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We’ve talked in-depth about the recent changes (devaluation?) to Amtrak Guest Rewards over the past month or two.
(SEE ALSO: Amtrak Guest Rewards 2.0 details leaked – it’s bad news)
We sleuthed out that the new Amtrak credit card was going to be offered by Bank of America instead of Chase, and speculation was that you would no longer be able to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Amtrak at some point soon.
The ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak and other travel partners is one of the reasons I think Chase Ultimate Rewards are the best miles out there – we recently transferred 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak to take our family of 8 on a train trip that had a “cash” cost of over $6500
(SEE ALSO: 4 reasons my Amtrak trip was a blast…)
(SEE ALSO: … but I’ll probably never take another Amtrak trip)
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Amtrak ending December 7th
Per Doctor of Credit, Amtrak has made an official announcement about the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak. The official announcement was posted on Flyertalk by AGR Insider (an Amtrak employee)
Effective December 8, 2015, the option to transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak Guest Rewards® will be discontinued. Eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards customers can transfer points into Amtrak Guest Rewards through December 7, 2015. To see if your Chase card is eligible or to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Amtrak Guest Rewards, visit http://www.chase.com/ultimaterewards.
So if you want to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak, you have about 2 months to do so. While there are some bright spots in the new Amtrak Guest Rewards 2.0, the ability to really get “outsized” value (like our $6540 train trip) will go away as they move more towards a fixed-cost for earning as well as redemption
(SEE ALSO: Maximizing your route on the Amtrak Zone Map)
(SEE ALSO: The comprehensive guide to Amtrak: everything you need to know)
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
Thanks for this post. So, I can transfer my UR to Amtrak until Dec. 7 and I believe I can make a booking under the current chart until . How long do I have to make bookings under the current chart? I’d hate to transfer my UR to amtrak by Dec. 7 Jan. 24 (is that right?).
My question is if I make a speculative booking say for May 2016, can I change the date of the booking later. I’m thinking of a weekend trip from Seattle to Vancouver, but don’t know the weekend. So if I lock in the current rate w/ a booking can I later change the date when my plans firm up? Thanks.
You are correct that you have until January to make award bookings under the current chart. I don’t know the answer to your 2nd question, but I’d be surprised if they let you change the dates after the new chart goes into effect
Finally got around to riding Amtrak last week. A round trip from Chicago to D.C. and one to St. Louis. Megabus had canceled a scheduled trip and I didn’t feel like arriving in St. Louis at 2 a.m. But, all three of the Amtrak rides came in late, although no real delays leaving the stations.
Amtrak Rewards did have a BOA credit card booth at the Chicago Union Station. I was told there wouldn’t be a hard pull done for my application. After contacting BOA, word is that it was bs. Also confirmed future points are to be based on dollar spent.
Forget about free Wi-Fi at the Chicago station and while the trains. The Union Station in D.C. has it and also outlets and USB charging ports.
On our trip, we attended the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago’s Union Station and I agree with you – the wifi was pretty bad