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
Mar 6, 2016, 1:15 pm
#391
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
I and others are now seeing this on our transactions on AGRs website (with different dates):
BankOfAmerica WorldCard Points Expire on 02/06/2019
Anyone know what this means?
My guess is this is the expiration date of your points should you close your BoA CC and have no other qualifying activities to extend the AGR points expiration date.
Initially I though it was referring to my CC exp date, but another person stated their date didn't match their CC exp date.
BankOfAmerica WorldCard Points Expire on 02/06/2019
Anyone know what this means?
My guess is this is the expiration date of your points should you close your BoA CC and have no other qualifying activities to extend the AGR points expiration date.
Initially I though it was referring to my CC exp date, but another person stated their date didn't match their CC exp date.
I have it on all my transactions and it corresponds to three years after my last activity.
Jun 20, 2016, 5:49 pm
#392
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
So the choice was either $584 (2 Saver r'ts) or $366 (one Value r/t plus free companion ticket). That's still a $218 savings, though once you factor in the $79 Annual Fee, it's only a $139 savings [compared to the $213 savings I was expecting].
That's nothing to sniff at (and I realize the annual fee also gets you one free upgrade, but that's useless on the Builder). But it's really making me think twice about renewing my annual fee card for next year.
It's worth noting that the T&C for the $79 credit card describes the companion coupon like this:
Companion Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare.
Nowhere is "(full)" defined. Saver fares are not listed on Amtrak's "everyday discounts" page. So one could surmise that since it's not considered a "discount" it must be a full fare.
But on Amtrak's "Guide to Fares" page it describes Saver Fares as the "lowest available fares" that include "deeply discounted fares." So you could surmise, as the AGR agent I spoke to did, that Saver fares are not "full" fares. However, this is implied and is never specifically stated. Why couldn't Amtrak simply and specifically say in the credit card app that the companion coupon is not valid for Saver Fares?
I think I know: They'd sell fewer $79/annual fee credit cards that way.
Jun 20, 2016, 6:37 pm
#393
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AGR Select/Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum
Posts: 102
It's not just the NEC. I ran into this issue today for a ticket on the Empire Builder. The Saver fare was $146 each way, but I was required to book the Value fare at $188 each way. That meant the round-trip was $366, not the $292 I was expecting.
So the choice was either $584 (2 Saver r'ts) or $366 (one Value r/t plus free companion ticket). That's still a $218 savings, though once you factor in the $79 Annual Fee, it's only a $139 savings [compared to the $213 savings I was expecting].
That's nothing to sniff at (and I realize the annual fee also gets you one free upgrade, but that's useless on the Builder). But it's really making me think twice about renewing my annual fee card for next year.
It's worth noting that the T&C for the $79 credit card describes the companion coupon like this:
Companion Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare.
Nowhere is "(full)" defined. Saver fares are not listed on Amtrak's "everyday discounts" page. So one could surmise that since it's not considered a "discount" it must be a full fare.
But on Amtrak's "Guide to Fares" page it describes Saver Fares as the "lowest available fares" that include "deeply discounted fares." So you could surmise, as the AGR agent I spoke to did, that Saver fares are not "full" fares. However, this is implied and is never specifically stated. Why couldn't Amtrak simply and specifically say in the credit card app that the companion coupon is not valid for Saver Fares?
I think I know: They'd sell fewer $79/annual fee credit cards that way.
So the choice was either $584 (2 Saver r'ts) or $366 (one Value r/t plus free companion ticket). That's still a $218 savings, though once you factor in the $79 Annual Fee, it's only a $139 savings [compared to the $213 savings I was expecting].
That's nothing to sniff at (and I realize the annual fee also gets you one free upgrade, but that's useless on the Builder). But it's really making me think twice about renewing my annual fee card for next year.
It's worth noting that the T&C for the $79 credit card describes the companion coupon like this:
Companion Coupon valid for one (1) free companion rail fare with the purchase of one (1) regular (full) adult rail fare.
Nowhere is "(full)" defined. Saver fares are not listed on Amtrak's "everyday discounts" page. So one could surmise that since it's not considered a "discount" it must be a full fare.
