U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Review

Overview

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve was a standout premium card thanks to one killer feature: 3x on mobile wallet purchases, meaning anywhere you could tap to pay, you earned 3x. It is closed to new applicants now, but holders still love it for exactly that reason.

If you have one, the mobile-wallet earning plus a real travel credit can make the $400 fee worthwhile, as long as you tap to pay often and use the credit.

Our 6.7 out of 10 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

You earn 3x on travel and on mobile wallet purchases, and 1x on everything else. That mobile-wallet 3x is the magic, because tap-to-pay is accepted almost everywhere now, it effectively turns into a broad 3x card for a lot of your spending. Points are worth more when redeemed toward travel.

Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:

• 10x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the U.S. Bank Travel Center
• 5x points on flights booked in the U.S. Bank Travel Center

The fine print on rates: No longer open to new applicants (closed November 2024). As of December 15, 2025, points redeem at 1 cent each toward travel (down from 1.5 cents) and the $325 annual credit applies only to U.S. Bank Travel Center bookings. Existing cardholders keep the card.

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

There is no welcome bonus available, as the card is closed to new applicants. The value now is in the ongoing mobile-wallet earning and travel credit.

Is it worth the annual fee?

The $400 fee is offset by an annual travel credit, so the effective cost is lower than it looks. If you use the credit and tap to pay regularly, the 3x mobile-wallet earning can easily justify keeping it. If not, weigh whether the perks still cover the fee for you.

First-year value vs ongoing value

There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $373 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.

*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• $325 annual travel credit toward U.S. Bank Travel Center bookings
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select with 8 airport lounge visits per year
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (once every 4 years)
• Points redeem at 1 cent each toward travel via Real-Time Rewards
• Visa Infinite travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees
• No longer open to new applicants

Lounge access

This card includes airport lounge access. Here is exactly what you get, including the Priority Pass distinctions that vary by card:

• Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership with 8 visits per membership year; guests count toward the 8-visit allowance, then $35 per person

Statement credits

• $325 annual travel credit (U.S. Bank Travel Center bookings)
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (once every 4 years)

Who should get it, and who should skip it

If you hold the Altitude Reserve and pay by mobile wallet everywhere you can, it is a fantastic card, few cards ever matched that 3x-on-tap earning, and the travel credit softens the fee.

If you do not tap to pay much or would not use the credit, the fee gets harder to justify. But for holders who use it as intended, this is a card worth keeping while you can.

Frequently asked questions

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