All information about the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® has been collected independently by CardCritics™
Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard Review: A Strong Pick for Frequent Amtrak Travelers
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Written by
Victoria M. Walker
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Edited by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
The Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® is a solid choice for travelers who frequently ride Amtrak. For a $99 annual fee, the card offers bonus earnings on Amtrak travel, a solid welcome bonus, companion and upgrade benefits, lounge passes and more.
The card earns 3 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases; 2 points per dollar spent on dining, travel, transit and rideshare; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Let’s take a close look at what the card offers in our Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card review.
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Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
26.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670 – 850
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Intro Bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles of account opening.
Annual Fee
$99
Rewards
Earn 3x points per $1 spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining, travel, transit and rideshare. Earn 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else.
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard is best for loyal Amtrak riders. Its best benefits are the 3x rewards on Amtrak purchases, the anniversary-style travel perks and the 5% point rebate when redeeming points for Amtrak travel. That said, this is definitely a niche travel card. If Amtrak is a regular part of your travels, whether it’s business trips on the “Acela Corridor” or cross-country journeys, it’s worth having in your wallet. But if you only ride Amtrak once or twice a year, a broader travel or rewards credit card may be a better fit for your travel habits.
Our Critical Analysis:
Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard®
- Strong Amtrak earning rate
- Useful Amtrak perks
- Extra value on redemptions
PROS
- Annual fee
- Limited brand flexibility
- Few everyday bonus categories
- No intro APR
CONS
Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Credit Card Benefits
3x Points on Amtrak Travel
The headline benefit is the card’s 3x earning rate on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. That makes it especially useful for commuters, business travelers and anyone who regularly travels on Amtrak.
2x Points on Dining, Travel, Transit and Rideshare
The card also earns 2x points on dining, travel, transit and rideshare purchases. That makes the card more useful than just for train tickets, especially for travelers who routinely pair Amtrak rides with rideshares or public transit.
Solid Welcome Bonus
New cardholders qualify for a strong welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles of account opening.
The bonus has come in handy for my own travels. As someone living in New York, I frequently travel via Amtrak along the East Coast, including cities like Washington and Boston. Cash prices, especially on the Acela, can cost hundreds of dollars each way. However, you can get solid value using Amtrak points, including one-way trips for around 5,000 points.
Amtrak-Specific Perks
This card also includes a round-trip companion coupon, a one-class upgrade and a station lounge pass upon account opening and each card anniversary. These are the kinds of perks that make the card more compelling for regular Amtrak riders because they can add comfort or savings beyond points alone.
The one-class upgrade is the main reason I’ve kept this card open for several years. As I mentioned above, I regularly travel on the Acela, which offers a two-cabin business- and first-class layout. Last year, the rail company rolled out NextGen Acela, a major refresh of its flagship train. I got to use my one-class upgrade this spring to move from business class to first class, and was treated to perks like better food and drinks, and comfortable seats.
Faster Path Toward Tier Status
Cardholders can earn 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points toward Amtrak Guest Rewards status for each $5,000 in qualifying purchases.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Credit Card Drawbacks
Rewards Are Most Valuable for Amtrak Loyalists
Amtrak Guest Rewards points can be used toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, gift cards and more. Still, this card is most naturally suited to train travel. If your travel habits mostly include flights, hotels and rental cars, a flexible travel rewards card may offer more redemption options.
Limited Rewards For Everyday Spend
Since purchases outside the bonus categories earn 1x points, heavy everyday spenders may want to pair this card with a stronger general rewards credit card.
Who Is the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card Best For?
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card is best for frequent Amtrak riders who want to earn rewards faster on purchases with the rail company. It is especially appealing to travelers who can take advantage of the 3x earning rate on Amtrak purchases, plus perks such as the annual companion coupon and a one-class upgrade.
It may also make sense for people who are trying to move faster through Amtrak Guest Rewards status levels by spending their way to status.
Is It the Right Card for You?
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Credit Card may be right for you if:
- You ride Amtrak regularly and want to earn 3x points on Amtrak purchases
- You can use benefits like the companion coupon, upgrade or lounge pass
- You value a 5% point rebate on Amtrak travel redemptions
- You want a card with no foreign transaction fees
Alternatives to the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard
If you like the idea of travel rewards but are not fully committed to Amtrak, consider these alternatives:
- Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®: This no-annual-fee Amtrak card is a better fit for occasional riders. It earns 2x points on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases; 2x points on dining; and 1x points everywhere else. It also offers a 10% rebate on onboard food and beverage purchases.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This $95-annual-fee card is a better option for travelers seeking flexible rewards rather than Amtrak-specific perks. It can make sense if your travel includes flights, hotels and rental cars in addition to train travel.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: With a $95 annual fee, this card may be worth considering if you prefer simple travel rewards that aren’t tied to one travel brand. It is a stronger fit for people who want a general-purpose travel card rather than a rail-focused card.
Card Details From Amtrak
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles of account opening.
- Earn 3x points per $1 spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining, travel, transit and rideshare. Earn 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else.
- 20% rebate on onboard food and beverage purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- 5% point rebate when you redeem your points for Amtrak travel.
- Round-trip companion coupon upon account opening and card anniversary.
- One-class upgrade upon account opening and card anniversary.
- Station lounge pass upon account opening and card anniversary.
- Earn 1,000 TQPs (Tier Qualifying Points) each time you make $5,000 in qualifying purchases.
- Points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- No foreign transaction fees.
How Does the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Credit Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred with close travel rewards card competitors at a similar price point.
| Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Capital One Venture Card | |
| Annual Fee | $99 | $95 | $95 |
| Welcome Offer | Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles of account opening. | Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. |
| APR | 26.49% Variable APR | 19.24% - 27.49% Variable | 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable) |
| Rewards Rate | Earn 3x points per $1 spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining, travel, transit and rideshare. Earn 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else. | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases. | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. |
| Standout Feature | Annual round-trip companion coupon, one-class upgrade and station lounge pass | Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotels booked through Chase Travel | Application fee credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry (once every four years) |
The information related to the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® and Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard® was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard
What is the annual fee for the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard?
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card has a $99 annual fee.
How many bonus points can you earn with the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard?
The current offer is substantial: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles of account opening.
What are the main Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card benefits?
The main Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card benefits are elevated earnings on Amtrak travel, a 20% onboard food-and-beverage rebate, a companion coupon, a one-class upgrade, a station lounge pass, and a 5% point rebate on Amtrak travel redemptions.
Do Amtrak Guest Rewards points expire?
Amtrak points do not expire as long as your card account remains open.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
