Amtrak Now Allowing Cash + Points Bookings (Awful Redemption Rates)

Amtrak is now allowing you to book with both cash & points.

Introducing Points & Cash! As an Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® cardholder, we’re telling you the news first. You can now book Amtrak® travel with Amtrak Guest Rewards points and cash. With more redemption options and fewer points needed, it’s easier than ever to use points for travel. Points & Cash is available now on Amtrak.com, and will be on the Amtrak app later this month upon the next update. Book your next trip with Points & Cash today.

Unfortunately the redemption rate seems to be exceptionally poor. While you normally get 2.6¢ in value per point it seems that you get under 1¢ per point when using cash + points and closer to 0.5¢ per point.

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13 Comments
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anonymous
anonymous (@guest_1861601)
June 19, 2024 11:23

Amtrak’s rewards program just suffered a data breach. Article available at The Register website. Better check any stored gift cards.

wilsonhammer
wilsonhammer (@guest_1861608)
June 19, 2024 11:41
Jack
Jack (@guest_1861594)
June 19, 2024 10:48

If you have the money to take Amtrak, you may as well fly to Europe instead

JW
JW (@guest_1861808)
June 19, 2024 18:27

I get $30 one-way tickets frequently along the East Coast.

blah blah
blah blah (@guest_1861906)
June 19, 2024 21:53

I cannot use my pre-tax commuter benefit card on an airline. I can use that on a coast-to-coast Amtrak in a private bedroom.

Jim Z
Jim Z (@guest_1862064)
June 20, 2024 08:46

Train seat >>> plane seat

Hodor
Hodor (@guest_1861592)
June 19, 2024 10:45

 William Charles  Chuck What happened to the post on the high-yield sweep option for Fidelity CMAs? It seems to have been taken down.

Jack
Jack (@guest_1861593)
June 19, 2024 10:47

Hodor, this thread is about Amtrak not Fidelity. Did you post in a different thread? Hodor

Hodor
Hodor (@guest_1861599)
June 19, 2024 11:07

Yeah, I know. I just chose the newest thread to ping the mods because the Fidelity thread is MIA. They can delete if appropriate.

wilsonhammer
wilsonhammer (@guest_1861610)
June 19, 2024 11:44
Jack
Jack (@guest_1861746)
June 19, 2024 16:20

It looks like they just posted it. Is this what you’re talking about? Thanks Hodor Hodor
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/fidelity-cash-management-account-adds-high-yield-sweep-option/

KV
KV (@guest_1861584)
June 19, 2024 10:18

Easy/convenient = Expensive
Points&cash = easy/convenient