Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard®
$99 Annual Fee with a Companion Coupon, Upgrade and Lounge Pass
Earn 3X points on Amtrak travel, 2X points on dining, travel, transit and rideshare, plus receive a round-trip companion coupon, one-class upgrade, and station lounge pass at account opening and each card anniversary, and a 20% food rebate on trains. Earn 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points per $5,000 spent to accelerate Amtrak elite status. Points don't expire as long as your account remains open and redeem for Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, and lounge passes.
- Annual Fee
- $99
- Welcome Bonus
- Up to 30,000 points
- Highest rate (conditional)
- Up to 3X (Amtrak)
Terms checked against the issuer on November 4, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $99
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- Mastercard World Elite
- Rewards Currency
- Amtrak Guest Rewards
- Credit Required
- Excellent
Welcome Offer
Up to 30,000 points
Earn 25,000 points after spending $1,500, plus 5,000 points after adding an authorized user, all within the first 3 billing cycles of account opening. Everyday purchases including Amtrak tickets, dining, travel, transit, and rideshare count toward the $1,500.
- 25,000 points after $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 billing cycles
- + 5,000 points after adding an authorized user in the first 3 billing cycles
The total needs every stage above. Meet only the first and you earn 25,000 points.
Historical Welcome Offers
| Bonus | Spend | Period | Ended | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 | $1,000 | 3 months | 2026-07-29 |
Earning Rates
- 3X
Amtrak
3 points per $1 spent on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases
- 2X
Dining
2 points per $1 spent on dining
- 2X
Ridesharing
2 points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 2X
Transit
2 points per $1 spent on transit
- 2X
Travel
2 points per $1 spent on travel
Earning Scenarios
3X Points on All Amtrak Train Travel
Earn 3X points on every dollar spent booking Amtrak train tickets, including onboard food and beverage purchases with your card. Points accumulate quickly on longer journeys, premium routes, and frequent trips. Combined with the 20% food rebate, regular riders see immediate value.
Take a $400 Northeast Regional round trip: earn 1,200 points (worth $30-32). Spend $60 on onboard meals: earn 180 points plus 20% rebate ($12). Total benefit: $42-44 on a single trip.
2X Points on Dining Worldwide
Earn 2X points at restaurants globally - from fine dining to quick service. No category activation required, no spending caps. Earn on all dining purchases whether taking the train or not, building points for future Amtrak travel.
Spend $300 monthly dining: earn 600 points per month (7,200 annually), worth $180-190 toward Amtrak travel or hotel stays.
2X Points on All Travel and Transit
Earn 2X points on flights, hotels, car rentals, parking, tolls, trains (including Amtrak), buses, and taxis. Covers the full spectrum of travel expenses, making this card ideal for multi-modal trips combining train travel with flights and accommodations.
Book $500 flights + $200 hotel stay + $100 Amtrak train + $50 rideshare on same trip: earn 1,700 points (2X on $850 total travel), worth $42-50 toward future Amtrak travel or upgrades.
2X Points on Rideshare Services
Earn 2X points on Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare platforms. Particularly valuable for ground transportation to and from train stations. No enrollment required - automatically earns 2X on every rideshare purchase.
Take $50/month in rideshare to/from stations: earn 100 points monthly (1,200 annually), worth $30-32 toward Amtrak tickets or onboard purchases.
1X Points on All Other Purchases
Earn 1X point per dollar on all other purchases not in bonus categories. No spending caps, no deactivation - earn points consistently across your entire wallet of spending.
Spend $10,000 annually outside bonus categories: earn 10,000 base points, worth $250-270 toward Amtrak travel.
Benefits & Perks
Travel Benefits
4 perksCompanion
Upgrade
Elite Status
Fee Waiver
Annual Credits & Statement Credits
1 credits20% back on Amtrak onboard dining
Get 20% back as a statement credit on all food and beverage purchases made onboard Amtrak trains.
