Sep 13, 2015, 8:16 am
Last edit by: beltway
Beginning September 12, 2015, two new Amtrak-branded credit cards are available through Bank of America:
Both cards offer the following benefits:
The World MasterCard offers these additional benefits:
If my application is not instantly approved, is there a special contact number for Bank of America?
Try calling 888-221-6262 or 866-811-4108. (M-F 8am-7pm EST)
When will I receive my World MC Companion Coupon/Upgrade Coupon/ClubAcela Pass?
"Companion Coupon and One-Class Upgrade Coupon are available online through your Amtrak Guest Rewards account. Your ClubAcela pass will be mailed to you within 2 weeks of account opening."
How soon will my AGR points post after I complete the required spend?
Bank of America transfers your signup bonus points to Amtrak a day or two after the end of the monthly billing cycle in which you complete the required spend.
Are these cards churnable?
TBD
- World MasterCard (20K pts for $1K spend in 3 months; $79 AF, not waived)
- Platinum MasterCard (12K pts for $1K spend in 3 months; no AF)
Both cards offer the following benefits:
- Earn 1 AGR point for non-Amtrak purchases
- Earn a bonus for Amtrak ticket and on-board purchases
- World MC earns a total of 3 AGR pts/$
- Platinum MC earns 2 AGR pts/$
- Receive a 5% points rebate on award redemptions for Amtrak travel
- No forex fee on purchases outside the US
- Your AGR points will never expire as long as you hold either card
The World MasterCard offers these additional benefits:
- Earn 2 AGR pts/$ on non-Amtrak travel purchases
- Per the T&C, this includes airlines, car rental agencies, hotels, motels, inns, resorts, and steamship/cruise lines. In cases where the merchant of record is not Amtrak, this 2pts/$ category also includes travel agencies, passenger railways, and commuter railways. (The last two were originally excluded, but are included as of 2021 or possibly earlier.)
- Earn 1,000 TQPs for every $5,000 in eligible purchases, up to 4,000 TQPs in any calendar year
- Purchases are credited for the year of the statement on which they are billed. For an account that closes on the 20th of each month, purchases after Dec. 20 will count in the following year.
- On account opening, receive a single-day pass for access to ClubAcela, Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge or First class lounges
- Per T&C, "ClubAcela pass valid for bearer and one guest, or bearer's spouse/domestic partner and children under the age of 21. No same-day ticket required for use."
- On account opening and at each anniversary renewal, receive a Companion Coupon and One-Class Upgrade
- "Companion Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare. Free companion and paying passenger must reserve at the same time and travel together at all times. Valid for travel as one (1) one-way or one (1) roundtrip on one reservation per coupon. For roundtrip usage, both directions of travel must be reserved at the same time. Travel blackout dates apply."
- Blackout dates for 2016: Jan. 2-3; Feb. 12; Feb. 15; Mar. 24-25; Mar. 28; May 27; May 30; Jul. 1; Jul. 4; Sept. 2; Sept. 5; Oct. 10; Nov. 22-23; Nov. 26-28; Dec. 21-24; Dec. 26-30.
- Blackout dates for 2017: Jan. 1-2; Feb. 17; Feb. 20; Apr. 13-14; Apr. 17; May 26; May 29; Sept. 1; Sept. 4; Oct. 9; Nov. 21-22; Nov. 24-27; [other dates TBD].
- "One-Class Upgrade Coupon valid for one (1) space-available, one-way, one-class upgrade. Valid only from Coach to Business class, or from Acela Business class to Acela First class, on a single travel segment or leg. Not valid for upgrade to sleeping car accommodations. Travel blackout dates apply."
- "Companion Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare. Free companion and paying passenger must reserve at the same time and travel together at all times. Valid for travel as one (1) one-way or one (1) roundtrip on one reservation per coupon. For roundtrip usage, both directions of travel must be reserved at the same time. Travel blackout dates apply."
If my application is not instantly approved, is there a special contact number for Bank of America?
Try calling 888-221-6262 or 866-811-4108. (M-F 8am-7pm EST)
When will I receive my World MC Companion Coupon/Upgrade Coupon/ClubAcela Pass?
"Companion Coupon and One-Class Upgrade Coupon are available online through your Amtrak Guest Rewards account. Your ClubAcela pass will be mailed to you within 2 weeks of account opening."
How soon will my AGR points post after I complete the required spend?
Bank of America transfers your signup bonus points to Amtrak a day or two after the end of the monthly billing cycle in which you complete the required spend.
Are these cards churnable?
TBD
New Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard arriving Fall 2015
Oct 29, 2015, 4:59 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
When did your statement close? Just wondering how long after the statement closes before the points post.
Oct 29, 2015, 5:52 pm
#332
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,092
Has anyone received the 1000 TQPs for $5000 in spend yet? I have spent substantially more than that, but haven't received any TQPs yet.
Oct 29, 2015, 7:32 pm
#333
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
I'm also curious if the 1000 TQP are also new redeemable points, or whether the TQP total simply bumps up by 1000 with no change in the redeemable point total.
