Amtrak Guest Rewards - Points Expiration

I have 38,000 Amtrak points I'm worried are going to expire. Based on the 36-month rule and the fact I haven't taken a train since November 27, 2007, should they not have already expired? I did apply for and was approved for the Amtrak credit card in August 2010, which is how I earned most of my points. But I canceled the credit card several months ago. Do the Amtrak credit card charges extend the 36-month expiration policy, so that they expire 36 months from the date of my last credit card charge?

Did you try using the search function. There are many threads that talk about losing miles.
Here is one to start you off.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards/818012-no-amtrak-travel-3-years-lose-all-your-miles.html

Self help is the best help

I can see for miles,

Only having an active credit card would keep your miles from expiring. AFAIK there is no extension because you had one in the past.

Amtrak doesn't have a solid enforcement of the 3 year rule in place; it's more like, "when we get around to it." Perhaps its even part of some computer maintenance routine that they only run every once in a while. But I wouldn't bet on keeping your points for any length of time.

If at all possible, get out and take even a short trip for just a couple of bucks and extend your points for another 3 years. Alternatively, but 2,000 points and book a 2 zone sleeper trip ASAP or convert those points into some gift cards.

I have 38,000 Amtrak points I'm worried are going to expire. Based on the 36-month rule and the fact I haven't taken a train since November 27, 2007, should they not have already expired? I did apply for and was approved for the Amtrak credit card in August 2010, which is how I earned most of my points. But I canceled the credit card several months ago. Do the Amtrak credit card charges extend the 36-month expiration policy, so that they expire 36 months from the date of my last credit card charge?
Silly rabbit! Had you read either the T&C or the FAQ ant tha Amtrak Guest Rewards website, you would have seen that:

"While a cardholder of the Amtrak Guest Rewards® MasterCard® from Chase® with an open account, your points will not expire."

In other words, your having had an Amtrak card in the past did not extend your expiration. If you had kept your Amtrak credit card (it's got no annual fee, why cancel it???), you would avoid expiration.

Avoiding expiration is different than extending it. Extending it means the 3-year count is reset. Avoiding it means (as long as it remains avoided) that the 3-year count is ignored.

Perhaps you could call Chase and ask whether you can reopen the card? I'm not sure how often the card has to be used (or how often they check for it still being open), so presumably until a few months ago it was keeping your points from expiring, and AGR hasn't yet figured out that your card is closed. So if you can reopen it quickly, maybe they'll not "see" that it was closed for a while?