U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Review 2024

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* keeps the process of earning and redeeming rewards simple. The card offers solid rewards on travel and gas with a generous 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations through September 8, 2024, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, dining and streaming services and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. This card could be ideal for those just starting to use credit card rewards for travel because the only way to use the points for travel is booking through U.S. Bank’s Rewards Center.

Rewards can be redeemed for things like cash back, merchandise and gift cards via the Rewards Center. Whichever way you choose to redeem, a point is worth a penny. Without the ability to transfer rewards to travel partners, the Altitude Connect falls short of other travel cards offered at a similar price point that do have that feature.

On the flip side, cardholders get four complimentary visits to Priority Pass airport lounges. While this benefit isn’t unlimited, it’s unusual for cards at this price point to provide this flexibility for lounge access. Plus, by registering your flight for SmartDelay, you and up to three more passengers can receive complimentary lounge access at over 1,000 locations if your flight is significantly delayed. Other travel perks include a statement credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®, trip cancellation/interruption coverage and trip delay reimbursement.

As an everyday card with generous earnings in several common areas of spending—especially on travel and gas—the Altitude Connect is a useful option for those who want elevated rewards in the areas they spend the most along with a taste of premium perks that are typically reserved for cards that charge higher annual fees.

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
• Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, after that $95
• Rewards: 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations through September 8, 2024, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, dining and streaming services and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Four free Priority Pass lounge visits per year
• Points don’t expire
• Get a Global Entry or TSAPreCheck application fee credit once every four years
• Cellphone protection of up to $600 in reimbursement for lost or stolen phones

Earning Rewards

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* earns at the following rates: 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations through September 8, 2024, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, dining and streaming services and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

There’s also a welcome bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards are worth a penny per point and can be redeemed through U.S. Bank’s Rewards Center for cash back, travel, gift cards, merchandise and more. Cash back is redeemed in the form of a statement credit or a deposit made to your U.S. Bank savings or checking account starting at a 2,500-point minimum redemption.

One unique redemption option with the U.S. Bank rewards-earning cards: You can redeem points instantly via text message with the Real-Time Rewards feature at participating retailers.

Something to note is that you can combine your rewards with those earned on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card*, although that card’s rewards structure is so similar to the Altitude Connect that it doesn’t make sense to own both. You cannot combine the rewards from Altitude Connect with U.S Bank’s premium travel card, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card*.

Rewards Potential

Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $116,000 annually and puts a total of $36,177 on credit cards per year.

Of that, we estimate based on the data that the average U.S. household spends roughly $2,011 on hotels. Assuming that all of those hotel stays were booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, they would earn 10,055 points. Another $4,022 is spent on other travel and $2,474 on gas annually, earning 26,004 points.

Our sample household also spends $10,527 on restaurants including takeout, delivery and grocery spending resulting in an additional 21,054 points plus $730 on streaming services which would earn 1,460 points. The remaining spending of $17,413 will earn 1 point per dollar for an additional 17,413 points.

In all, a total of 75,986 points (worth $750) would be earned in the first year in addition to earning the card’s welcome bonus.

• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Visit over 1,300-plus airport lounge locations around the world. Unlike the Priority Pass Select membership that comes with some other cards, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card*’s version only provides four free visits. After that, per person lounge visit fees will apply.
• Cellphone protection: Pay your monthly bill with your card and get reimbursed up to $600 if there’s accidental damage or theft of your device.
• Visa Signature benefits: As a Visa Signature card, the Altitude Connect comes with perks that include roadside dispatch, travel protections and insurances and discounts and benefits at hotels in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.
• U.S. Bank ExtendPay: ExtendPay allows cardholders to split eligible card purchases up into monthly payments and pay a fixed monthly fee instead of interest.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, after that $95
• Balance transfer fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

If you’re looking for a travel card that earns a higher rate on every purchase, you might want to consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees). It earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on other purchases. This flat-rate earnings structure could work well if your spending doesn’t align well with the typical bonus categories offered by most rewards cards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers a generous welcome bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Like the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card*, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers limited travel benefits at a mid-tier cost. Unfortunately, Capital One only offers access to the much-larger network of Priority Pass lounges on the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card which has a $395 annual fee (rates & fees).

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you’re seeking a travel card that will help you squeeze maximum value out of your earnings, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card merits your attention. For an annual fee of $95, the card comes jam-packed with juicy rewards and other perks that make it a worthy contender in this crowded field of travel cards, in this price range. The Sapphire Preferred allows users to earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

You can redeem your rewards for travel through the Chase Travel portal at 25% more value. You can also redeem for cash back at a penny a point or transfer to one of Chase’s multiple hotel and airline partners.

Someone seeking a simple, low-cost travel card that rewards them for everyday spending will likely find that the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect fits the bill. It’s got extra-high rewards on travel and gas plus a nice earnings rate in several areas of typical household spending.

But if you’re looking to extract the maximum value from credit card rewards, you will likely prefer a card that offers greater flexibility in redemptions. Other card’s  ability to transfer rewards to travel partners can yield more value overall.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards