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U S Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Credit Card review an underrated but not understated luxe travel card

While not as recognizable as other premium travel cards, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite holds its own in the category. Written by India Davis is an editor specializing in credit cards and updates. She believes in putting the reader first and carrying out a brand’s voice to its fullest potential. She has Oct. 28, 2022 Edited by Credit Cards Editor Jenna Flannigan is an editor for Bankrate with more than 10 years of professional experience in writing, editing, and digital media. In her previous role, she was a managing Reviewed by Former Senior Director of Content Antonio Ruiz-Camacho is senior director of content for CreditCards.com and Bankrate Credit Cards. He has more than 20 years of international experience leading content teams, Oct. 28, 2022

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Snapshot

3.6 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bottom line Though the high annual fee may turn some away, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite has a lot to offer consumers. With a welcome bonus of $750 and $325 in annual travel credits, the card is an impressive addition to the luxury travel credit card market. As long as you can afford the card, this can be a new favorite among experienced travelers.

U S Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Rewards rate Annual fee Intro offer Intro offer is not available to this U.S. Bank credit card Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

U S Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Credit Card Overview

The *U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Credit Card competes in the luxury card category by offering a string of elite benefits as well as an exclusive custom-engraved metal card. The 50,000-point welcome offer adds another layer of interest to this card. There's a strong focus on mobile wallet apps, too, and linking the card to these apps could earn cardholders 3x points per dollar. If you're considering this card, take a close look at areas where it falls short compared to other cards. For example, getting only four free airport lounge visits a year might not be enough for frequent travelers, especially when some cards offer unlimited lounge access. The card issuer also took away the 3X points you could earn on dining and takeout in previous years while some competitors have extended a comparable benefit.

What are the advantages and disadvantages

Pros

Lower annual fee compared to other cards in this category. Valuable annual travel credits that, if used, effectively brings the cost of the card down to $75. Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry to TSA Precheck every four years

Cons

Only four complimentary visits to airport lounges in the Priority Pass network. On top of the $400 annual fee, you will be charged $75 for additional users Not very rewarding outside of direct travel purchases

A deeper look at the current card offer

Quick highlights

Rewards rate: 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards Center; 3x points on eligible mobile wallet spending and travel purchases Welcome offer: 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,500 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days. Annual fee: $400 Purchase intro APR: N/A Balance transfer intro APR: N/A Regular APR: 16.24 percent

Current sign-up bonus

There's a one-time 50,000-point bonus offer available to cardholders who meet a few criteria. After card approval, cardholders must make eligible purchases totaling $4,500 within the first 90 days. If there are credits or returns, these are deducted from the net amount. It takes one to two billing cycles for the points to be credited to the account. According to U.S. Bank, 50,000 bonus points are worth $750 on travel, which makes it a decent offer.

Rewards rate

Earning rewards with the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve credit card is straightforward, especially for cardholders who make use of mobile payment apps and travel.

How you earn

Cardholders can earn 5x points on prepaid hotel stays and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center. If you link your card to mobile payment apps such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay or LG Pay, you earn 3x points on your eligible purchases. You'll also get 3x per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases.

How to redeem

Customers can redeem their points as statement credits to offset purchases. Travel must be purchased directly from airlines, hotels, car rental companies and other qualifying vendors to apply. Keep in mind you need at least 5,000 points to redeem a statement credit.

How much are points worth

According to U.S. Bank, the 50,000 bonus points that customers can earn at sign-up are worth $750 on travel, at 1.5 cents per dollar. Unlike other rewards programs, this value doesn't change depending on how you redeem your points, which keeps the redemption process simple.

Key cardholder perks

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card has many competitive benefits you'll find with other premium , making it an underrated player in the space.

Annual travel credits

Cardholders receive an annual $325 credit to offset eligible travel purchases. You can also receive up to $100 as a statement credit to reimburse application fees for TSA Precheck or Global Entry every four years. This is handy for frequent travelers who use these programs.

Complimentary lounge access and Wi-Fi

This card comes with 12 complimentary Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year. You'll also get a limited 12-month Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges around the world. It's a great travel perk; however, cardholders receive only four free visits per year and four accompanying guest visits. You have to cover the cost for any additional visits.

TSA Precheck or Global Entry

Cardholders enjoy up to $100 statement credit to reimburse their application fees every four years.

Special treatment

Travelers who frequent Relais and Châteaux properties will have access to special privileges (a VIP welcome and complimentary breakfast) on eligible stays booked with your U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve credit card. Cardholders may also be eligible for up to 30 percent off Silvercar rentals and access to the Visa Infinite Concierge.

No foreign transaction fees

Traveling is a lot less stressful when you don't have to worry about foreign transaction fees. This also applies to online purchases through foreign merchants.

Added protection

At home or away, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card protects cardholders with fraud monitoring, warranty service, rental car protection and emergency evacuation and transportation coverage. You also receive access to ID Navigator by Norton LifeLock, which includes a range of tools to help warn you about any threats that may affect your identity. The service even searches any sales of your personal information on the dark web.

