Amtrak gifting status for 2024
Editor's Note
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.
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.
Related reading:
- NYC's hottest new bar? Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge
- A tale of 2 Amtrak upgrades: Underwhelming food, but impressive NYC lounge
- The complete guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards elite status
- 2 Amtrak deals: BOGO for New York state winter travel; buy 3 get 1 for summer travel
- Deal alert: Save $50 on Amtrak USA Rail Pass until Jan. 25
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month