Altitude® Connect: A Strong No-Fee Card for Travel and Gas Rewards
Earn bonus rewards on travel and everyday categories, plus valuable travel protections, lounge access passes, and a TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fee credit – all with no annual fee.
The Bottom Line
5.0
BIG4CREDIT RANKING
Our 5-star rating is based on Big4credit’s independent, data-driven scoring system.
Each card is evaluated across multiple weighted categories – including rewards,
fees, welcome offers, 0% intro APR, ongoing APR, perks, benefits, and protections.
Ratings are determined solely by our research and analysis and are never influenced
by card issuers or advertisers. Read about our ranking system in the
Credit Card Ranking & Methodology section.
Altitude® Connect is a strong no-annual-fee travel rewards card that earns elevated points across travel, gas, dining, groceries, and streaming services. You can earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the travel portal, 4x on other travel and on gas/EV charging (up to quarterly limits), and 2x on dining, grocery stores, and streaming services, with 1x on everything else. New cardholders can also earn a welcome bonus after meeting a moderate spend requirement, plus useful perks like a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit and complimentary airport lounge visits. The card is especially helpful if you want travel benefits without a fee and like earning rewards on a variety of everyday spending categories. However, if you prefer simple flat-rate cashback or don’t travel at least occasionally, another no-fee card might feel easier to use.
Altitude® Connect
Apply now
On U.S. Bank's Secure Website
Annual fee:
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 billing cycles
Regular APR
17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
Credit Score
670-850 (Good/Excellent)
Rewards Earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the travel portal. Additionally, earn 4x points on other travel, 4x points at gas/EV charging stations on up to $1,000 each quarter, 2x points on dining, select streaming, and groceries, plus 1x on all other eligible purchases.
1x - 5x Points
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
20,000 Points
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 on other travel.
- 4x Points at Gas/EV charging stations, on up to $1,000 each quarter.
- 2x Points Categories:
- 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.
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.
Lounge Access
- Priority Pass™ Select Membership: Complimentary membership with 4 lounge visits per membership year at 1,500+ 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
- 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.
- 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).
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.
Terms and Conditions
- Click Apply Now to see the terms and conditions.
EarnSmart Rewards Strategy
- Custom Cash® (Add 5% Category): Earn 5% cashback on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the cap), making it a strong complement to Altitude® Connect for groceries, dining, or another high-spend area not covered at elevated rates. 👉 Learn more about Custom Cash®.
- 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. 👉 Learn more about Active Cash®.