Rates and fees

The Altitude Reserve has an APR rate of 19.99 to 26.99 percent, variable. This is a standard interest rate for premium travel cards, so be mindful about carrying a balance on this card. For balance transfers and convenience checks, there's a 3 percent or $5 minimum fee, whichever is higher. For cash advances, you'll be charged a 5 percent or $10 minimum fee, whichever is higher. Balance transfers carry a variable APR of 19.99 percent to 26.99 percent, while cash advances carry a variable APR of 28.99 percent. Late and returned payments fees are up to $41. On the bright side, there's no fees on foreign transactions or overdraft protection, and there's no penalty APR. If you use the ExtendPay feature, the monthly fee will not exceed 1.6 percent of the original principal amount. The annual fee of the card is $400, which is a bit lower than other cards in this category. It also carries a charge of $75 for each additional card issued.

How the U S Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card compares to other luxury credit cards

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve shares many of the features and benefits of the and . All three cards offer great bonus points (though both Citi and Chase have transferable points that can help you get even more value out of your sign-up bonus). Like those cards, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers an appealing bonus on travel purchases.

U S Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. Annual fee Intro offer Intro offer is not available to this U.S. Bank credit card Rewards rate Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards Rewards rate Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Citi Prestige® Credit Card

Annual fee Intro offer Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening Rewards rate Earn 5 points per $1 on Air travel Earn 5 points per $1 on Restaurants Earn 3 points per $1 on Hotels Earn 3 points per $1 on Cruise Lines Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is considered one of the big 3 premium travel cards, on par with the American Express Platinum card and Capital One Venture X. With a rewards rate up to 10X points when you use Chase Ultimate Rewards, earning rewards is easy for any frequent traveler holding this card. Its welcome bonus is also worth up to $1,600, more than twice the Altitude's welcome bonus of $750, based on Bankrate's valuations. That said, luxury perks are to be expected for the Sapphire Reserve's hefty $550 annual fee, which is $150 higher than the Altitude Reserve's. Bankrate values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents a piece, but that high valuation is based on transferring the points to Chase's top transfer partners. The baseline without transfer partners is only 1.25 cents, while the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve's value stays at 1.5 cents per point.

US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Citi Prestige Credit Card

Like the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, the Citi Prestige is for the all-around traveler. Whether going for a 14-hour flight or sailing across the seas, the Prestige is rewarding with 5X points earned on flights and restaurants and 3X points earned on cruises and hotels. You receive up to $250 in travel credits that can cover a range of travel expenses including travel agencies, ferries, flights, taxis and more. It also has lower APR at 16.99 to 23.99 percent (variable), versus the Altitude Reserve's rate of 19.99 t0 26.99 percent (variable). However, the Citi Prestige comes with a high annual fee of $495. Considering the lower bonus value and travel credit, this jump in price may not be justified. Citi's "basic" ThankYou points system can complicate point values and redemption options. If you prefer more straightforward rewards over versatility, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve may be a better choice.

Best cards to pair with U S Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card

A card that would act as a great companion to the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve is the . There is an annual fee of $95, and new cardmembers can earn up to 130,000 in Hilton Honors bonus points after they spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months. In addition to a relatively low annual fee, this card is a great companion because it includes a more generous Priority Pass membership. You can also transfer your Hilton points to airline partners, giving you more ways to turn your travel purchases into future trips.

Bankrate s Take - Is the U S Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card worth it

This is a great card for the frequent traveler, especially since it focuses on more than just flights and airport comforts. While the $400 annual fee can be steep, the benefits, including the $325 annual travel credits and 3X points on travel purchases and mobile wallet purchases, quickly make up for it. As long as you don't mind booking prepaid hotels and car rentals through the Altitude Rewards Center, earning rewards on your next trip is easy. *The information about U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to get the US Bank Altitude Reserve

The requirement for this card is an excellent credit score (FICO 740 or more), which can be difficult to reach, depending on your credit history. However, achieving this score is possible if you have kept a good standing on your previous cards, never missed a payment, and have good .

What counts as travel for U S Bank Altitude Reserve

Purchases directly from merchants that classify themselves as travel fall within this category, including airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies as travel. If you’re unsure if a purchase is considered travel, call U.S. Bank customer service.

What is the credit limit for the Altitude Reserve

Depending on credit worthiness, your credit limit can range from $1,000 to $25,000. Considering the high credit score needed for approval, cardholders are likely to receive the a credit limit on the higher end of the range.

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Written by India Davis India Davis is an editor specializing in credit cards and updates. She believes in putting the reader first and carrying out a brand’s voice to its fullest potential. She has lived and worked in three different countries and hopes to explore more of the world post-pandemic. Edited by Credit Cards Editor Reviewed by Former Senior Director of Content

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