Amtrak gifting status for 2024

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Editor's Note

This post has been corrected with details of the perks and benefits of Amtrak’s elite status.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

In a step that airlines would likely never take, Amtrak bumped up certain riders who were close to reaching the next status level instead of making them reach it on their own.

In case you are not familiar, Amtrak Guest Rewards offers three tiers of elite status: Select, Select Plus and Select Executive. The status benefits include bonus points, upgrades and – depending upon tier – access to Amtrak's lounge locations. Status qualification is based on a rider's yearly total of Tier Qualifying Points.

Select, the lowest tier in the Amtrak Guest Rewards program, is obtained by earning 5,000 TQPs in a calendar year; Select Plus is middle tier and obtained by earning 10,000 TQPs. The top tier, Select Executive, is earned with 20,000 TQPs.

However, Amtrak has gifted riders who were close to reaching the next status level with that status level for the rest of 2024 despite falling short of the specified TQPs amount. If you qualified for the next status tier, you should've received an email from Amtrak notifying you of your status change.

"We occasionally offer a bump up in status to targeted groups of members as a way to recognize their value and encourage them to keep riding with us," an Amtrak spokesperson confirmed to TPG.

Amtrak status rewards

All Amtrak Guest Rewards members earn 2 points per dollar spent, plus a 25% bonus for business-class tickets and a 50% bonus on Acela first-class tickets. Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® cardmembers can earn 1,000 TQP for every $5,000 spent on their card.

The information for the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

From there, the earnings rates received through travel vary by status level. Select members earn a 25% tier status point bonus on Amtrak travel, two one-class upgrades and two single-visit Metropolitan Lounge passes.

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Select Plus members earn a 50% tier status point bonus on Amtrak travel, four one-class upgrades, two companion coupons, plus full lounge access.

Select Executive members earn a 100% tier status point bonus on Amtrak travel. In addition to the aforementioned benefits of the lower tiers, Select Executive members get an additional one-class upgrade for every 3,000 TQPs earned, plus one Auto Train priority vehicle offloading coupon.

Additional perks such as coupons for discounted travel, priority call handling and discounts from partner programs also apply once a customer qualifies for Select status.

Bottom line

Amtrak is giving travelers who were close to earning status for 2024 the gift of status without making them fully earn it. Be sure to check your email to see if you qualify.

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Featured image by CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.