U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect: A Strong No-Fee Card for Travel and Gas Rewards

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High rewards rate on travel and gas
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Sign-up bonus
• Intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers
• Limited lounge access
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck^® statement credit
• GigSky Global Mobile Data

Cons:

• Gas/EV charging bonus rewards are capped
• No external transfer partners

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months.

Rewards

• 5x Points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the travel portal.
• 4x Points:
  • Other Travel
  • Gas/EV Charging Stations, on up to $1,000 each quarter
• 2x Points:
  • Dining
  • Select Streaming Services
  • Grocery Stores
• 1x Points on all other purchases.

Redemption Options

• Flexible Redemption: Redeem points as a direct deposit to eligible U.S. Bank account, or use it for travel, gift cards, and more. You can also donate to charity with a 100% match.
• Real-Time Rewards: Instantly redeem your rewards at the point of purchase, turning everyday spending into immediate savings.
• Transfer Points: This feature allows U.S. Bank Altitude Connect and Altitude Go cardholders to transfer their earned Points to other eligible cardholders, such as friends or family members who also hold the same cards. Points transfers are processed quickly, making it easier to combine or share rewards across accounts when needed. However, the feature includes an annual limit, allowing a maximum of 20,000 Points to be transferred per calendar year.

Big4credit Tip: Points are worth the most when redeemed as a deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account or for travel. Other redemption options, such as statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise, may provide a lower value.

• Travel purchases through U.S. Bank Travel Center: 1 cent per point
• Statement credit: 0.8 cent per point, in increments of 3,125 points ($25).
• Cash back: 1 cent per point, in increments of 2,500 points ($25). Eligible U.S. Bank checking or savings account is required.
• Gift cards: typically provide 0.8 to 1.1 cent per point, depending on the merchant and offer.
• Shop with points at Amazon.com: 1 cent per point
• Merchandise: point values vary by product and are not fixed
• Apple Rewards Store: redemption value varies depending on the product selected
• Real-time rewards: 0.8 cent per point

Fees and APR

• Annual Fee: $0.
• 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers: Enjoy 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening. To qualify for the balance transfer offer, transfers must be completed within the first 60 days.
• Regular APR: After the introductory period, a variable APR of 17.49% - 27.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers.
• Balance Transfer Fees: $5 or 5% of each transfer amount, whichever is greater.
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None.

Annual Credits & Statement Credits

• Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® Credit: :** Receive a statement credit (up to $100 every four years) as reimbursement for your Global Entry^® or TSA PreCheck^® application fee.

Lounge Access

• Priority Pass™ Select Membership: Complimentary membership with 4 lounge visits per membership year at 1,800+ airport lounges worldwide. Each member and guest visit counts toward the 4-visit limit; additional visits incur a per-visit fee. Enrollment required; access subject to lounge capacity.
• SmartDelay Lounge Access: Complimentary airport lounge access when a registered flight is significantly delayed (enrollment required; terms apply).

Travel Benefits

• GigSky Global Mobile Data: Complimentary or discounted international mobile data through GigSky (activation required; benefit currently redeemable through November 30, 2026; terms apply).
• Visa Signature^® Luxury Hotel Collection: Access to participating hotels offering benefits such as room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for two, and select on-property credits when booking through the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection portal (terms apply).

Travel Protections

• Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: Get reimbursed up to $2,000 per person for prepaid, nonrefundable fares if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered reasons like illness or severe weather.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your trip is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you can be reimbursed up to $300 per traveler for expenses like meals and lodging.

Travel & Emergency Assistance

• Roadside Assistance: Dispatch service available; service fees apply.
• Travel & Emergency Assistance: Access to emergency referral and coordination services while traveling (service referrals only; costs not covered).
• Emergency Card Services: 24/7 assistance for emergency card replacement and cash advances if your card is lost or stolen.

Lifestyle Perks

Visa Signature Concierge: 24/7 concierge assistance for travel planning, dining reservations, event tickets, and other services (availability and outcomes not guaranteed).

Nice Extras

Visa Signature Entertainment: Access to select presale tickets and entertainment experiences through Visa Signature (availability varies; tickets typically require purchase).

Shopping & Savings

Shopping Offers: Access exclusive discounts and special offers from participating retailers, including apparel, jewelry, electronics, and more.

Buy Now, Pay Later Options

U.S. Bank ExtendPay^® Plan: Split eligible purchases into predictable monthly payments with no interest, just a small fixed monthly fee.

Ratings

• Net Value & Cost Efficiency: 8.7/10
• Rewards & Earnings Power: 8.7/10
• Welcome Bonus Value: 4/10
• APR & Interest Structure: 8.8/10
• Simplicity & Transparency: 8.2/10
• Perks, Benefits & Protections: 4.9/10
• Issuer Credibility & Stability: 6.5/10
• Installment & BNPL Features: 7/10
• Eligibility & Approval Accessibility: 7.5/10

Terms and Conditions

Click Apply Now to see the terms and conditions.

EarnSmart Rewards Strategy

• Discover it^® (Add 5% Category): Earn 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (activation required), making it a strong complement to Altitude^® Connect for categories not covered at elevated rates.
• Active Cash^® (Strengthen Everyday Spending): Provides consistent rewards on everyday purchases, helping raise your return on non-travel spending while Altitude^® Connect focuses on travel and gas.
• Cash+^® Visa Signature^®: Earn 5% cashback in two categories of your choice, making it a strong complement for recurring expenses such as utilities, internet, or streaming services.

» MORE: See Big4credit’s best travel credit cards