Last updated: June 20, 2026. Verify current terms with US Bank before applying, booking, or relying on coverage.
Earning structure
- 5xPrepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the Altitude Rewards Center.
- 3xEligible travel purchases and purchases made via a mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay) at any participating merchant.
- 1xAll other purchases.
Card snapshot
Annual fee$400 (effective $75 after $325 travel & dining credit)
Rewards currencyUS Bank Altitude Points (1.5¢ travel via Real-Time Mobile Rewards; 1¢ cash/gift cards)
Top earn categories5x prepaid hotels/car rentals (Altitude Rewards Center) · 3x mobile wallet & eligible travel · 1x all else
Annual credit$325 travel & dining (auto-applied statement credit; resets annually)
Lounge accessPriority Pass Select — 12 complimentary visits/year; additional visits $35 each
Global Entry / TSA PreCheckUp to $100 credit once every 4.5 years
What the card is built around
The Altitude Reserve is engineered around mobile wallet usage. Cardholders who pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay at everyday merchants — grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, transit — earn 3x without needing category-specific cards. The Real-Time Mobile Rewards feature converts that earn into 1.5 cents per point in travel or dining value at the moment of purchase, bypassing the need for a travel portal entirely. For cardholders who tap-to-pay habitually, the card functions as a 4.5% effective return on mobile wallet spending redirected to travel.
The $325 annual travel and dining credit, applied automatically by US Bank against qualifying charges, offsets the majority of the $400 fee. After that credit is fully used, the out-of-pocket cost is $75 per year — comparable to mid-tier travel cards while retaining Visa Infinite-level protections and Priority Pass access.
Mobile wallet breadth
The 3x mobile wallet rate applies at any merchant that accepts NFC payments — not limited to a specific category. Grocery, dining, gas, transit, and retail purchases all qualify, provided the transaction goes through Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
Altitude Rewards Center
The 5x rate requires booking prepaid hotels or car rentals directly through US Bank's Altitude Rewards Center portal. Bookings made outside the portal — including direct with the hotel or through third-party sites — earn at the lower 3x or 1x rate depending on how the merchant codes.
Real-Time Mobile Rewards value
Points redeemed through Real-Time Mobile Rewards for eligible travel or dining purchases are worth 1.5 cents each. Points redeemed for cash back or gift cards are worth 1 cent each. The 1.5-cent rate is not a transfer partner program — it is a fixed-value redemption applied at purchase.
Credits and benefits
Benefit
Structure
Practical read
$325 Annual Travel & Dining Credit
Statement credits applied automatically against eligible travel and dining purchases charged to the card. Resets annually on the account anniversary.
No portal booking required. Covers airlines, hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and other travel-coded merchants. Verify eligible categories in current US Bank terms.
Priority Pass Select — 12 Visits
Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with 12 airport lounge visits per year to 1,300+ lounges worldwide. Additional visits at $35 each.
Activate the Priority Pass membership through US Bank. Guest policies vary; verify whether guests count against the 12-visit allotment in current Priority Pass terms.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
Up to $100 statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, once every 4.5 years.
Charge the application fee to the card. The credit covers one application per 4.5-year cycle. Global Entry ($100) includes TSA PreCheck.
Real-Time Mobile Rewards
Redeem points at 1.5 cents each immediately after eligible travel or dining purchases made through a mobile wallet. Triggered via a post-purchase notification.
No minimum redemption amount stated; verify current thresholds. Applies to eligible travel and dining categories only at the 1.5¢ rate.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
No foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the U.S.
Applies per the card's rates and fees terms.
Travel protections (Visa Infinite)
Benefit
What it can cover
Important limits
Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance
Reimbursement for non-refundable transportation and lodging when a covered reason cancels or interrupts a trip paid with the card.
Covered reasons are defined in the benefit guide. Not all cancellation reasons qualify. Verify coverage caps and exclusions.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen checked or carry-on luggage when the common carrier ticket is paid with the card.
Coverage limits apply. Verify per-bag and per-trip maximums in the official benefit guide.
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation
Can cover emergency medical evacuation or repatriation costs during a covered trip.
Requires pre-authorization in most cases. Coverage limits and exclusions apply; verify in the benefit guide.
Travel Accident Insurance
Coverage for accidental death or dismemberment when the common carrier fare is paid with the card.
Coverage amounts, exclusions, and definitions vary. Review the official benefit terms.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Coverage for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle when the full rental is paid with the card and the rental agency's CDW is declined.
Visa Infinite typically provides primary coverage on rentals, but verify the current Altitude Reserve benefit terms for confirmation.
Fit checklist
- You regularly use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay at checkout, turning everyday mobile wallet spend into 3x points redeemable at 1.5 cents each.
- You will use enough eligible travel and dining to fully apply the $325 annual credit, bringing the effective annual fee to $75.
- You travel through airports with Priority Pass lounges and value 12 complimentary visits per year over unlimited lounge access.
- You prefer instant point redemption at point of sale over navigating a loyalty award chart or transfer program.
- You want Visa Infinite-level travel protections including trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and lost luggage coverage.
- You will charge the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee to the card to recover the $100 credit once every 4.5 years.