Originally Posted by StylishTraveler

You do not need to travel on Amtrak to receive the 500 bonus miles.

Originally Posted by SkeptiCallie

But do you have to furnish a credit card number to receive them?

Originally Posted by SkeptiCallie

Also, do you detest telemarketers as much as a lot of people do?

Originally Posted by SkeptiCallie

Call me a bit cynical, if you like, but I'm skeptical of just about all popular (mass media) magazine subscriptions these days. Some exceptions, of course. But a lot of them automatically renew if you pay by credit card. The ones listed by the OP are free, of course. But do you have to furnish a credit card number to receive them?
Also, do you detest telemarketers as much as a lot of people do? IThen be sure to tell the magazines not to give out your personal information. I got calls from people "calling on behalf of the New Yorker" "New Republic" etc., to renew my subscriptions. I canceled my subscriptions on the grounds that I won't deal with any business who lets its telemarkers call me. Then I called the New Republic line, still fuming, to tell them exactly why I had canceled. A week later I got a call from another telemarketer thanking me for having renewed my subscription. It appears the call of complaint, to some address in Florida, was rather cynically sent on as a renewal. In all fairness, the magazines may just be selling subscription information to anyone who buys, including telemarketing companies who buy that information and then try to get you to renew. The magazines themselves deny calling their subscribers. I've also gotten calls from telemarketers claiming to represent magazines about Ireland, Scotland, about archeology, etc., to renew subscriptions there. I no longer subscribe to these either, as a result. Because of the telemarketing problem, I now buy a lot of my magazines on the stand, or read them at the library, which is even better.
In addition: Sometimes you have no idea your email address has been given out to a magazine as well. A well-intended person gave my email address to the Economist for a "free" online subscription, which I never responded to. The offer was forwarded to me by the original Economist reader, but I deleted it. The Economist picked up the forwarding email information. Now the Economist is emailing me to submit the offer. I read their privacy statement and found they have an alliance with Doubleclick. No thanks! Wish my well-intentioned friend had never given out my email address, but will have to wait and see if the Economist/Doubleclick keep emailing me before deciding whether to change email address.
Anyhow, FWIW. My two cents.