Actually, that simple 3-year inactivity policy was backdated to August 2015, right before the Chase card disappeared, to keep the points of people who had held (and had at least occasionally used) the Chase Amtrak card from disappearing. So, for example, anyone who had the Chase Amtrak card and used it right before it went away has until about August 2018 before they have to have more activity. Obviously, those who didn't use the card for the last few months it was around have a bit less time. But unless you didn't use the card for a year or more before it went away, you still have plenty of time to figure out what activity to have as a replacement.
Originally Posted by
serpens
On January 25, does everyone have three years (minus a day or two) before points expire? In other words, what are the conditions that, in the absence of point activity after January 24, would lead to expiration of points in the month after January 25 or the year after January 25?
Nothing magic happens on January 25, because the policy has already been in effect for months.
On any particular day, Amtrak Guest Rewards might* look back 3 years. So the condition that would lead expiration on January 25, 2016 is no activity since January 25, 2013. But if there was no activity since January 12, 2013, your points might be expiring today, because as I said, this 3-year inactivity expiration was actually implemented last August, even if all the other changes are only taking effect January 24.
* We don't know whether AGR will check for 3 years of inactivity on a daily basis, or a monthly basis, or how often. The worst case, and therefore my example, would be if they checked on a daily basis.