When deciding whether to use points on Amtrak, I value them at 2 cents each using the thinking that I would use 25,000 points for a $500 airline ticket which comes out to 2 cents a mile. I don't like to use points on a ticket worth much less than that. Therefore as long as I'm getting 2 cents or more of value on the amtrak ticket, I'm good with that. Obviously, if I had unlimited points like some people have, my thinking would be different.