What the Amtrak Credit Card offers and who should consider it

The Amtrak Credit Card, issued by Bank of America, earns points on every purchase that you can redeem for Amtrak train tickets and other travel expenses. You earn 2 points per dollar on Amtrak purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card comes with a sign-up bonus (typically 30,000 to 50,000 points, though this varies), an annual fee of $99, and benefits like a free Amtrak Guest Rewards membership, a $50 annual Amtrak travel credit, and priority boarding.

This card makes sense if you take Amtrak trains regularly enough that the $50 annual credit and point earnings offset the $99 annual fee. It is less useful if you fly most of the time or drive, or if you take Amtrak only once or twice a year. The card's value depends entirely on whether you can actually use the points — they are worthless if they sit unused in your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn 2 points per dollar on Amtrak purchases and 1 point per dollar elsewhere, and can redeem points for Amtrak tickets or other travel through the Amtrak Guest Rewards program.
  • The $99 annual fee is partially offset by a $50 annual Amtrak travel credit, meaning the true annual cost is $49 before you earn any points.
  • The sign-up bonus typically ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 points, which can cover a significant portion of a long-distance train ticket if redeemed right away.
  • You receive priority boarding, free checked bags on Amtrak trains, and automatic enrollment in Amtrak Guest Rewards, but these benefits only matter if you actually take Amtrak trips.
  • The card is most valuable for people who take multiple Amtrak trips per year; occasional riders may find the annual fee not worth the benefit.

How points work and what they are actually worth

Points earned through the Amtrak Credit Card go into your Amtrak Guest Rewards account. You can redeem them for Amtrak train tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, and flights through Amtrak's travel partners. The redemption value varies depending on what you book — a short regional train ticket might cost 5,000 points, while a long-distance route like New York to Los Angeles could cost 25,000 to 40,000 points depending on the season and how far in advance you book.

Points do not have a fixed dollar value, so comparing them to cash-back cards requires math. If you earn 2 points per dollar on Amtrak purchases and redeem those points for a ticket that would have cost $200, and that ticket cost you 10,000 points, then your points are worth 2 cents each ($200 ÷ 10,000). That is competitive with some travel cards, but worse than others. The actual value depends on which routes you book and when.

Points do not expire as long as your account remains active, but your account closes if you do not use it for three years. If you take Amtrak infrequently, you risk losing points to inactivity.

The annual fee and how the travel credit works

The $99 annual fee posts to your account each year. The card also includes a $50 annual Amtrak travel credit that you can use toward any Amtrak purchase — tickets, food in the cafe car, sleeping car upgrades, or station services. This credit is not automatic; you have to use it before it expires each year or it disappears. The credit resets on your card anniversary date.

In practice, the $50 credit reduces your true annual cost to $49. To break even, you need to earn enough points to cover that $49, or you need to take enough Amtrak trips that the other benefits (priority boarding, free checked bags) justify the cost on their own. For someone taking two or three Amtrak trips per year, the math usually works. For someone taking one trip every two years, it probably does not.

Sign-up bonus and how to use it strategically

New cardholders typically receive a sign-up bonus of 30,000 to 50,000 points after meeting a spending requirement, usually $1,000 to $3,000 in purchases within the first three months. The exact bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so check the current offer before you explore.

A 30,000-point bonus can cover a significant portion of a long-distance ticket or a full short-distance ticket. If you have a specific Amtrak trip planned within the next few months, the sign-up bonus can make the card pay for itself when ready. If you do not have a trip planned, the bonus sits in your account earning no additional value until you do.

Comparing the Amtrak card to other travel rewards cards

The Amtrak card earns 2 points per dollar on Amtrak purchases, which is the same rate as many general travel cards earn on all travel purchases. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold earn 2 to 3 points per dollar on all travel (including trains, flights, and hotels), plus they earn higher rates on dining and other categories. Those cards have higher annual fees ($95 to $250), but they offer more flexibility because points can be transferred to airline partners or redeemed for any travel expense.

The Amtrak card's advantage is that it is Amtrak-specific. If you ride Amtrak frequently and rarely use other travel methods, the card's 2-point rate on Amtrak purchases and the $50 annual credit make it more valuable than a general travel card. If you mix train travel with flights and hotels, a flexible travel card may give you more value overall.

Other benefits: priority boarding, checked bags, and membership

Cardholders receive automatic enrollment in Amtrak Guest Rewards (the free tier), which means you earn points on every Amtrak ticket you buy, whether you use the credit card or not. You also get priority boarding on Amtrak trains, which means you board before general passengers and can choose your seat first. On popular routes, this can be meaningful; on less crowded routes, it matters less.

The card includes two free checked bags per trip on Amtrak trains. This benefit applies only to Amtrak travel, not to flights or other transportation. If you typically travel light or already pay for checked bags on flights, this benefit may not affect your decision.

When the Amtrak card does not make financial sense

The card is not worth the annual fee if you take fewer than two Amtrak trips per year, or if you take trips but do not spend enough to earn points that offset the $49 net annual cost (after the $50 credit). It is also not worth it if you can get better value from a general travel card that earns higher rates on flights, hotels, and dining.

If you are considering this card mainly for the sign-up bonus, calculate whether you will actually use the points before you explore. A 40,000-point bonus is only valuable if you have a trip planned or if you take enough Amtrak trips in the future to redeem those points. If the bonus sits unused for years, you have paid $99 for nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Amtrak points for anything other than train tickets?

Yes. Through the Amtrak Guest Rewards program, you can redeem points for hotel stays, car rentals, and flights with partner companies. You can also use points to upgrade your seat class on an Amtrak train or to purchase food and beverages in the cafe car. The redemption options are more limited than with airline or hotel cards, but they do exist beyond just train tickets.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Amtrak Guest Rewards account even after you close the card. However, if you do not use your account for three years, Amtrak will close it and your points will be lost. As long as you take at least one Amtrak trip or log into your account every three years, your points remain safe.

Is the $50 annual travel credit automatic?

The credit posts to your account automatically each year on your card anniversary date, but you have to spend it yourself. It does not redeem automatically. If you do not use it before the next anniversary, it expires and you lose it. Set a reminder to use the credit before your annual fee posts.

How does the sign-up bonus compare to the annual fee?

A typical 40,000-point sign-up bonus is worth roughly $80 to $120 depending on which routes you book and when. That covers most or all of the $99 annual fee in the first year. In year two and beyond, you rely on ongoing point earnings and the $50 annual credit to justify keeping the card.

Can I earn points on Amtrak purchases without the credit card?

Yes. Any Amtrak ticket purchase earns points if you are enrolled in the free Amtrak Guest Rewards program. The credit card straightforward earns points at a faster rate (2 per dollar instead of 1 per dollar). If you take Amtrak occasionally and do not want to pay the annual fee, you can enroll in Guest Rewards for free and earn points at the slower rate.