Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Review: Premium Travel Perks for U.S. Bank Clients

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

OFFER STATUS

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

If you're looking for a premium travel rewards card, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is an excellent option that many consumers don't consider. It offers a strong lineup of travel benefits for a $400 annual fee. That may sound like a lot at first glance, but it's actually much less than what competing cards charge. Find out more about its pros and cons in our detailed review.

Ratings Methodology

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.74% to 28.74%, variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 5x points on prepaid car rentals/hotels booked through Altitude Rewards Center, 3x points for eligible travel and mobile wallet spending, 1x points on other purchases

1x - 5x points

Annual Fee

$400

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening

50,000 points

  • The lucrative bonus and rewards program are among the best you'll find. But there are some hurdles to consider, including the annual fee, limited travel redemption options, and cash back redemption minimum.

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Travel credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Travel rewards
    • Mobile wallet rewards
    • Annual fee
    • Limited ways to use travel points
    • Inconvenient redemption process
    • Earn an enrollment bonus of 50,000 points worth $750 on travel. Just spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
    • Earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked via the Altitude Rewards Center
    • Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible net travel purchases and mobile wallet spending
    • Get reimbursed for up to $325 in annual statement credits on eligible net travel purchases.
    • TSA Pre√® or Global Entry - Up to $100 statement credit to reimburse your application fee once every four years
    • Airport Lounge Access - Complimentary 12-month Priority Pass™ Select membership for 8 free visits to more than 1,200 VIP lounges worldwide.
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Full U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve review

This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers looking for a luxury travel card with easy-to-use benefits. Mobile wallet users will love the bonus rewards this card offers on those types of purchases.

Top perks

As you'd expect from a high-end travel card, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is feature packed.

50,000 points

You'll receive this enrollment bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account. Rewards are worth $0.015 per point towards travel, so this bonus has a value of $750.

Read more: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Earn up to 5 points per $1

The U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card earns:

  • 5X points per $1 on prepaid car rentals/hotels booked through Altitude Rewards Center
  • 3X points per $1 on eligible travel and mobile wallet spending
  • 1X points per $1 on other purchases

Those bonus rates are on par with the best travel rewards cards. Mobile wallet spending, in particular, is a great category for earning bonus points, because you can earn 3 points per $1 at any merchant accepting that type of payment.

See more: Best Rewards Credit Cards

$325 annual travel and dining credit

U.S. Bank automatically reimburses your first $325 in annual spending on eligible travel purchases and dining, which also includes takeout and food delivery. This spending credit is issued each cardmember year. It significantly cuts down on the cost of the card, and it's the largest single credit we've seen on any rewards card.

Related: Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

You'll receive a statement credit for the full membership fee of either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. These programs each provide different types of expedited airport security screening. Global Entry is the better way to go, because a membership also includes TSA PreCheck.

You can get this credit of up to $100 every four years to renew your membership. For the credit to apply, you must pay the membership fee with your U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.

Airport lounge access

As a cardholder, you'll receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, allowing you to access the more than 1,200 airport lounges in that program's network.

There's one notable drawback -- you'll receive only four free individual visits and four free guest visits per year. After that, you'll need to pay a fee of $32 per person. While four visits will be enough for some travelers, frequent flyers and those who travel with multiple guests can go through those visits quickly.

It's also worth mentioning that other credit cards with airport lounge access are much less restrictive. Some offer unlimited visits per year for the cardholder and up to two guests.

More options: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access

What could be improved

While it has lots of benefits, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card isn't without its drawbacks.

Annual fee

U.S. Bank charges an annual fee of $400 for this card. That's something to consider before applying, but for a premium credit card with these types of benefits, the annual fee is actually on the low side.

The $325 annual travel and dining credit alone takes the annual fee cost down to $75. Since points are worth $0.015 each, you only need to earn 5,000 points to balance out that $75. That's easy enough to do with all the spending categories where you can earn bonus points.

There are also plenty of additional travel perks that could save you even more money, including airport lounge access, Gogo® in-flight Wi-Fi passes, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. If you're confident you'll use most of this card's benefits, then you'll come out ahead on that annual fee.

Can't transfer points

A notable flaw of the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is that it doesn't have travel partners where you can transfer your rewards. Several travel cards in this price range have transferable points, meaning they allow cardholders to send their points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.

Although transferring points is more complicated than just redeeming them at a flat rate, this type of redemption also offers more potential value. It's possible to get $0.03 per point or more with transfers, and that's an option you won't have with this travel card from U.S. Bank.

Only available for U.S. Bank customers

This card is exclusive to U.S. Bank customers. To apply for it, you must already have a bank account, credit card, loan, or other type of financial product with U.S. Bank.

It's not too difficult to fulfill this requirement if you really want the card. However, it's odd that U.S. Bank would add this hurdle. With top credit cards, card issuers usually want to make it easier, not harder, for people to apply.

Find the best credit card for your needs
Image of reviewer

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare Cards

Suggested credit score

For a good chance at approval on the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, you should have a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. U.S. Bank is known for being one of the stricter card issuers, and most successful applicants have very good or excellent credit.

Keep in mind that this card is also only available to existing U.S. Bank customers. Any of the bank's products work, including bank accounts, credit cards, mortgages, or brokerage accounts. That account must be open and active for at least five business days before you can apply for the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.

Related: Credit Score For U.S. Bank Credit Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve is right for you if:

You want a travel rewards card with premium benefits and simple rewards redemptions.

In terms of value, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a fantastic choice. It has plenty of useful features and only a couple of minor issues. If the following are true for you, this card should fit you very well:

  • You're a U.S. Bank customer or willing to become one. This is a must. If you don't have any U.S. Bank accounts, you'd need to open one before applying.
  • You prefer straightforward travel rewards. The only way to redeem this card's points is at a fixed rate toward travel purchases. That makes it a good choice if you want to avoid the learning curve involved with transferable points.
  • You don't use airport lounge access much. While this card has airport lounge access, it only gets you four individual visits and four guest visits per year. If you visit lounges more often or bring multiple guests, it could pay to look for a card with better lounge access.

Keep reading: Best U.S. Bank Credit Cards

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The credit limit for the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card ranges from $5,000 to over $30,000. It has a minimum starting credit limit of $5,000. When you're approved for the card, U.S. Bank determines your credit limit based on your income and credit history.

  • No, this card does not charge a foreign transaction fee.

  • It can be hard to get the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card because U.S. Bank is strict about who it approves. The bank typically only approves applicants with good to excellent credit who haven't opened more than two credit cards in the previous year. You also must be a U.S. Bank customer already to apply for this card.