Earn up to 4x bonus points on fall travel through Amtrak Guest Rewards mystery offer
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
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.