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The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is a premium credit card designed for frequent travelers and mobile tech-savvy individuals looking to maximize their rewards. With competitive earning rates, valuable travel benefits, and a host of premium perks, the Altitude Reserve stands out in the increasingly crowded field of high-end credit cards. But is it worth the annual fee, and how does it compare to other top travel cards? In this comprehensive review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Altitude Reserve, including rewards, benefits, fees, and a detailed comparison with similar cards.
The rewards structure of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is designed with travelers and mobile wallet users in mind. Here’s how you can maximize your earning potential:
5x Points on Prepaid Hotels and Car Rentals: Cardholders can earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals when booking directly through the Altitude Rewards Center. This offers a strong incentive to use US Bank’s platform for travel bookings.
3x Points on Travel and Mobile Wallet Purchases: The card earns 3x points on travel purchases, including flights, hotels, and rental cars, as well as on purchases made with mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
1x Points on All Other Purchases: For everyday purchases outside of travel or mobile wallet transactions, cardholders earn 1x points.
If you frequently use mobile wallets for purchases and travel regularly, you can easily rack up points with the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve. For instance, if you spend $10,000 annually on travel and mobile wallet purchases, you’ll earn 30,000 points, worth $450 in travel when redeemed through the Altitude Rewards Center.
One of the strengths of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve is its relatively straightforward redemption process. Points are most valuable when redeemed for travel through the Altitude Rewards Center at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. This offers a significant advantage compared to cash-back or merchandise redemptions, which offer a lower value.
Travel Redemption: Redeeming points through the Altitude Rewards Center provides the best value (1.5 cents per point). For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Cash Back and Statement Credits: Points can also be redeemed for cash back or statement credits at 1 cent per point, offering less value than travel redemptions.
Gift Cards and Merchandise: These redemption options are available but generally provide lower value per point.
Unlike competitors such as Chase and American Express, U.S. Bank does not offer a robust transfer partner program for the Altitude Reserve, limiting your flexibility to transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs. However, the elevated point value for travel redemptions through the Altitude Rewards Center compensates for this shortcoming to some extent.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve’s 50,000-point sign-up bonus is worth $750 in travel when redeemed through the Altitude Rewards Center. To earn the bonus, cardholders must spend $4,500 within the first 90 days. This bonus is competitive for a premium travel card, although it is not as high as the bonuses offered by some competitors.
The Altitude Reserve offers an annual $325 travel credit, which can be used for a wide range of travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, and car rentals. This credit effectively reduces the card’s annual fee to $75 for frequent travelers, making it easier to justify the card’s cost.
Cardholders receive Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. This benefit is common among premium travel cards and is highly valued by frequent flyers.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve cardholders can receive a statement credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, allowing for expedited security screenings at airports.
The Altitude Reserve comes with extensive travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.
Annual Fee: The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card charges a $400 annual fee. While this is lower than some competitors, it is still a significant cost. However, the $325 travel credit effectively reduces the out-of-pocket expense to $75.
Foreign Transaction Fees: There are no foreign transaction fees, making this card ideal for international travel.
APR: The card has a variable APR ranging from 18.99% to 25.99% based on your creditworthiness. There is no 0% introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers.
Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card here.
Annual Fee: Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee at $550 compared to Altitude Reserve’s $400 fee.
Rewards Rate: Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel and dining, and 1x on other purchases, whereas the Altitude Reserve earns 3x points on travel and mobile wallet purchases.
Travel Credit: Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 travel credit, while Altitude Reserve offers a more flexible $325 travel credit.
Redemption Value: Both cards offer 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for travel through their respective travel portals, but Chase Sapphire Reserve has a more robust transfer partner program with airlines and hotels.
Read our review of the Amex Platinum Card here.
Annual Fee: The Amex Platinum has a much higher annual fee of $695, compared to the Altitude Reserve’s $400.
