Update: Looks to be publicly available.
The Offer
- Bank of America Amtrak cardholders are being offered 3x Amtrak points per $1 spent on all purchases until December 31st, 2018 with no cap
The Fine Print
- To be eligible for this offer, your account must be open with active charging privileges.
- Earn 3 points per dollar (consisting of 1 base point and 2 bonus points) for all Net Purchase transactions (purchases less credits, returns and adjustments) with a transaction date of November 5, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
- We reserve the right to verify eligibility of all transactions.
- If your account is converted to a different rewards program or to a card without a rewards program during the offer timeframe, the offer is no longer valid.
- This offer is non-transferrable. All terms of your Program Rules apply.
- The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you.
- You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward.
- Please consult your tax advisor, as neither Bank of America, nor its affiliates, provide tax advice.
Our Verdict
For people that value Amtrak points this is an insane deal. In our complete guide to Amtrak points we have Amtrak points being worth a base level of 0.75¢ each and a maximum of 2.9¢ each. Under this deal that would mean you’re earning 2.25-8.7% back. Like I said, this can be an insane deal for some people.
Hat tip to reader Marc EL
Hoping this one returns this year!
This deal has not worked for me. Yesterday my BoA Amtrak statement closed, and today my Amtrak account was credited with 1 point per dollar spent.
A few days ago as I was on the phone with a Guest Rewards CR about redeeming for a ticket, I asked him about the promo. He said it was only valid for the World Mastercard, not the Plat, which is the one I had, and also that you had to be targeted, which I was not.
I didn’t credit the CR’s view of the targeting requirement because of experiences posted here, and I noticed that the ad for the promo on the Amtrak site pictured both the World & Plat cards, so I went on spending.
My miles certainly varied.
Deal did work for me. Got statement today and it showed the 3x bonus for all purchases. I do have the World Mastercard.
I called BOA and they verified that this offer is automatic, no need to sign up for it! Great deal!
This is very weird. I didn’t get an Email, but I followed the link and got to the page about the 3X offer. I was asked to login with my usual BoA login. Okay, fine. It says “Start shopping today and you’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent on every purchase. No action is needed, your card is already activated for this offer.”
I followed the link from this page to My Account, and it did indeed take me to my BoA account, so I guess the login worked. But there is absolutely no mention of this offer on my account page. Not under Deals and offers. Nothing under My Promotions. Does anybody actually see the offer mentioned on their account page, and if so, where?
This seems too good to be true. I wonder if there’s a devaluation coming.
I’m wondering about the mention of a 1099. Anyone think that’s noteworthy?
Yeah that’s crazy how they said that…
It is concerning, my understanding is that rewards are considered a rebate of money we spend as opposed to income. Unclear to me why this language provided.
I did just manage to get through to a B/A Amtrak telephone rep. who was able to confirm that (in her words), “You’re already enrolled” in the 3x triple points for spending bonus. “It’s automatic” she said, on all your spending from now through end of December.
Anybody hearing any different ?
I would have tried a secure message, but B/A “secure message” center is DOA. (It actually wouldn’t let me submit a written inquiry — and instead told me to call… *tilt)
Thanks for the effort!
No trouble. 🙂 More follow-up: I did a test purchase of $200 (via mygiftcardsplus) using my amtrak card on the 7th — the statement happened to close yesterday. Appears I earned 200 amtrak points for the purchase, plus another 400 bonus points. (600 total — or 3x) And again, this was automatic. (nothing to sign up for, or be targeted for…)
All aboard!
I don’t think it’s targeted. The link above takes you to a page on the Amtrak site. I was able to sign in and it still appeared. Doesn’t say that one has to receive an email. So I took a screenshot and am going for it.
I agree that it’s probably not targeted given the URL.
Concur, nothing in the fine print on T&C about the offer being only available to those who are “targeted.”
Offer appeared still on both my account and my wife’s — after logging in. Yet there’s nothing that says we need to activate the offer. (and neither of us received any notice about the offer in our emails as yet)
Wonder what DoC William saw that we’re missing. (?) (In any case, thanks much for the alert — this — if we’re actually to get it — will change a lot of planned spending.)
Thanks! Might be worth messaging BofA and ask CSR to confirm this.
lol at messaging BofA
Agreed, BA’s web site is the “most challenging” of all credit cards I’ve ever dealt with…. I went to the secure message center, then the thing wants to know what the subject is of my inquiry. No category for awards, so I select “general.” It then comes back as “not available” or “best way to get answers is to call us.” (…. so why have a secure message center?) So then I try calling BA number on back of my card (which I need to use a high power microscope to read — *grrrrr) and I’ve now been on hold half hour (and that was after an infuriatingly mindless battle with a BA computer screening robot)
Ah yes, I forgot about that. It was maddening when I was trying to pay my bill and website kept crashing and I couldn’t message them. Ended up working in a different browser.
Having just used my points stash for a roommette on California Zephyr (San Fran -> Chicago) and back on Southwest Chief (Chicago-> LA), I’m already looking forward to doing Coast Starlight and Empire Builder next year (and maybe more). But need points. So this would be good. How are people being targeted?
Wow Empire Builder + Coast Starlight in one trip would be amazing.
Yes! Could have taken that on the way back but with the lack of sunlight, would be in Montana/Idaho overnight so I figured I’ll save it for the summer.
There’s a timed transfer north/eastbound in Portland. Westbound you have to overnight but they should be able to book it for one trip with the room on your dime. This was more of an issue in the zone based system though.