Amtrak Guest Rewards is going to be running double points earning for Amtrak travel between September 9 and October 31.
Amtrak points-earning isn’t especially generous on a “dollars required to earn comparable free travel basis” — on non-Acela Express routes you earn 2 points per dollar spent normally, and a roundtrip coach ticket between Washington DC and New York runs 8000 points. That means you need to spend $4000, or perhaps make 25 roundtrips, before getting a free ticket.
Double points helps, of course, but shouldn’t sway the majority of folks make plans to choose train rather than air (or other transport methods).
The link for the offer is not yet live, but registration will become available no later than September 9 at AmtrakGuestRewards.com/DoubleDays.
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The Portland-Seattle-Vancouver route is actually quite nice. A bit quicker than driving (a lot quicker if you count the lineups at the Vancouver land border) with free Wi-Fi and great views. Only about $30 from Seattle to Vancouver
Another great route – California Zephyr from Denver through Glenwood Canyon and on to Utah.
I spent $120 for 4 people from Chicago to St Louis (including a hop out to a further suburban station). I think the ticket on points would be 1500 each way. We each earned 400 points, because of the 100pt segment minimum. So, that’s 400 towards 3000 each time. Not bad. Especially if you double it.