Our take: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers appeal for occasional travelers with a generous rewards rate prepaid travel, gas and EV charging. Additional perks include some Priority Pass Select airport lounge access and a statement credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee, cellphone insurance and a number of travel protections, making it well worth its carrying cost.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect
Intro bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days worth $500 towards travel and more.
| Annual fee | $0 first year, then $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.24% to 29.24% |
Overview
Card type: Airline, Travel, Cash back
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is ideal for a specific type of traveler: One who prefers road trips to red eyes, wants to keep their travel plans and rewards simple, and the biggest bulk of their spending is on everyday expenses. The card earns 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4X points on travel, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 2X points on grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services; and 1X points on all other purchases. Cardholders also benefit from no foreign transaction fees, so if your travels take you abroad, the card is a good pick.
Moreover, the card includes perks that can easily make the sub-$100 annual fee worth it including four complimentary visits annually to Priority Pass airport lounges, up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fees every four years and an annual up to $30 streaming credit for eligible services like Netflix or Spotify.
Plus the card comes with the type of travel insurances and protections you’ll typically only find on cards costing hundreds of dollars a year to own like trip cancellation/interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance, and cell phone insurance. Visa Signature benefits, which includesaccess to exclusive experiences like luxury hotels, premium car rental services, sporting events, and fine dining.
Who is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card good for?
This card is best suited for those who occasionally travel and spend regularly on a variety of everyday expenses , including travel, gas, groceries, and streaming services. The combination of travel benefits, generous rewards on everyday spending categories, and additional perks like cell phone protection and streaming credits make it a well-rounded choice for a wide range of people..
Who shouldn’t get the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
If you prefer a straightforward rewards program, like a flat cash-back rate on all purchases, the tiered rewards structure of this card might not be ideal. Or if you rarely travel, many of this card’s perks won’t be useful for you.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: How to earn rewards
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card offers a generous rewards program:
- 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4X points on travel at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services
- 1X point on all other eligible purchases
Additionally, new cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points by spending $2,000 in the first 120 days of account opening (a $500 value).
How to redeem U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card points
U.S. Bank makes redeeming your points quick and easy. To redeem points, choose any of the following options:
- Visit the Rewards Center found in online banking at usbank.com
- Log in to your U.S. Bank mobile app, select your Altitude Connect account, and then choose “Redeem” or “View my rewards”
- Call the 24-hour Rewards Center at 888-229-8864
A point is worth a penny each when redeeming for cash back or merchandise. When using your rewards to book travel, the values may vary as flight prices can fluctuate.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card rates and fees
- Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $95.
- Foreign transaction fee: None,
- Purchase APR: 21.24%– 29.24% variable
Additional benefits
In addition to points on spending, cardholders also enjoy the following card benefits:
- Streaming bonus: Get a $30 credit for annual streaming service purchases, such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify® and more.
- Airport lounge access: Enjoy four free visits to over 1,300 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership.
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®:reimbursement: Receive up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse your application fee once every four years.
- Cell phone protection: If your cell phone is lost or stolen, you can get up to $600 in reimbursement. You must pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card.
- Travel benefits: This card comes with a number of protections when traveling, including trip cancellation/interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and SmartDelay. Plus, stay connected in over 125 countries with complimentary GigSky global mobile data plans (redeemable through 8/31/2024).
- Visa Signature benefits: Get special access to exclusive experiences, including food events, luxury hotels, premium car rental service, sporting events, shopping, and more.
Credit cards similar to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
When shopping around for a rewards card, it’s important to choose one that best matches your spending habits and lifestyle. If you’re considering U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, be sure to also check out these competitors.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
If you’re looking for a mid-range travel card that has a low annual fee but plenty of perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another option to consider. At $95 per year, the Sapphire Preferred offers 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit), 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases, 2x points on travel purchases and 1x points on other purchases. Additional perks include multiple statement credits, complimentary dining and grocery service memberships, and a 25% boost in point value when redeemed for travel through Chase.
It also comes with a large sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. But arguably the best benefit of this card is that you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards to 11 airline partners and three hotel partners at a potentially higher value.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card vs. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
If you’re looking for an even more budget-friendly travel card, consider the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. This card boasts no annual fee and earns an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases.
It doesn’t come with any of the perks that the Altitude Connect offers, but it also doesn’t require tracking categories, which may be more appealing to those seeking a no-fuss travel rewards card.
The card does offer a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening an account, then a standard APR of 18.24% to 28.24% will apply, which can be helpful if you need extra time to pay off a big purchase. Like any good travel card, it also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international travelers.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card comes with a welcome bonus of 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases. Just be aware that other types of redemptions are not an option with this card.
Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card right for you?
If you’re looking for a starter travel card that offers a generous rewards structure in several common areas of spending, plus some luxury travel perks without a high annual fee, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card may be right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card worth it?
This card can be worth it to cardholders who spend frequently in the categories of travel, gas, dining, and streaming, and who are able to take advantage of the card’s other travel perks like lounge access and trusted traveler application fee credits.
What credit score do you need for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
U.S. Bank doesn’t specify a certain credit score needed to get approved for the Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card. However, most rewards cards are usually aimed at those with good-to-excellent credit, generally defined as a FICO Score of 670 or higher.
What is the benefit of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card?
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card comes with numerous benefits, including the ability to earn up to 5X points on purchases, travel perks, and additional protections such as cell phone insurance, and trip coverages and protections all for a relatively low annual fee.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
