Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard

The no-fee Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard is the casual rider's version of the Preferred card: 2x points on Amtrak and dining, 1x everywhere else, with a welcome offer of up to 20,000 points that goes a long way given how valuable Amtrak points are toward train travel. What it lacks are the Preferred card's trip extras, meaning no companion coupon, no upgrade coupon, no lounge pass, and no tier qualifying points toward status, and the onboard food and beverage rebate drops to 10%. That makes the choice simple: if you ride Amtrak a few times a year or more, the $99 Preferred pays for itself through the coupons alone, while this card suits someone who takes the train once or twice a year and wants to earn points without a fee.