Introduction
Although the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card has a higher annual fee than some luxury travel credit cards, it is still a strong candidate thanks to its generous rewards and features. It's an excellent option for a premium general-purpose travel credit card. This card will net you a sizable travel credit and excellent tips for your vacation expenditures. If you're familiar with using a mobile wallet, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, it works perfectly as a replacement for your regular credit card. The card's yearly $325 travel credit can be used for dining out, including takeaway and delivery.
Who Is This Card For?
Ideal for those who want the benefits of a premium travel rewards card but want to avoid dealing with the hassle of frequent flyer programs or the hassle of converting points to airline miles. You can cash in your points at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece instead of using them to pay for travel expenses. The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve provides the most competitive incentives for people who make purchases using mobile wallet programs like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. The U.S. bank altitude reserve credit card delivers the most competitive incentives for people who make purchases using mobile wallet programs like Google Pay and Samsung Pay. It's the same with all credit cards in that the value of the rewards you can redeem is set in advance. If, on the other hand, you have your sights set on first- or business-class seats on foreign flights, you will likely come out on the losing end.
It's possible to buy a round-trip ticket in business class to Europe or South America with some other cards for as little as 100,000 to 150,000 miles. In comparison, purchasing $1,500 in-flight using 100,000 U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve points won't get you to a different continent or in business class. So, if you're looking for cheap flights, hotels, car rentals, and public transportation, this card is for you. This program is a good option for those interested in staying at boutique hotels and flying budget airlines because cardholders may redeem points for statement credits that can be used for future travel expenditures. By making reservations and paying for lodging in the usual way, you can rack up frequent flyer miles and hotel points and reap the benefits of any elite status to which you may be entitled.
What's Great About the Altitude Reserve Credit Card from U.S. Bank
Rich Benefits for Vacations
U.S. Bank Visa Infinite cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel expenditures and transactions made with a mobile wallet, which works out to a rewards rate of 4.5 percent. If you use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, you can get that rate on all your purchases, which is rather substantial. (Alternatively, you can exchange your points for cash at a rate of one cent per point.) In addition, U.S. Bank's travel center offers a rate of 7.5% on prepaid travel booked through its website.
Rich Travel Benefits
This card comes with a variety of perks designed to make travel simpler. Some examples are a statement credit good for the cost of applying for TSA Precheck or Global Entry once every four years and a free 12-month subscription to the airport lounge access program Priority Pass Select. In addition to the standard protections offered by credit cards, this includes a collision damage waiver for rental cars, travel accident insurance, protection against trip cancellation, delay, or interruption, and reimbursement for lost luggage.
$750 Bonus Points When Used for Travel
If you use your new card to make travel expenditures like airline, hotels, and car rentals, the $750 sign-up bonus is worth 50,000 bonus points or $750 in cash. This deal is excellent, and it's worth the slightly higher minimum expenditure compared to others.
$325 in Annual Travel Statement Credits
Up to $325 each year can be automatically credited to your travel statement when you book directly with an airline, hotel, vehicle rental agency, taxi, limousine service, passenger rail, or cruise line.
Conclusion
The U.S. Bank Visa Infinite aims to attract tech-savvy users who prefer to use virtual cards by offering 3 points per dollar spent while using a mobile wallet and those who are prepared to join that club. The high $400 annual charge helps build the card's prestige, and users can recoup a significant portion of that cost after making their first large trip purchase of the year with the card. This card's annual fee is high, but it's more than justified by the generous perks you receive, like access to the Priority Pass lounges at airports worldwide and the points you may earn.