Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Amtrak has a new promotion that gives you a chance to earn bonus points for riding the rails this fall. The Amtrak Guest Rewards Mystery Offer promotion comes with a fun twist: After registering for the mystery offer, members will find out how many rewards points they'll earn with their travel. You can earn up to four times the amount of points on your Amtrak trip through this offer.
You have to be a Guest Rewards member to take part, so sign up (it's free) and then register for the mystery offer. You can use Guest Rewards points to book trips, upgrade seats and enjoy other travel experiences, so this is a nice way to pad your account. Also, the fall is one of the best times to travel by train, especially in the Northeast.
Riders can earn bonus points on travel from now through Oct. 31. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to read the terms and conditions of the offer.
Related: The complete guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards elite status
How it works
All you have to do is go to the Amtrak website and register for the promotion. Then you can unlock the offer to see the bonus points multiple you receive.
As we mentioned above, you must be a Guest Rewards member to participate in this promotion, so be sure to join the program first.
On Amtrak's Facebook page, some users reported getting three times the amount of bonus points. On other travel message boards, several people said they had received the four-times bonus points offer. When I unlocked my mystery offer, I was not as fortunate. But hey, I'll gladly take the double points.
As an example, booking a round-trip ticket from New York City's Moynihan Hall at Penn Station (NYP) to Union Station in Washington, D.C. (WAS) in late October would cost $137 for a Flex fare. My unlocked offer would double my points earned on the ticket. Since Guest Rewards members already earn 2 points per dollar spent, I'd earn 4 points per dollar on this trip thanks to the mystery offer.
Maximize your purchase
When you book your trip, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel, such as:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday spending
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases
- American Express® Green Card: 3 points per dollar spent on travel
- Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®: 2 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel
- Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard®: 3 points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel
The information for the American Express Green, Amtrak Guest Rewards and Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
As TPG has noted in the past, Amtrak's Guest Rewards doesn't have any partnerships with transferable points programs, so this offer is an easy way to boost your points during one of the best times of year for train travel. Also, note that Guest Rewards points expire after 24 months of inactivity, so be sure to track your account.
Related reading:
- The best credit cards for train travel
- Amtrak gifting status for 2024
- New Acela trains approved for high-speed testing along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor
- Amtrak introduces 3 new menu items for first-class passengers
- Amtrak is testing in-seat delivery, online ordering from the cafe car
- Amtrak to simplify fare structure, eliminate Saver seats
