Introducing the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card a travel and gas rewards credit card with exclusive benefits and perks. This card offers a rewards rate of up to 4x points on travel and gas purchases, along with a generous welcome bonus and statement credits for streaming services.
But that’s not all the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card also provides travel protection benefits, including trip interruption/cancellation and travel delay protection, along with cell phone protection and Visa Signature benefits like identity theft protection and luxury hotel benefits. Rewards and Perks:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers a competitive rewards rate of up to 4x points on travel and gas purchases.
For every dollar spent, cardmembers can earn 4x points on eligible travel purchases made through the Altitude Rewards Center, 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores, and 1x point on all other purchases. Rewards are flexible and can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
In addition to the rewards rate, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 120 days of opening the account. Cardmembers also receive credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees when they use their card to pay for the fee.
Cardholders can enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges globally through Priority Pass Select membership. The cost of each visit is automatically charged to the card, with fees ranging from $0 to $32 per person per visit, depending on the lounge.
Cardmembers also receive a statement credit for eligible streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify, with a maximum credit of $30 per calendar year. Target Audience:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent option for travelers and those who frequently purchase gas.
The flexible redemption options allow for maximum benefits, making it a useful card for those who travel for business or pleasure. With an annual fee of $95, this card may be more suitable for those who expect to spend enough to justify the fee.
Benefits and Perks:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers a range of benefits and perks that go beyond rewards. Cardmembers can enjoy trip interruption/cancellation and travel delay protections, along with cell phone protection when they pay their monthly cell phone bill with their card.
Visa Signature benefits include identity theft protection, luxury hotel benefits, concierge services, and merchant discounts. Bonus Offer and Application Fee Credit:
Cardmembers can earn a bonus of 50,000 points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 120 days of opening the account.
They can also receive a statement credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees when they use their card to pay the fee. Airport Lounge Access:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers priority pass select membership, which allows members to access over 1,000 airport lounges globally.
Membership costs $99 per year, with a cost of $32 per person per visit. Cardholders can enjoy this benefit with no additional cost.
Streaming Service Credit:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers cardmembers a statement credit of up to $30 for eligible streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. This credit is available yearly when the streaming service charges are billed to the account.
Trip Protection and Cell Phone Protection:
Cardmembers can rest easy knowing they have trip interruption/cancellation and travel delay protection when they use their U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card to pay for their travel expenses. They can also protect their cell phones against damage or theft with cell phone protection when they pay their monthly cell phone bill with their card.
Visa Signature Benefits:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers various Visa Signature benefits, including identity theft protection, luxury hotel benefits, concierge services, and merchant discounts. Cardmembers can use these benefits to get the most out of their card and enhance their travel experience.
In Conclusion:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent option for those who travel frequently and purchase gas regularly. Cardmembers can enjoy a range of benefits and perks, including a competitive rewards rate, a generous welcome bonus, and statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees and streaming services.
The flexible redemption options make this card an attractive choice, and the added travel protection and Visa Signature benefits make it a valuable tool for travelers. As with any credit card, there are some drawbacks to consider when it comes to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card.
In this section, we will discuss the card’s annual fee, lack of transfer partners, and absence of an introductory APR offer. Annual Fee:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card has an annual fee of $95.
While this fee is relatively low compared to some other premium travel cards, it may still be a significant expense for some cardholders. That said, if you spend a lot on travel and gas, the rewards and benefits of this card could easily offset the annual fee.
No Transfer Partners:
While the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers versatile redemptions, one downside is that there is no option to transfer points to airline or hotel partners. This means that you are limited to redeeming your points through the Altitude Rewards Center.
While this center offers a wide range of redemption options, some cardholders may prefer the ability to transfer points to their favorite frequent flyer or hotel loyalty programs. No Intro APR Offer:
Another potential downside of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is that it does not come with a 0% introductory APR offer for balance transfers or purchases.
This means that if you carry a balance or plan to make a large purchase, you will be charged interest from the start. However, if you plan to use this card primarily for travel and gas purchases, this may not be a significant issue for you.
Earning and Redeeming Altitude Rewards:
Now that we have covered the drawbacks of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card let’s explore how to maximize your potential earnings and get the most out of your rewards. Potential Earnings in Years One and Two:
In the first year of card membership, cardholders can earn up to 73,000 points, including the welcome bonus and bonus categories.
In the second year and beyond, cardholders can potentially earn up to 48,000 redeemable points from eligible spending categories like travel bookings, streaming services, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, and gas purchases. Point valuation depends on how you choose to redeem your rewards, but on average, Altitude Rewards points are worth around 1.6 cents each.
Best Ways to Earn:
To maximize earnings, start by taking advantage of the welcome offer of 50,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 120 days of account opening. Cardholders should also make sure to use their card for all eligible travel purchases, gas purchases, and streaming service payments to earn up to 4x points.
Additionally, taking advantage of the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit can reduce the card’s effective annual fee significantly. Maximizing Redemptions:
When it comes to redeeming your Altitude Rewards, the Altitude Rewards Center offers a variety of options, including travel bookings, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, prepaid rewards cards, and Real-Time Rewards.