—
Annual
Lounge Access
Annual Amtrak station lounge pass
Get one station lounge pass per year for access to Amtrak Metropolitan Lounges with snacks and Wi-Fi.
Elite Status & Memberships
Fast track to top-tier perks
1,000 TQPs per $5,000 in card spending
Earn Amtrak elite status faster with 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points for every $5,000 spent on the card.
Dining Out
2x at restaurants
Amtrak Guest Rewards
200 points on a $100 dinner. We don't put a dollar value on this currency yet.
Annual fee: $99
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 2x, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
| Publication | Rating | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalletHub | 3.5/5 | ||
| Upgraded Points | 4/5 |
How It Compares
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred is the best choice for frequent train riders who can utilize the annual companion coupon and upgrade certificate. Whether the $99 annual fee pays off depends on how often you use these benefits; the 3X earning rate on Amtrak travel and 20% food rebate add ongoing value for regular Amtrak passengers. Tier Qualifying Point acceleration makes this the preferred choice for riders aiming for elite status.
The Math: Is $99 Worth It?
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$99
Net Annual Value
-$99
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 26.49% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 27.99% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
Card Family
Amtrak Guest Rewards family
| Card | Tier | Annual Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Guest Rewards | entry | — |
Media & Resources
Video Reviews
8 videosThe Complete Guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards
Grounded Life Retirement Travel - Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard Credit Card Review
Waller's Wallet - Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card Review | Travel By Train For Cheap
Anderson Fam - Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard Review | BEST Travel Credit Card in 2024?!
Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast - $99 Amtrak Credit Card Annual Fee is Worth It!
Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard Credit Card Review
Amtrak Guest Rewards Card Honest Review 2026! Is It Worth It For Travelers
Third-Party Articles & Reviews
Miles to Memories: Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card Review
Detailed blog review of the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card including analysis of the elevated 40,000 point welcome offer, annual companion coupon redemption strategies, and best-use cases for frequent riders.
The Points Guy: Complete Guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards Program
Comprehensive guide to the Amtrak Guest Rewards loyalty program covering how to earn Tier Qualifying Points, achieve elite status, redemption value analysis, and strategies for maximizing the Preferred card benefits.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard Review - Full 2026 Analysis
Comprehensive review of the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred covering the $99 annual fee, 3X earning rate on Amtrak travel, annual companion coupon value, first-class upgrade certificate, lounge pass, and 20% onboard food rebate. Complete analysis of whether the premium benefits justify the annual fee.
Upgraded Points: Amtrak Guest Rewards Loyalty Program Deep Dive
In-depth guide to the Amtrak Guest Rewards loyalty program including how the Preferred card accelerates elite status, explanation of Tier Qualifying Points, and strategic redemption options across Amtrak routes and transfer partners.
Amtrak Guest Rewards FAQ - Official Benefits and Program Information
Official Amtrak Guest Rewards program FAQ covering frequently asked questions about earning points, redeeming awards, Tier Qualifying Points, elite status levels, and Preferred card-specific benefits.
Amtrak Member Benefits - Preferred Card Perks and Privileges
Official Amtrak page describing all member benefits for Preferred tier cardholders including companion coupon, first-class upgrade, lounge access, food rebate, and TQP earning acceleration.
NerdWallet: Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Cards Reviewed
NerdWallet's expert review comparing Amtrak Guest Rewards entry card with the Preferred tier. Analysis of annual fees, earning rates, bonus categories, and which card is best for different types of travelers.
WalletHub: Amtrak Credit Card Reviews and Ratings
WalletHub's aggregated reviews and expert analysis of Amtrak credit cards including user ratings, community feedback on actual benefit usage, and real-world value delivered by the Preferred tier.
Forbes Advisor: Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard Review
Forbes Advisor's review of Amtrak credit cards examining earning rates, annual fee value, travel perks, and which travelers should apply. Includes comparison with competitive travel rewards cards.
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
