Daily, Amtrak runs over 300 commuter as well as passenger trains throughout 46 states throughout the United States. Anyone who takes the train often, whether for short commutes or extended vacations, may look into applying for an amtrak credit card to take advantage of discounts and keep them on schedule. Both cards are indeed issued from First National Bank of Omaha, but one gives far more for the price of its $99 annual fee than the other does, thanks to superior rewards and other advantages. However, it may take some time to amass many points, regardless of your card, if you only ride a little regularly. If that's the case, you could be better off with a rewards credit card that covers more ground.

Here Are Four Facts Regarding Amtrak Credit Cards That You Should Know:

The Card Comes In Two Different Formats.

The two Amtrak credit cards are distinct from one another in terms of both fees and benefits:

• Mastercard Amtrak Guest Rewards ($0 yearly charge)
• Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard (annual cost of $99)

Both versions are eligible for Amtrak Guest Rewards points. Still, somehow the "Preferred" option has more perks than the "Regular" one. Earn points per dollar spent on Amtrak, even onboard. You get one point for every $1 spent on food, transportation, including ridesharing costs (except Amtrak), one and credit for every penny spent for everything else. The no-annual-fee option earns two points for every dollar spent upon Amtrak travel and first point for every dollar spent elsewhere. The 3X discount is fantastic for frequent Amtrak riders. Still, the cards' other perks aren't very outstanding. Rewards rates of 2% or more are common on many credit cards, and they often apply to all purchases, not just those made in specified categories.

Redemption Is Flexible

Usually, if you use your Amtrak Guest Rewards account for a full year, your points will be retained. However, your points will never expire if you have an active amtrak rewards credit card account. Amtrak offers some tips for those who aren't cards but are looking for methods to extend the life of their points. Amtrak tickets, auto rentals, hotel stays, and gift cards are some of the many possibilities for spending accumulated points. The best bang for your buck may be had by using your points to book travel (minimum redemption of 800 points). As mentioned above, this is the only method to redeem points for Amtrak travel, and it nets you a 5% discount.

But Point Values Vary.

However, the redemption procedure might be complicated because the value of your points will vary based on what you redeem them for and the number you redeemed.NerdWallet's route simulator estimates that a weekend journey on the Northeast Regional from New York to Washington, D.C., would set you back $115 for a coach seat and $176 for something like a business class ticket. Both amounts are equivalent to 4,083 and 6,248 points, or more than 2.8 cents per point when redeemed. That's a fantastic bargain. Aim at least 1 cent for each point as a general rule of thumb. However, matters vary somewhat with an Acela train. A coach ticket on the same route and day is $155; a business class seat is $155, or 7,400 points. At this rate, each point is worth around 2.1 cents.

You'll Be Qualified For A Welcome Bonus.

The following limited-time welcome offer is available to new cardholders of the amtrak credit card review (expires 12/2/2022) with an annual charge of $99: Spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of creating your account, and you'll get 30,000 bonus points. The bonus will decrease to 20,000 points for the same amount of expenditure during the same period after this date. That's not terrible, and it'll be enough for a few rides on Amtrak. However, it's important to remember that many travel credit cards with the same or slightly higher annual rates also tend to include larger initial bonuses. However, the $0 annual charge Amtrak card's significantly smaller bonus offer of 12,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account creation disqualifies it from this category.

Conclusion

The welcome bonus for this card is excellent while it is on sale, making it a great choice for anybody planning to use Amtrak's services. Since 2016.1.24, Amtrak has switched from a zone-based to a revenue-based redeemable policy, devaluing points for more costly tickets. Regular riders of Amtrak may save a lot of money with perks like the Companion Coupon and the One-Class Upgrade by keeping their Amtrak credit card. You can downgrade to BoA Amtrak Rewards Platinum unless you don't want to pay the yearly cost constantly. Long-distance trains are more enjoyable than flying, but they are exhausting for those who are not accustomed to them.