Oct 30, 2015, 12:38 pm
#334
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
Nov 1, 2015, 9:35 pm
#335
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA PS, AA GLD, SPG GLD, PC PLT, CC GLD
Posts: 217
For whatever reason, my statement cut early in October and I still haven't seen the 20k sign-up bonus points post in my AGR account. I got the coupons (upgrade and companion), and my BoA statement shows that the 20k points posted to the correct account, but nothing appears in AGR. I'll follow up to see what's going on but wanted to add a data point.
Nov 2, 2015, 7:52 am
#336
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Boston environs
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 559
Also, BofA is annoying. They accidentally classified a credit purchase as a "debit" on their website and when I called, they said it said "credit" on their end so "don't worry what it shows on the website," and that was after two times of their robot hanging up on me and much hold time. (I miss Chase!)
Nov 3, 2015, 10:06 am
#337
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,061
It's a shorter than normal "calendar year" and it isn't unreasonable to think that some customers may need those TQPs to reach status before the end of the year.
I am sure it will be resolved, but I'd rather not have to call BOA or AGR in January.
Plus, the TQP benefit was the only reason I even decided to get the World card.
Nov 3, 2015, 3:43 pm
#338
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,092
Nov 6, 2015, 3:16 pm
#339
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 2,315
Its per quarter, so I assume that means the TQP posts following the end of each quarter (i.e. after 3/31, 6/30, 9/30 and 12/31). Unless you had the $5k of spend in September, I don't think the TQP will post until the 4th quarter ends on 12/31.
I didn't go digging back through the T&C, but I thought it was pretty clear this was just TQP, and not bonus points that got added to your account.
I didn't go digging back through the T&C, but I thought it was pretty clear this was just TQP, and not bonus points that got added to your account.
Nov 6, 2015, 3:28 pm
#340
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,092
Its per quarter, so I assume that means the TQP posts following the end of each quarter (i.e. after 3/31, 6/30, 9/30 and 12/31). Unless you had the $5k of spend in September, I don't think the TQP will post until the 4th quarter ends on 12/31.
I didn't go digging back through the T&C, but I thought it was pretty clear this was just TQP, and not bonus points that got added to your account.
I didn't go digging back through the T&C, but I thought it was pretty clear this was just TQP, and not bonus points that got added to your account.
Nov 6, 2015, 3:35 pm
#341
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 2,315
Because I read it too quickly every time I read it, and am wrong!
Earn 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) when you make at least $5,000 in purchases in a calendar year, up to 4,000 TQPs per year
To me that meant earn 1,000 TQP each time you hit $5,000 in a quarter, but I now see that it apparently means every $5k in spending gets you another 1,000 TQP.
So...nevermind!!!!
Earn 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) when you make at least $5,000 in purchases in a calendar year, up to 4,000 TQPs per year
To me that meant earn 1,000 TQP each time you hit $5,000 in a quarter, but I now see that it apparently means every $5k in spending gets you another 1,000 TQP.
So...nevermind!!!!
Nov 8, 2015, 11:45 am
#342
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BDL
Programs: AA, DL, HA, WN, UA, B6, KX, Amtrak, HHonors Silver, SPG
Posts: 132
Which was why I didn't switch to the BOA AGR card and stayed with Chase, Cap1 and Amex. If BOA improved service I'd be tempted, but I need easy to deal with card issuers if something goes wrong (fraud, warranty claim, etc.), and there are some features BOA doesn't offer (BOA doesn't have free trip interruption/cancellation insurance on their no-fee AGR card like Chase does on the Chase Freedom card). I still do get some AGR points through non-AGR means though (Starwood automatic transfer, etc.).
Nov 12, 2015, 8:47 am
#343
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
AGR MEMBER # XXX
9,706 PURCHASE POINTS
20,000 PROMOTION POINTS
29,706 TOTAL POINTS EARNED
VISIT WWW.AMTRAKGUESTREWARDS.COM
9,706 PURCHASE POINTS
20,000 PROMOTION POINTS
29,706 TOTAL POINTS EARNED
VISIT WWW.AMTRAKGUESTREWARDS.COM
I want to book my trip before the sleepers fill up!
Nov 12, 2015, 8:51 am
#344
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA PS, AA GLD, SPG GLD, PC PLT, CC GLD
Posts: 217
I'm about 5 weeks out now from when my statement cut (6 weeks from meeting spend). No bonus points seen in my account, though reported on my statement. I called into AGR who informed me that I would have to wait 6-8 weeks to post, at which point they would then investigate. I'm surprised given the expediency that others on the thread have received the points.
Nov 12, 2015, 8:55 am
#345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
I'm about 5 weeks out now from when my statement cut (6 weeks from meeting spend). No bonus points seen in my account, though reported on my statement. I called into AGR who informed me that I would have to wait 6-8 weeks to post, at which point they would then investigate. I'm surprised given the expediency that others on the thread have received the points.