Having dropped by United $60 credit card in favor of Amtrak's free MBNA Master Card, I am now earning Amtrak points at an accelerated rate. Conversion of 5000 Amtrak points to 5000 United miles was painless....doable on line, and the miles were posted with United 5 days later. (Amtrak's Guest Reward site said to expect the transaction to take 6 to 8 weeks).