If you plan to travel frequently, booking travel through the Altitude Rewards Center can offer more value for your points. However, if you prefer merchandise or gift cards, you may want to compare point values among several redemption options to ensure you get the most out of your rewards.
Cardholders can also take advantage of Real-Time Rewards, which enables cardholders to redeem points for eligible purchases instantly. In Conclusion:
While the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card has a few potential drawbacks to consider, the card’s rewards and benefits make it an excellent choice for frequent travelers or those who purchase a significant amount of gas.
Cardholders can take advantage of a wide range of bonus categories, statement credits, and travel protection benefits to maximize their earnings and get the most value out of their rewards. The no-transfer-partners caveat may cause some cardholders to shy away from the card, but others may find that the versatile redemption options offered by the Altitude Rewards program more than make up for it.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card FAQ:
Now that we have discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, let’s address some frequently asked questions about this card. Best U.S. Bank Altitude Card:
Within the U.S. Bank Altitude family, there are two other credit cards.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card offers a rewards rate of up to 4x points on dining, takeout, and food delivery purchases, 2x points on grocery store and gas station purchases, and 1x point on all other purchases. The card has no annual fee.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card offers a rewards rate of up to 5x points on prepaid hotel and car rentals made through the Altitude Rewards Center and 3x points on eligible travel and mobile wallet purchases. The card has an annual fee of $400 but offers additional benefits such as an annual travel credit and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee reimbursement.
If you are looking for a card that offers rewards for everyday spending without an annual fee, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card. If you want a premium travel card with exclusive benefits, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card.
How to Redeem Altitude Points:
Cardholders can redeem their Altitude points through the Altitude Rewards Center for a variety of options, including travel bookings, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, and prepaid rewards cards. Through the Altitude Rewards Center, you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
You can also purchase merchandise or gift cards from a variety of retailers or redeem your points for a statement credit towards your credit card account balance. Finally, you can purchase prepaid rewards cards, which can be used like gift cards at select retailers.
Value of Altitude Points:
The value of Altitude points varies depending on the redemption option. On average, Altitude points are worth around 1.6 cents each.
However, this value can fluctuate depending on how you choose to redeem your rewards. Travel bookings made through the Altitude Rewards Center typically offer the most value for your points, while gift cards and merchandise may offer slightly less value.
Other Cards to Consider:
While the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers many benefits and rewards, there are other credit cards worth considering, depending on what you’re looking for in terms of rewards and features. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers flexible rewards that can be redeemed for travel or transferred to airline and hotel partners.
This card offers a rewards rate of 2x miles on every purchase, and miles are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel or transferred to a partner program. The card has an annual fee of $95, which is waived for the first year.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which offers transfer partners such as United Airlines, Hyatt, and Marriott. The card has a rewards rate of 2x points on travel and dining purchases and 1x point on all other purchases.
Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The card has an annual fee of $95.
In Conclusion:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers or those who purchase a significant amount of gas. While the card has an annual fee and no transfer partners, it offers a competitive rewards rate, statement credits for travel-related purchases, and valuable travel protection benefits.
As with any credit card, it is important to compare your options and choose a card that best suits your needs. Consider the other U.S. Bank Altitude cards, such as the Altitude Go and Altitude Reserve, as well as other travel credit cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to find the card that works for you.
Bottom Line:
Overall, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers or those who purchase a significant amount of gas. The card offers a competitive rewards rate, statement credits for travel-related purchases, and valuable travel protection benefits.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider, such as an annual fee and no transfer partners. Rewards Rates:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers a rewards rate of up to 4x points on eligible travel purchases made through the Altitude Rewards Center, 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores, and 1x point on all other purchases.
The rewards rate is competitive compared to other travel credit cards on the market, making it an excellent choice for those who want to earn rewards while traveling. Travel-Related Perks:
In addition to the rewards rate, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers a wide range of travel-related perks.
This includes access to Priority Pass Select airport lounges, statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, and travel protection benefits such as trip interruption/cancellation and travel delay protection. Low Annual Fee:
While the card does have an annual fee of $95, this fee is relatively low compared to some other premium travel cards.
When balanced with the rewards and benefits offered by the card, the annual fee may be well worth it for frequent travelers. Lacks Transfer Partners:
One potential drawback of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is the lack of transfer partners.
While the Altitude Rewards program offers versatile redemption options, including travel bookings, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, and prepaid rewards cards, the inability to transfer points to airline or hotel partners may be limiting for some cardholders. In Conclusion:
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is a great option for those who travel frequently or purchase a significant amount of gas.
The card offers a competitive rewards rate, travel-related perks, a relatively low annual fee, and travel protection benefits. However, the card may not be the best fit for those who prefer to transfer points to airline or hotel partners for more flexibility in their travel rewards program.
Overall, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is a great card for those who want to earn rewards while traveling and enjoy a variety of travel-related perks. Overall, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers or those who purchase a significant amount of gas.
With a competitive rewards rate, travel-related perks such as lounge access and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement, and valuable travel protection benefits, the card offers a great value for its relatively low annual fee. While the lack of transfer partners may limit its versatility, the card’s versatile redemption options provide various ways to use your rewards.
When choosing a travel credit card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is an excellent option to consider.