US Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
For existing cardholders, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve remains a strong long-term keeper despite being closed to new applicants. The $325 annual travel credit offsets most of the $400annual fee, while 3x points on mobile wallet purchases makes it unusually rewarding for everyday spend. The addition of transfer partners significantly improves the value of Altitude points, giving cardholders more upside than fixed-value travel redemptions alone. If you can regularly use mobile wallet payments and maximize the travel credit, this is still one of U.S. Bank’s most valuable cards to hold.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve can still be a good keeper card for existing cardholders, especially with the addition of transfer partners. Earning 3x points on mobile wallet purchases makes it easy to earn bonus points on a wide range of everyday spending without having to track traditional bonus categories.
The $325 annual travel credit also offsets most of the $400 annual fee, making the card much easier to justify if you can use that benefit naturally each year.
In addition to the travel credit, you’ll receive the following benefits and spending multipliers:
- 3x points on the first $5,000 in mobile wallet purchases each billing cycle
- 3x points on eligible travel purchases
- 10x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center
- 5x points on flights booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center
- Priority Pass Select membership with eight complimentary visits per membership year, including guest visits
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Visa Infinite travel and purchase protections
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
The exceptions where this card might not be good for you:
- You don't regularly use mobile wallet payments, which makes it harder to take advantage of one of the card's strongest earning categories.
- You won't naturally use the $325 annual travel credit, making the annual fee much harder to justify.
- You prefer a card with broader lounge access or more valuable premium travel benefits.
- You don't get enough value from U.S. Bank points to justify keeping a premium card that is no longer open to new applicants.
What to Know About U.S. Bank Rewards
U.S. Bank Rewards offers straightforward redemptions, but if you have an Altitude Reserve, you can unlock additional value through transfer partners.
- Most U.S. Bank rewards are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for eligible travel or cash back, although redemption options and values vary by card.
- The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers transfers to a small group of airline and hotel partners, giving cardholders another way to use their points. Unfortunately the card remains closed to new applicants.
- U.S. Bank Rewards is best for travelers who value simple redemptions.
- Transfer partners add more upside for Altitude Reserve cardholders, but the program remains more limited than the major transferable points programs.
How The US Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card Fits In The U.S. Bank Rewards Ecosystem
U.S. Bank offers several rewards and cash back cards, but the Altitude Reserve remains unique within the lineup because it is the only card that gives you access to airline and hotel transfer partners.
For existing Altitude Reserve cardholders, the closest alternatives are:
- Altitude Connect: A lower-cost travel card with useful travel bonus categories and some travel perks.
- Altitude Go: Better suited to dining-focused spending, with strong restaurant rewards but fewer premium travel benefits.
- Cash+ Card: A flexible cash back option that lets you choose two 5% categories each quarter, but rewards are designed primarily for cash back.
If you already hold the Altitude Reserve and regularly use its mobile wallet earning and travel credit, holding onto to it to be able to transfer to partners is a solid plan. None of U.S. Bank’s other cards is a true replacement. The other cards can make sense if you want to reduce your annual fee or focus on specific spending categories, but you would give up the Reserve’s most valuable travel features.
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