New Awards Program For Amtrak Riders If hopping the Acela Express is just as routine as taking the subway to work, Amtrak has created an awards program just for you. People who have earned 20,000 points or more in a calendar year - you get two points for every $1 spent in most cases - are eligible for the Select Executive tier, which started on Jan. 1. Like the top-tier air travel programs that it is reminiscent of, the Select Executive tier confers various perks with its membership card, including four upgrade coupons, two free companion fare coupons, access to various lounges (ClubAcela, Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge and first-class lounges), access to special events and an exemption that allows members to redeem travel awards on blackout dates. The program is the third awards tier that Amtrak has created, a number that puts it on par with many air carriers, which have silver, gold, diamond and platinum programs.