Estate planning as a Amtrak Guest Rewards account holder
Amtrak points are forfeited when the account holder dies
Amtrak Guest Rewards (no dedicated estate claims team)
Phone1-800-307-5000
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
Hours7 days a week, 8am-8pm ET
Verified Apr 2026
Amtrak Guest Rewards is the loyalty program for Amtrak, the national passenger railroad service. Points are earned through train travel, credit card spending, and partner purchases, and can be redeemed for train tickets, upgrades, hotels, and rental cars. The program has an explicit non-transfer-at-death policy: the terms state "Accrued points are not transferable in the event of Member death or divorce."
When a Amtrak Guest Rewards account holder dies, their points are forfeited. The program's terms state that points do not constitute property of the account holder and cannot be transferred upon death, by operation of law, or through estate planning documents.
During their lifetime, Amtrak Guest Rewards members can transfer points to other program members for a fee. This provides a straightforward way to share accumulated value.
What happens at death
The Amtrak Guest Rewards Program Terms and Conditions explicitly state: "Accrued points are not transferable in the event of Member death or divorce." Points in a deceased member's account are forfeited. There is no published estate claims process or exception mechanism.
How to protect your Amtrak Guest Rewards points
Under Amtrak's policy, points have no value after death. Every strategy for preserving Amtrak Guest Rewards points depends on steps taken while the account holder is alive.
Amtrak Guest Rewards supports member-to-member transfer of points during the account holder's lifetime. Fees may be charged, but the transfer is immediate and does not depend on any post-death process.
5 lifetime planning steps for your Amtrak Guest Rewards points:
1
Share points with family members while alive, since points are forfeited at death:
- •Use the Share Points feature to transfer up to 100,000 points per year (unlimited for Select Executive members)
- •Points are shared in 1,000-point increments at $0.01 per point
2
Redeem points during your lifetime:
- •Book train tickets for yourself or family members
- •Redeem for upgrades, hotels, or rental cars
3
Keep your account active with at least one earning or redeeming activity every 24 months. Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, and Amtrak does not send expiration notices. Holding an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card exempts your account from expiration.
4
Document your Amtrak Guest Rewards account number and login credentials for your executor.
5
Note in your estate planning documents that Amtrak points are explicitly non-transferable at death.
Family sharing
Amtrak Guest Rewards offers a Share Points feature allowing members to transfer points to other members at a cost of $0.01 per point. Points can be shared in increments of 1,000, up to 100,000 points per account per calendar year (no limit for Select Executive members). Shared points post within 72 hours and are non-refundable. Shared points do not count toward Select or Select Plus status tier qualification. Points can also be purchased (separate from sharing) in 500-point increments.
When someone dies
Handling Amtrak Guest Rewards points after a death
Points are forfeited under the official terms, 4-step process, and 2 required documents.
View details →Amtrak Guest Rewards does not support beneficiary designations. Unlike bank accounts or investment accounts, there is no way to formally name a beneficiary on this type of account.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Points expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity (earning or redeeming). Amtrak does not send expiration notices. Holding an Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard or Preferred Mastercard exempts the account from expiration. Any qualifying activity resets the 24-month clock.
Yes. Sharing points costs $0.01 per point transferred. Points are shared in 1,000-point increments, so the minimum cost is $10 per transfer. Shared points are non-refundable.
Only at Select tiers. Select and Select Plus members may redeem up to 50,000 points per calendar year with participating point transfer partners. Select Executive members have no partner-redemption limit. Standard members cannot transfer to partner programs.
No. If you hold an Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard or Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard, your points do not expire as long as the card account remains open and in good standing.
Yes. Points can be purchased in 500-point increments, up to 50,000 points per calendar year. Select, Select Plus, and Select Executive members have no annual purchase limit. Amtrak periodically offers bonus promotions on purchased points.
Sources
Data sourced from Amtrak primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Amtrak Guest Rewards (no dedicated estate claims team)
Phone1-800-307-5000
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
Hours7 days a week, 8am-8pm ET
Verified Apr 2026