The perks of the fee card are:
- 3 points per dollar for Amtrak purchases - vs 2
Hard to evaluate. I'll travel by Amtrak much as always this year. However, all but Midwest corridor trips have been with points (the minimum point redemption makes short trips not worth using them)
- 2 points per dollar for other travel (air, hotels, rental cars) - vs 1
Again hard to evaluate. This year I organized a 7 person, 3 week European trip where I prepaid everything (air, train, lodging, bike and barge) with the card. I don't have plans like that for next year.
- Ability to earn 4000 TQP (for $20,000 spend)
I probably can manage this which would basically get me select, worth maybee 2 upgrade coupons?
Worthless for me me. Almost all travel with a companion is in a sleeper; and it doesn't apply to rail portion. Also, probably not worth applying to a short hall (I presume if I tried to apply it, I would lose the senior discount)
- One-class upgrade coupon (no sleeper)
I never get near Acela, but BC on Illinois trains is nice and worth about $22 less the senior discount you loose. I not even sure the agent wouldn't try to jack up the price to the current bucket, not the price you paid.