The current Amtrak credit card offers advertise up to 30,000 points on the Preferred Mastercard and up to 20,000 on the no-annual-fee Mastercard. Neither headline is earned from spending alone. Both include a separate 5,000-point authorized-user bonus.
| Condition | Preferred Mastercard | Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase bonus | 25,000 points after $1,500 | 15,000 points after $1,000 |
| Additional-user bonus | 5,000 points | 5,000 points |
| Completion window | First 3 billing cycles from opening | First 3 billing cycles from opening |
| Application deadline | November 4, 2026 | November 4, 2026 |
| Annual fee | $99 | $0 |
Amtrak says applicants must use the offer route on this page; other channels may show different offers. The additional-user bonus is limited to one per account and is described as posting in six to eight weeks. 1
Three billing cycles is the phrase to save
FNBO requires the qualifying net purchases to post within the first three consecutive billing cycles. The first cycle starts when the account opens and can be shorter or longer than a month, so do not replace this window with “90 days.” Returns and credits reduce eligible purchases; fees, interest, cash advances and balance transfers do not count. Ask FNBO for your cycle-end date and leave time for purchases to post. 2 3
The purchase bonus can take up to eight weeks after it is earned to reach the points balance. The account must still be open and enrolled in the rewards program when it is credited. This is separate from the authorized-user bonus timing above. 2 3
An authorized user is another person with access to the account, not just a box to check for points. Discuss permitted spending and review the account agreement before adding someone. If you do not want that arrangement, compare the purchase-only bonuses: 25,000 versus 15,000.
Keep the first-year offer separate from the renewal decision
Here is a narrow comparison using the same assumptions for both cards. Suppose you personally expect to redeem Amtrak points for 2 cents each, can meet either spending requirement with planned purchases and will pay the bill in full. That is a hypothetical valuation, not a guaranteed redemption rate.
At a 1-cent personal valuation, the same narrow difference becomes just $1. This sensitivity is why the larger points number does not settle the choice. It also says nothing about whether a second year is worth paying for: the initial bonus does not repeat in that calculation.
What might make Preferred useful after the bonus?
Amtrak lists 3 points per dollar on Amtrak purchases for Preferred versus 2 for the no-fee card. Preferred also includes companion, upgrade and lounge coupons, each subject to its own conditions. Both list a 5% point rebate on Amtrak travel redemptions. 1
Value a coupon only after checking that your intended route, travel date, fare and companion qualify. A perk you cannot use contributes $0 to your renewal calculation. If your travel is infrequent, the no-fee card may be easier to justify even when the first-year math favors Preferred.
Make the application decision from your actual trip
Price a likely Amtrak redemption, decide whether an additional user is appropriate and confirm the live offer through Amtrak. Then compare the incremental value with the fee and spending commitment. Choosing neither is reasonable if you do not have a useful redemption in mind.
Before applying, use our welcome-offer spending checklist to separate eligible purchases from fees, returns and other charges.
