US Bank Altitude Go Credit Card

Key Takeaways

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go card ranks below its Altitude Connect counterpart. Due to its lack of notable benefits and modest welcome offer, we cannot recommend this card. The entire U.S. Bank Rewards system offers limited value since it lacks airline or hotel transfer partners, significantly reducing the potential value when redeeming rewards. This system doesn't compare favorably to other reward programs, making any of their personal cards a poor use of a 5/24 position.

How The US Bank Altitude Go Credit Card Fits In The US Bank Flex Perks Ecosystem

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go card is one of several options within the U.S. Bank rewards ecosystem, each with distinct features and benefits. Understanding how it compares to other offerings helps determine if it's the right choice for your needs.

Altitude Connect Card Comparison

• The Altitude Connect card offers the same 20,000 point sign-up bonus after $1,000 in purchases
• Unlike the Go card, Connect provides 4x points on travel and gas/EV charging (first $150,000 per calendar year)
• Connect offers 2x points on dining, streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding discount and wholesale clubs)

The Connect card includes premium benefits that justify its annual fee, such as Priority Pass Select membership with 4 complimentary lounge visits annually and a TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit. Cardholders can earn a $25 credit after completing 3 consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.

Cash Back Alternatives

For those preferring cash back over points, U.S. Bank offers two notable options:

1. U.S. Bank Cash Plus
   • $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
   • 5% back on your first $2,000 in quarterly purchases across two categories of your choice
   • 5% back on travel booked through their portal
   • 2% back on one everyday category of your choice each quarter
2. U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards
   • Higher welcome bonus: $250 after spending $2,000 in 120 days
   • 6% back on your first $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases at two retailers of your choosing
   • 3% back on $1,500 of purchases in one everyday category of your choice

Both Altitude cards share the advantage of allowing travel bookings through the U.S. Bank portal, a feature unavailable with the cash back cards. This portal access represents the key distinction between the point-based and cash-based cards in the U.S. Bank lineup, though the redemption value remains capped at 1 cent per point regardless of which Altitude card you choose.