U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card Review: Earn Bonus Points on Mobile Payments

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card Overview

The U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium travel rewards card designed for those who want to earn points quickly and redeem them with ease, offering strong value. Despite its high annual fee, it provides enough credits to offset most of the cost. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating reflects TPG editors' independent opinions and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Seasoned award travelers are familiar with the grind: collect miles or transferable points, then hunt for the best redemption value. This often means booking flights at inconvenient times, taking detours, or finding the most cost-effective route. And let's not even talk about avoiding excessive airline fuel surcharges on many reward bookings.

Introducing the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card – a premium travel rewards card designed to simplify award travel. With a focus on earning rewards that are easy to redeem for excellent value, it comes with a $400 annual fee but offers enough credits to help offset most of the cost. TPG suggests that applicants typically have a credit score of 750 or higher to improve approval chances.

The details for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite card have been independently researched by Dinogo. These card details have not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Pros and Cons of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Welcome Bonus Offer

New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,500 within the first 90 days. These points are worth 1.5 cents each, so this bonus translates to $750 in rewards.

Compared to other travel rewards cards, the Altitude Reserve offers a smaller sign-up bonus, especially considering its $400 annual fee. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (valued at $1,230 according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations), while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 75,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (worth $1,388 according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations).

Benefits of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card offers a range of perks, including an annual statement credit of up to $325 for travel and dining expenses, which includes takeout and delivery. This credit automatically applies to purchases with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxis, limousines, trains, cruise lines, and dining.

Similar to many other credit cards, cardholders are eligible for up to $100 in statement credits every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Cardholders are granted 8 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges each year, with one guest included per visit. After those 8 visits, the cost is $35 per person. With several cards offering full Priority Pass Select membership, the limited access from the Altitude Reserve, considering its $400 annual fee, is a significant drawback.

Additional perks include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, reimbursement for trip delays, compensation for lost luggage, and coverage for emergency evacuation and transportation. Cardholders also get a complimentary Shipt membership until December 31, which offers free same-day delivery on orders over $35 from participating retailers. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees, which is standard for most travel credit cards.

Earning rewards with the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve

The rewards structure for this card is straightforward. You’ll earn 5 points for every dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the Altitude Rewards Center, and 3 points per dollar on purchases made with mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay, as well as on eligible travel-related expenses. Eligible travel purchases include transactions with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxis, limousines, trains, and cruise lines. You can also earn points on qualifying mobile-app purchases, whether made in-store, in-app, or online.

For all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar spent.

What’s more, when redeemed through the issuer’s portal, your points are worth a generous 1.5 cents each—substantially more than the typical 1 cent per point or mile that most loyalty programs provide.

How to redeem points with the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve

Points can be redeemed for 1.5 cents each on travel-related purchases, such as those from airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxis, limousines, trains, and cruise lines. When you redeem your points, you'll receive a statement credit to cover the cost of your eligible purchases. Additionally, you have the option to redeem your points instantly, a unique feature offered by this card. For purchases made in select categories, you’ll get a text message asking if you'd like to use points to pay for part of your transaction.

Redeeming points for real-time rewards gives you 1 cent per point, which is less than the 1.5 cents per point you can get when using points for travel. While it’s still a useful option, it’s better to save your points for travel redemptions if possible.

Other cards that rival the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve

Several credit cards compete with the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve in terms of annual fees, statement credits, earning potential, and overall benefits.

• If you prefer Chase: The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher $550 annual fee but comes with a $300 travel credit that covers flights, hotels, ride-hailing services, and even parking fees. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on most travel expenses and dining, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. The card also includes Priority Pass Select membership and access to Sapphire lounges. To find out more, read our complete review of the Sapphire Reserve.
• If you prefer Capital One: The Capital One Venture X Credit Card offers access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One lounges with a lower $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). It offers a straightforward earning structure of 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and a $300 annual credit for eligible purchases through Capital One Travel. To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
• If you prefer a lower annual fee: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has an affordable $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). It provides 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. You can transfer your rewards to over 15 airline and hotel partners for more redemption options. To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

For more options, explore our selections for the best premium credit cards.

Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve a good choice?

This card is perfect for those who want a premium travel rewards experience without the hassle of complicated frequent flyer programs. You can easily redeem your points for travel like flights, hotels, and car rentals at a value of 1.5 cents per point. If you're someone who frequently uses mobile wallets, this card provides great value by earning extra points on most purchases.

In conclusion

While the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card might fly under the radar compared to rivals like the Sapphire Reserve, it still offers solid value. One drawback is the inability to transfer points to airline or hotel partners. The $400 annual fee may seem steep at first, but it’s offset by $325 in annual travel credits. For those tough-to-book trips that don't align with traditional airline miles or hotel points, the Altitude Reserve card can be a game-changer.