Recent update: I signed up late Feb 2024 for 40,000 pts. Terms included agreement to spend $2,000 in the first 3 billing cycles. So, about 1 year after this video the required charges are twice what you reported April 2023. Robert in NYC.

Followed your advice and got my Preferred Amtrak MC last summer before I started my Amtrak travels. I received 30,000 points. I use it for tickets, lodging and rental cars while travelling. I've used it for other unusual expenses (remodeling my house and property taxes). As you say "Pay it off each month." I have paid for future roomette trips using points: Coast Starlight (EMY-SEA); Empire Builder (SEA-CHI); Crescent (WAS-NOL); City of New Orleans (NOL-CHI).

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome!

Just applied for the card. You guys are awesome, thanks for having such a helpful and informative channel.

Just applied and was approved for the card in June 2024. 30,000 point welcome bonus for the first $2000 spent. Sounds like it’s worth the try.

I applied for the card a few days ago, I do like your channels & blog.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

Thanks

A great card to get for Amtrak travel. We haven't gotten this one yet, but we need to get it at some point. Thanks for the info! Loved the "but wait there's more!"😂😂😂😂🚂🚂🚂

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the great tip! For a married couple, which do you think works better -- one person to apply and get an additional card for the spouse on the same account, or each apply for his/her own card?

Hi Guys. Thanks for the recap on this card, which I have (and got my 40,000 point bonus). I'm working on building 80 to 100,000 points with the idea of using them to travel solo in a roomette most of the way around the country and back. (I did a similar trip earlier this year and loved it.) My question to you is one I haven't found an answer to in any written sources so far. Does the Preferred card come with any insurance benefits, such as trip interruption, lost baggage, emergency evacuation, etc.? I ask because I will be using the card to book a couple non-Amtrak foreign trips, where these benefits are more relevant. Anyway, keep up the good work, and thanks again.

Great rundown! Can you guys cover the new 30k points offer with all the other extras they added? Think it's better than the previous 40k? Go for it now or wait for a better bonus?

@davisebbert4835

Жыл бұрын

I agree, I'd like to see them break down the new deal as well!

Not available to Canadian citizens. I was hoping to get a card and build up amtrak points. But nope.

Thank you both for the valuable info! 🙂 (Do the points expire, if not used within a certain time?)

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

They don't if you are using the card.

I have that card I used my points for a June trip with my wife on the Texas Eagle Dallas to Chicago we got the bedroom you guys are the best.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks!

Just received this card….yay!

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

Awesome!

So let me get this straight. If I pay 100 to get the card, I get points if I travel on Amtrak. But won't I be billed monthly?

if i cancel the card after 1 year do i get to keep unused points? for how long if so?

Do you know can one get both cards? ❤

Any idea how often they run the new card holder 40k point promotion? I just missed it.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

Hard to say, they just brought back the card after not having it for awhile so there isn't much to go on as to when and what they'll offer now.

too bad I can't get the Amtrak Mastercard as a German citizen. Americans and Canadians only

I have an existing Amtrak account before getting the Amtrak Mastercard. How do I add the Amtrak Mastercard points to my existing Amtrak account.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

It should ask you for your account number when you sign up for the card.

You mentioned that Allie has a higher status because the card is in her name. Would it make sense for both people in a couple to get their own card? It would mean paying $99 twice, but it seems that the points are valuable and having both with higher status could be worth it.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

11 ай бұрын

Yes, we do actually both have the card, what we should have said was we book the travel on her card, and that gets her the status. It's good to both have, but only book on one card until one of you has the top level status.

@spark_6710

2 ай бұрын

It totally makes sense to get one 1st & get the best status, then apply for another, if it is truly beneficial, but for a married couple may not be as you always travel together, right ? Then ,not really beneficial to get separate cards as you won't be spending more to get more points unless you buy tickets for others ,too ! Lol. 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

don't you think its so weird that Amtrak has a Mastercard and not an American Express card, given the train history of amex.

I applied, was approved, and received my card. But I never got my 30k points. I explained what was the special sign on bonus, as well as the you must spend $2k in the first three billing cycles. I was told none of this applies to my preferred account....after I opened my account and spent the required amount. I won't use this card in the future. I have better rewards and more account loyalty with another company. Very disappointed. I was given the sign on bonus information for the regular card. I kept explaining that wasn't the sign on bonus for the preferred card, but for the regular card. The representative acted like my business was not important.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

6 ай бұрын

You should call back until they fix it

@barbshubert9667

6 ай бұрын

After 3 calls, someone (Tina) saw something she said didn't look right and was going to send to another department for further investigation. I offered to send in my copy of the offer for 30k points. I'm waiting for a call back.

@spark_6710

2 ай бұрын

​@barbshubert9667 I hope you've got the right points !! I hate credit cards & dealing issues w 'em over the phone, etc. !! Or writing to 'em !! People working for the credit card companies often do not know everything & make mistakes & insist w/ o checking things further ! I had paid off all my debts two decades ago & very happy about being debt free !! Butters is very intriguing & seems like a real good deal. Hope things worked out ! 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💕💞

On Amtrak, can you pay with points and money if you're too low on points to cover the whole fare?

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

You cannot, but you can buy points or transfer them from another account.

@loopbraider

10 ай бұрын

@@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel Do you mean from someone else's account? Like could you guys transfer some of Rob's points over to Allie's card to come up with enough points for a trip?

Is the lounge coupon good for 2 people on the same ticket?

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

8 ай бұрын

They've always let us both in

Do you have to have a good credit score to apply?

@CardHunter-u2t

2 ай бұрын

The card is through FNBO, so I would say, yes. I would say your FICO EX. score needs to be 720 or over.

It is down to 20,000. I wonder if it will keep going down.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

11 ай бұрын

That's the lowest we've seen, so I'd guess it goes back up maybe

I tried to get the card . But I got turned down with a 730 credit score.

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

That is surprising

@kingbradentucky

Жыл бұрын

I was approved with a low 700 score like a month or so ago.

Can you give me a simple conversation. Can we redeem the points to get an amazon coupon and how much for 30k points?

Which bank is the card with?

@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel

Жыл бұрын

I think it is FNBO now

@SelfCareSelfLove1

Жыл бұрын

@GroundedLifeFinances yes, I checked online. It has an interest rate of over 27% #yikes

@loopbraider

10 ай бұрын

@@SelfCareSelfLove1 Either in this video or another one, Allie and Rob said ONLY get the card if you are going to pay it off every month, you don't want to owe any interest. Then you get the benefits of the points etc, but you don't want to get stung by that high interest on top of the $99 yearly fee.

2024 it’s now 20,000 points

@CardHunter-u2t

2 ай бұрын

I'm waiting on it to go back up and I will definitely be applying.

@madelyn2351

26 күн бұрын

As of now, it’s 30,000