people default to flying. However, taking the train can be a convenient and cost-effective alternative. One of the major players in the U.S. train system is Amtrak, which operates a vast majority of intercity passenger rail routes across the country. Amtrak offers its own loyalty program, Amtrak Guest Rewards, to reward frequent customers with free rides and other perks.
In this article, we will delve into everything you need to know about the Amtrak Guest Rewards program, including how to earn points, achieve elite status, and maximize your rewards. Whether you’re a frequent train traveler or just considering taking the train for the first time, understanding how to make the most of the Amtrak Guest Rewards program can help you save money and enhance your travel experience.
What is Amtrak Guest Rewards?
Amtrak Guest Rewards is Amtrak’s loyalty program that allows passengers to earn points for their train travel. Points can be redeemed for free rides, upgrades, and other travel experiences. Amtrak operates a comprehensive network of train routes that connect over 500 destinations in 46 states and Canada. Whether you’re traveling short distances or across the country, Amtrak offers a range of seating options, including coach, business-class, and first-class, as well as private rooms and auto trains.
Earning Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
There are several ways to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points, making it easy for passengers to accumulate points for future travel. The most common way to earn points is by purchasing tickets for Amtrak train rides. Members earn 2 points per dollar spent on tickets, with additional bonuses for business-class and first-class travel. You can also earn a 500-point bonus for referring a friend to the Amtrak Guest Rewards program.
In addition to earning points through train travel, Amtrak has partnerships with various retail and specialty partners that allow you to earn bonus points. These partners include Teleflora, 1-800Flowers.com, NRG, and Vinesse Wines. Amtrak also operates an online shopping portal that offers up to 14 points per dollar spent at select merchants.
If you frequently travel on Amtrak, you may want to consider applying for one of the cobranded credit cards issued by First National Bank of Omaha. The Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard and the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard offer generous welcome bonuses and additional benefits for cardholders, such as rebates on onboard purchases and bonus points on dining and travel expenses.
Redeeming Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
Amtrak points can be redeemed for a variety of travel experiences, including train tickets, hotels, rental cars, and cruises. When redeeming points for train travel, the value of your points is approximately 2.67 cents per point, based on the cash cost of the ticket. Award prices are tied to the ticket’s cash cost, so you’ll get a fixed value for your points when booking train travel.
If you prefer to redeem your points for non-train travel experiences, such as gift cards for Airbnb, Hotels.com, Uber, or Disney, you can do so at a value of 0.83 cents per point. While this value is lower than redeeming points for train travel, it still offers flexibility in how you can use your points.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Elite Status
Amtrak Guest Rewards offers three elite status tiers – Select, Select Plus, and Select Executive – based on the total number of tier qualifying points you earn in a year. Elite status comes with various perks, such as bonus points on Amtrak travel, one-class upgrades, companion coupons, and access to Amtrak lounges. For example, Select Executive members can earn a 100% bonus on Amtrak travel, receive four one-class upgrades, and have access to Amtrak lounges.
Achieving elite status with Amtrak Guest Rewards can enhance your travel experience and provide additional benefits during your train journeys. Whether you’re a frequent train traveler or just starting to explore the world of train travel, earning elite status with Amtrak Guest Rewards can help you make the most of your travel rewards.
In conclusion, taking the train can be a convenient and cost-effective way to travel in the United States. Amtrak Guest Rewards offers a loyalty program that rewards frequent customers with points for their train travel. By understanding how to earn and redeem points, achieve elite status, and maximize your rewards, you can make the most of your train travel experience with Amtrak. Whether you’re looking to save money on expensive airline tickets or simply want to explore a different mode of transportation, taking the train with Amtrak can be a rewarding experience.