UPDATE: apparently the card has been taken down by Chase right now.
Amtrak 18,000 points + Companion Pass
Scott commented a couple of weeks ago saying that he dug up this offer in flyertalk. I didn’t see much info on it other than that people applied and it worked.
Here’s the deal.
You get 18,000 points for signing up. No that’s not a lot but two things to consider:
1) 18,000 isn’t a lot, but it could be enough for both of us to do Denver to Seattle (via San Fran) in an Amtrak Roomette. This might actually be a family Vacation option for this summer.
2) I want the card for the transfer to Choice points. I’ve made a strong case (in my opinion) for Choice Rewards being some of the best value redemptions. Amtrak transfers to Choice 1:3. So 20,000 Amtrak points could be 60,000 Choice points. Enough for 6 nights in Venice.
But even without the 18k, I want to have this card for the ability to send Chase points 1:1 to Amtrak. And then 1:3 to Choice. An indirect way of turning 25,000 Chase points into 75,000 Choice points a year. Which believe it or not, Choice has 42 of the top hotels in the world available on points.
Companion Pass
The Amtrak Companion ticket is pretty simple. It only applies to paid tickets, but is flexible in use. Roundtrip or oneway, it doesn’t really matter, as long as you book the tickets together and travel together. There are a few black out days, like the days before and after christmas, but otherwise it’s way better availability than airlines.
Personally, I have used Amtrak a couple of times and could see actually using this. New York to Charlottesville is like $70 a person and 6 hours. Probably quicker than flying considering you go downtown to downtown.
For the record, both of us just applied for this card. Thanks Scott!
Here’s the link for the Amtrak 18k card.
Read more details: Best Use of Choice Points
Read more: Best Use of Amtrak Points
Hidden IHG 80,000 points + $50
I saw on flyertalk that someone had found this deal when going to check on a reservation. It’s 80,000 IHG points and $50 as a signup bonus. Fee is waived for the first year. Plus it has the regular benefits of the IHG card anyways: The annual night certificate good for any hotel (with a $49 annual fee), and 10% of used points refunded.
I was able to find the same deal when doing a dummy booking for a random hotel in Kansas City. Right before check out it gave me the offer I have in the screenshot above. If you don’t already have the card, I’d recommend logging in and doing a dummy booking or cancelable room to see if you can see it too.
For the record, both of us have this card already.
Read more: Complete Guide to IHG Rewards
![Nick of FM on #40kFarAway [TIF Podcast]](https://travelisfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/travel-is-free-podcast-nick-40K-120x86.jpg)
I enjoyed your posts this evening. It’s nice late night reading. As a data point, I’ve tried different destinations and length of stays yet am only offered 60,000 points with a $50 credit when dummy booking.
Did you try making a reservation and then viewing the booking? Maybe I should try a couple things. Also, were you logged in?
I did not try making a reservation and then viewing the booking. I was not logged in as I already have the card and figured this would decrease the chances of an offer. I’ll try both.
After logging in I received no offer on the booking page. Booked a room, viewed the booking and no offer of any sorts. I’ll keep plugging away and let you know if I find anything useful. Thanks again
Bah, I should have stated that I booked a room without logging in.
I canceled the IHG card I had back in November 2014. Is the churn time on Chase products still 24 months?
Also is there a business version of the IHG card?
I assume but don’t know. No business version.
I couldn’t get it to show a 80000 offer, much less a $50 rebate even with a booked reservation and logged in. I think this is likely targeted.
Hmm, I wonder how they are targeting. The account in the example is Gold status.
But I just ran another test on an account that’s never been used and it also got the same offer.
I’m at a different IP too, and it’s 2/2 on a status and nonstatus account. So I don’t know how they are targeting.
I looked at a hotel in Kansas City, for whatever its worth.
Shoot – I just applied for the 12K Amtrak card (like you, to get the Choice redemptions). Time to SM Chase and see if they will match it…
As long as you include the link it should work. GL
logged onto my account and went through making a dummy reservation and received the 80K offer and $50 statement credit. Decision is pending (I’d already done 3 new accounts in January, so this may not work, but thought it was worth the try.) Thanks for the heads up, Drew!
Yea, it will hopefully still be there if not.
De nada.
It’s too bad that Chase holds so many of the good travel cards. I feel like I don’t want to push my luck with them by signing up for every one, one by one.
Yea, I try to be extra good to Chase because their good to me. I take it easy, I bank with them, and I spend on Chase cards.
Although it’s getting harder and harder to keep Chase when I have Schwab, and I’m also trying to play nice with Amex Blue by doing domestic spends.
Anyways, yea, it’s true.
Alternatively, here’s a link 🙂 https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/ihg/ihgsaml80plus
Thanks!
This link seems dead, it shows the offer but when you click apply it redirects to the 60k offer. At least for me. And I haven’t been able to get the 80k offer to show despite never having the card and making a refundable booking.
Yea, I tried this at first but when I click apply it tells me its dead.
So glad to be of service, Drew and Carrie, after all the great tips and guidance you so generously share here. Besides, it was your truly original post on the Choice/Amtrak/Chase possibilities that had me checking around in hopes to find a better Amtrak card deal. Trust it pans out for you. Will join you soon.
Well, I’m glad you did. I had been waiting to pull the trigger on the card and finally did with the 18k, plus I’ll probably actually use the companion pass.
Thanks again Scott.
Drew —
I thought your UR to Amtrak to Choice advice was brilliant until I saw this restriction:
“Only Members with Amtrak Guest Rewards Select, Select Plus or Select Executive tier and Members that are active cardholders of the Amtrak Guest Rewards® MasterCard® issued by Chase Bank with an Amtrak travel spend on the card of over $200 per calendar year may redeem for hotel points and Audience Rewards points.”
So unless there’s a workaround, it seems like you still have to be a genuine Amtrak customer to be able to transfer Amtrak points to Choice.
I talked about that in the originally post on Amtrak
and my advice is to actually do the $200 spend… it’s WAY cheaper than status with amtrak. Plus, you can still book a cancelable ticket. 😉
Drew, this was a fantastic post! I love reading your blog. Keep up the great work. BTW, I couldn’t find your link to apply for the IHG credit card anywhere. Could you direct me please?
I don’t have a link, but in the post I advise you log into IHG and make a booking and you’ll see the 80k card + $50. This is better than any public offer.