Best in Class
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US Bank Altitude Connect Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card offers a handful of benefits and perks considering it has no annual fee. This card stands out most among the no-fee options offered by the bank. Unfortunately, the perks provided by this card, such as Priority Pass and TSA Precheck, are likely benefits you already have with another card. If you don't have these perks yet, we recommend applying for more lucrative cards that offer the same benefits before considering the Altitude Connect. The welcome offer is quite low, and the entire U.S. Bank Rewards system doesn't provide competitive value for someone seeking free and discounted travel.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The welcome offer of 20,000 points after $1,000 in spending within 90 days is rather modest. However, the card compensates for this low bonus with perks typically not available on cards without an annual fee. Cardmembers receive the following benefits and spending multipliers with the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card:
- Priority Pass Membership that includes 4 free visits to lounges per year
- $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
- Various travel protections
- 4x points on travel, gas, and EV charging (up to $150,000 in purchases per year)
- 2x points on dining, streaming, and groceries (excluding discount stores, supercenters like Walmart and Target, and wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's)
If you're seeking travel rewards, redemptions on all U.S. Bank cards aren't ideal if you want more than a 1 cent per point value. You can redeem cash back rewards from this card on the U.S. Bank travel portal, but there are no transfer partners available. Beyond the portal, your redemption options include statement credits, using the Real Time Rewards feature, cash back, or shopping redemptions.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be suitable for you if:
- You prefer a card with an annual fee and a higher welcome offer to accumulate points for travel redemptions
- You want to transfer your miles to airline or hotel partners, which U.S. Bank doesn't offer
- You don't spend enough in the points multiplier categories to make this card worthwhile
What to Know About U.S. Bank FlexPerks
The U.S. Bank Loyalty System is a fixed-value travel program with limited upside.
- Points redeem at 1 cent per point toward travel when booked through the U.S. Bank portal (for those cards that allow portal redemptions).
- U.S. Bank does not currently have transfer partners. They announced that the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve will gain partners starting in December 2025, but none have been named yet. The card is also closed to new applicants as of November 2024.
- U.S. Bank points are fine for travelers who want a simple rebate toward flights, but the program is not ideal for anyone aiming to maximize travel value or leverage complex award bookings.
How The US Bank Altitude Connect Credit Card Fits In The U.S. Bank FlexPerks Ecosystem
U.S. Bank offers a diverse portfolio of cash back and rewards cards. Here's how the Altitude Connect compares to similar options:
- Altitude Go Card: Also offers a 20,000 point sign-up bonus after $1,000 in purchases
- Features 4x points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery (first $2,000 quarterly)
- Provides 2x points on streaming, groceries, gas stations, and EV charging
- Includes a $15 streaming credit after 11 months of service
- Lacks the premium travel benefits of the Connect card (no Priority Pass or TSA Precheck)
The primary distinction between the Connect and Go cards lies in their benefits structure. While both allow redemptions through the travel portal, the Connect card offers superior travel perks despite sharing the same modest sign-up bonus.
For cash-focused alternatives, U.S. Bank provides:
- Cash Plus Card: $200 sign-up bonus after $1,000 spent in 90 days
- 5% back on two categories of your choice (first $2,000 quarterly)
- 5% on travel booked through their portal
- 2% back on one everyday category of your choice each quarter
- Shopper Cash Rewards Card: $250 sign-up bonus after $2,000 spent in 120 days
- 6% back at two retailers of your choice (first $1,500 quarterly)
- 3% back on one everyday category of your choice (first $1,500 quarterly)
Neither cash card offers a path to travel redemptions except by converting cash back to statement credits. This indirect approach makes them suboptimal choices for travel enthusiasts, despite their potentially higher cash back rates in select categories.
When evaluating these options, consider your spending patterns and whether you value travel perks over pure cash back potential. The Altitude Connect stands out for those who want travel benefits without an annual fee, even though its rewards system lacks transfer partners.
Card Information
Bonus Points
20,000
Minimum Spend
$1,000 / 3mo
Point Value
1.0 ¢
Annual Value
Annual Fee
$0
1st Year Value
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Differentiating Perks
2X on Restaurants
2X on Grocery Stores
2X on Streaming Services
0% Intro APR for 15 Months
Rules
Card Benefits
No benefits are available for this card.
Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
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US Bank Altitude Connect Application Rules
You will not be eligible for a signup bonus if you’re received the signup bonus for that card within the last five years
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
You'll be declined if there are 6 or more hard inquiries on your credit report the past 6 months
