The US Bank Travel Card is a solid choice for frequent travelers, with no foreign transaction fees and a competitive rewards program.
It offers a 25% points bonus when redeemed for travel booked through the US Bank portal, making it a great option for those who plan their trips in advance.
One of the standout features of the US Bank Travel Card is its flexibility, allowing cardholders to redeem points for travel expenses, gift cards, or cash back.
The card also comes with a 0% introductory APR for 12 billing cycles, giving cardholders some breathing room on their balance.
US Bank Travel offers a variety of benefits, including travel insurance and assistance, which can be a lifesaver in case of unexpected trip cancellations or medical emergencies.
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Card Benefits
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card is a powerhouse of benefits, making it a top choice for travel enthusiasts. It offers a $400 annual fee, but with perks like a $325 annual travel credit, you can easily offset the cost.
With this card, you'll get a Welcome bonus of 50,000 points, worth $750 on travel, after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening. You'll also enjoy complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which includes four lounge entries or restaurant credits for yourself, plus four extra for guests every year.
The card also offers primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, emergency roadside assistance, lost luggage insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. Plus, you'll get a one-time $30 GroundLink credit and 15% off the base rate for reservations booked and paid with your card.
One of the most valuable benefits is the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck $120 statement credit every four years. This can save you a lot of time and hassle when traveling.
Here are some of the key benefits of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card:
- Welcome bonus of 50,000 points
- $325 annual travel credit
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Primary car rental insurance
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Lost luggage insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- One-time $30 GroundLink credit
- 15% off the base rate for reservations booked and paid with your card
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck $120 statement credit every four years
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card is a more affordable option with a $95 annual fee. It offers up to $120 in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement reimbursements every four years, Priority Pass Select membership, and trip cancellation/interruption and trip delay insurance.
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Travel Booking and Rewards
U.S. Bank Altitude cardholders can redeem their points for travel bookings through the U.S. Bank Travel Portal or Real-Time Mobile Rewards.
To use the U.S. Bank Travel Portal, you'll need to log in to your account, click on My Rewards, and select Redeem Rewards & Access Card Benefits. From there, you can search for travel and make a booking.
Using the U.S. Bank Travel Portal can be restrictive, as once you book travel, you can't get your points back. You might be able to cancel the reservation and get a travel voucher, but you won't get your points back.
Real-Time Mobile Rewards, on the other hand, allows you to redeem points on travel purchases without going through the U.S. Bank Travel Portal. This feature is available with U.S. merchants and can be activated through the U.S. Bank website.
To activate Real-Time Mobile Rewards, follow these steps: visit the U.S. Bank website, log in, click on My Rewards, and then Redeem Rewards & Access Card Benefits. From there, you can activate the feature and choose the categories you want to use it with.
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The value of your points can fluctuate depending on the credit card you redeem from and what you're redeeming for. For example, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card offers 1.5 cents per point in value for travel, while the Altitude Go card offers 1 cent per point and the Altitude Connect card offers 0.08 cents per point.
Here's a comparison of the redemption values for U.S. Bank Altitude cards:
Real-Time Mobile Rewards has a minimum redemption value of $500 for lodging and $250 for car rentals. If your points redemption falls below these thresholds, it may make more sense to use the U.S. Bank Travel Portal. However, be aware that the Travel Portal has strict terms and conditions, and you may not get the best price or be able to stack coupons or discounts.
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Reviews and Facts
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card offers 5 Altitude points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
You can earn 3 Altitude points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending, and 1 Altitude point per $1 spent on everything else.
Here's a breakdown of the redemption values for Altitude points:
The card comes with a $400 annual fee that is not waived, and you must be a US Bank customer to get this card.
What Are Points?
U.S. Bank Altitude points are a travel-based rewards system.
You can earn an unlimited number of points with U.S. Bank Altitude, which is a perk.
Your points don't expire as long as you have an active account in good standing.
This means you can save up for a long time without worrying about losing your points.
U.S. Bank Altitude points are phenomenal to accrue when using mobile payments.
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55 Thoughts on Review
Here's a section on "55 Thoughts on Review" based on the article section facts:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $400, which is not waived.
You have to be a US Bank customer to get this card, and the easiest way to qualify is to open a no-additional-fee checking or savings account.
The card offers 5 Altitude points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, and 3 Altitude points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending.
You can earn an unlimited number of points with the U.S. Bank Altitude points system, and your points don't expire as long as you have an active account in good standing.
The Altitude points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through the US Bank Rewards Center, and 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back.
You can earn 3x on travel and mobile wallet spending, and 1x everywhere else with the card's Category Bonuses.
The card offers a travel statement credit of $325 per year, based on card membership, not calendar.
You get 12 free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year with the card, which is a great perk for frequent flyers.
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The card also offers a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit of $100.
You can access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with the Priority Pass, which is included with the card.
The card has chip technology and no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for international travel.
Here are the key benefits of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card:
- 5 Altitude points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals
- 3 Altitude points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending
- 1 Altitude point per $1 spent on everything else
- Travel statement credit of $325 per year
- 12 free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year
- Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit of $100
- Priority Pass lounge access
Final Thoughts
The U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards system has come a long way, with now two ways to earn Altitude points and a third option on the horizon.
Having multiple cards can be a great strategy, as each one has its unique bonus categories, making it worth considering adding all three to your portfolio.
With the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card, you can redeem Altitude points for travel purchases at a value of up to 1.5 cents per point through the Real-Time Mobile Rewards or the U.S. Bank Travel Portal.
The other two cards have a redemption value of 1 cent per point, except for merchandise purchases.
There are plenty of perks associated with each card beyond the bonus categories, so be sure to explore them in-depth.
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Sources
- https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/u-s-bank-altitude-credit-cards-and-points/
- https://frugalprofessor.com/us-bank-altitude-reserve-card-review/
- https://www.thebalancemoney.com/us-bank-debuts-mid-tier-travel-rewards-card-5184251
- https://milevalue.com/brand-new-premium-travel-card-us-banks-altitude-reserve/
- https://www.doctorofcredit.com/u-s-bank-cash-adds-5-cashback-rate-on-travel-portal-purchase-air-hotel-car/
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