But on Amtrak's "Guide to Fares" page it describes Saver Fares as the "lowest available fares" that include "deeply discounted fares." So you could surmise, as the AGR agent I spoke to did, that Saver fares are not "full" fares. However, this is implied and is never specifically stated. Why couldn't Amtrak simply and specifically say in the credit card app that the companion coupon is not valid for Saver Fares?
I think I know: They'd sell fewer $79/annual fee credit cards that way.
It's no accident that AGR Insider no longer answers questions on this forum, he's either been muzzled or is ashamed of what has happened to AGR.
The New AGR2.0 Motto:
Less for More!
Jun 20, 2016, 8:23 pm
#394
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
There's plenty of shame to go around. Recall--as noted in the wiki--that AGR Insider explicitly told us that the coupon could be used on Saver fares. Coming back here would entail a steady diet of crow & humble pie.
Jun 21, 2016, 11:38 am
#395
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Boston environs
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 559
Has anyone contemplated, or succeeded, switching their card to the no fee type going forward? Do we lose unused rewards at that time if so?
Jun 21, 2016, 3:31 pm
#396
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
AGR Insider says that the coupon cannot be used in conjunction with those rates. He also says it "works like today's Select Plus / Select Executive companion coupon", which is not a useful example for those of us who have never been Select Plus/Select Executive.
AGR Insider also says that a "Flexible fare is not a requirement." But again, there are two fare levels below "flexible." There is "Value" and then "Saver." The companion coupon works on Value but does not work on Saver.
I think a reasonable person could see AGR Insider's post and come to the conclusion that since a Saver fare is not a "discounted rate like AAA or NARP" (i.e. no special membership is needed to access a saver fare...they are for sale on the Amtrak website for anybody to purchase) AND that since a "flexible fare is not a requirement", that you could use the Companion coupon on a Saver Fare. Indeed, I say a "reasonable person" since that is the very conclusion I reached. But it's not quite accurate to say that AGR Insider explicitly said they could be used on Saver fares.
I am contemplating the switch, but I certainly won't do that until my "annual fee" year nears an end, since I may as well continue to get triple points on Amtrak spending and double points on other travel spending in the meantime.
Jun 21, 2016, 6:26 pm
#397
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,644
Well, even if it can be used on Saver fares, I'm assuming the agents are seeing something on ARROW that looks like a discount which will make them assume that it can't be used. Even before the AGR program change, HUACA was needed to apply upgrade coupons on Saver fares as many agents did not know how to manually refare the ticket to the price paid to apply the upgrade, so they erroneously assumed Saver was a type of discount which was causing the error.
Sep 1, 2016, 1:02 pm
#398
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 439
Have they ever offered a sign up bonus better than 20k points? I had the old Chase card and have been holding out on getting the new one...
Sep 1, 2016, 1:12 pm
#400
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 439
Short and to the point. I like your style. Guess I'll sign up already then. Doesn't look like they offer a refer a friend deal either but if they do someone should feel free to PM me a link.
Sep 1, 2016, 7:48 pm
#401
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,538
If I were not minding my inquiries, I would have probably just applied for the no fee and then cancelled the premium for less hassle and more points.
Sep 14, 2016, 11:59 am
#402
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 231
companion coupon
Is there a deadline for using the companion coupon? I assume it's at least one year, but wonder what happens if I cannot use it during first year I have the card, does it remain available? Thanks.
Sep 16, 2016, 11:56 am
#403
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
You can find the expiration date of your coupon by logging in to the AGR site, opening "My Account Overview," clicking "See All" in the My Coupons area, then click the specific coupon to see the valid dates.
Sep 17, 2016, 5:25 am
#404
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Can you see blackout dates for 2017? I'd like to update the wiki, but the blackout dates aren't shown in the card T&C.
Sep 18, 2016, 12:19 pm
#405
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
Jan. 1-2, 2017
Feb. 17, 2017
Feb. 20, 2017
Apr. 13-14, 2017
Apr. 17, 2017
May 26, 2017
May 29, 2017
Sep. 1, 2017
Sep. 4, 2017
Oct. 9, 2017