Rewards Rate: The Amex Platinum card earns 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, while the Altitude Reserve offers 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through its portal.
Travel Credit: Amex Platinum offers up to $200 in airline fee credits, but the Altitude Reserve offers a more versatile $325 travel credit.
Additional Perks: The Amex Platinum is known for its extensive list of perks, including top-tier lounge access and hotel elite status, while the Altitude Reserve focuses more on mobile wallet rewards.
High Earning Rates on Mobile Wallet Purchases: The 3x points for purchases made via mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) is a unique feature, especially for tech-savvy users who prefer to make purchases with their smartphones.
Flexible $325 Travel Credit: The card offers an easy-to-use $325 annual travel credit, applicable to a wide range of travel expenses, which helps to offset the annual fee.
Generous Sign-Up Bonus: The 50,000-point sign-up bonus is worth $750 when redeemed for travel through the Altitude Rewards Center, making it one of the more valuable bonuses in the premium card space.
Travel and Purchase Protections: The card includes extensive travel protections such as trip cancellation insurance, travel accident insurance, and baggage delay coverage, along with purchase protections like extended warranties and return protection.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Like most premium travel cards, the Altitude Reserve has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great card for international travelers.
Lounge Access: Priority Pass Select membership grants cardholders access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, a valuable perk for frequent travelers.
1.5x Point Value for Travel Redemptions: Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Altitude Rewards Center, providing more value compared to cash-back or merchandise redemptions.
Limited Transfer Partners: While the Altitude Reserve offers travel redemptions at an elevated value, it lacks a robust transfer partner program like some of its competitors (e.g., Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum), which limits redemption flexibility for those who prefer airline or hotel loyalty programs.
Moderate Sign-Up Bonus Compared to Competitors: While the 50,000-point bonus is valuable, it falls short of the more lucrative bonuses offered by competitors such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the American Express Platinum.
Annual Fee: At $400, the card’s annual fee is lower than some other premium cards but still substantial. However, the $325 travel credit makes this fee easier to justify for those who travel frequently.
3x Points on Mobile Wallet Purchases May Not Appeal to All: While mobile wallet usage is growing, not all cardholders will benefit from this bonus category if they prefer traditional card payments.
No 0% Intro APR Offer: The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers, which can be a disadvantage for those seeking interest-free financing options.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who value flexibility, especially those who frequently use mobile wallets for everyday purchases. With a $325 travel credit, 3x points on travel and mobile wallet purchases, and 1.5x points redemption value through the Altitude Rewards Center, it offers great value for travelers who can fully utilize its perks. However, the card lacks the robust transfer partner programs seen in competitors like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum, which might be a drawback for those who prefer to transfer points to airline or hotel programs.
Ultimately, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers a solid balance of rewards, travel credits, and perks, making it worth considering for travelers who want premium benefits without a sky-high annual fee.
Bottom Line: If you’re tech-savvy and frequently travel, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is a strong contender in the premium credit card space. It offers competitive rewards and valuable travel benefits that can easily offset the annual fee, especially with its generous $325 travel credit. However, if you’re looking for a card with a more extensive rewards transfer program, you might want to explore other options.
Affiliate and Relationship Disclosure: Credit Mileage may receive compensation from affiliate links included in this post at no extra cost to you. This helps support our mission of providing quality financial education and resources. Additionally, Credit Mileage has a direct business relationship with eCreditAdvisor, which may be mentioned or linked in our content. Our opinions and recommendations remain our own, and we only promote products or services that we believe offer value to our readers. We currently do not have any credit card affiliate links on our website.
Editorial note: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any bank, credit card company, airline, or hotel chain. None of these organizations have reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content in any way.
Legal and Financial Advice Disclosure: Credit Mileage is not a law firm, and this article is not intended to provide legal or financial advice. This information is meant purely for educational purposes. We strive to offer accurate and up-to-date information, but it is not a substitute for professional financial or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney or financial advisor before making any decisions regarding your financial situation.
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