Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
We’ve had a couple of comments from readers that Google Pay is not coding at 3x on the US Bank Altitude Reserve. As you’ll remember, the Altitude Reserve lists mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Android Pay as a 3x bonus category. We reported a few months ago that Google was combining Android Pay and Google Wallet to create Google Pay. They have since sunsetted the Android Pay platform, but it seems like US Bank has not caught up.
The Altitude Reserve application page still lists Android Pay as a mobile wallet that earns 3x and has not updated to include Google Pay:
Unfortunately, the commenters who reported that they did not earn 3x also reported contacting US Bank’s customer service and being told that Google Pay does not qualify. See this comment and this one.
If you have recently made Google Pay transactions, feel free to leave your earning data points in the comments. If true, this would certainly be a disappointing development for Android users who were relying on mobile payments as a bonus category. It seems reasonable that US Bank would eventually update to include Google Pay, but for the time being it’s worth being aware that purchases with Google’s mobile wallet may not earn bonus points on the Altitude Reserve.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
I’m using it with Samsung Pay (which uses it as a swipe if no NFC reader) and making a killing. It’s my go to, non-bonused card. Basically 4.5x and real time rewards make it amazing. Absolutely no MS on this card, however. I don’t want to get shut down.
I have Samsung phones, but I also drank the kool-aid and got the $999 Google fi phone. Not sure why. I have TMobile, but may use Google phone as second phone internationally. Got caught up in the frenzy yesterday…
LOL, I’m right there with you. I ordered a $999 Pixel just because it was an awesome deal, but I really wish I had done the sub-$500 Samsung phone deal on Cyber Monday.
I’ll give Pixel a chance though. I’m just hoping the Google Pay thing with the Altitude Reserve has been fixed.
Add me to the list of people who bought a $999 phone I didn’t want or need in lieu of a great deal on an S9 on Cyber Monday LOL.
has the 3x google pay issue been fixed?
Yes
This card is more trouble then its werth. Moble pay devices dont always work. Real time rewards dont always work. I cant get the ground link credit to work and the agents dont really understaind the points system.
I called them and they said they were going to go through all my past transactions and award me the points missing.
Yep – this happened to me this month. I was not awarded my bonus points when using google pay. The customer service rep sent a message to the rewards dept to see if they would retroactively give them to me, but we shall see.
I was going to keep this card but I will probably cancel unless they fix this.
I believe Google Pay includes both mobile and online payments. Perhaps US Bank doesn’t want to award 3X for online payments, and Google or the payment networks haven’t made it easy to differentiate between the two?
Seriously, why ANYONE would have a android phone without the name SAMSUNG on it with this card, just don’t get it…….
Samsung Pay bonuses amount to about nothing. The gift card deals can’t be taken advantage of with this card anyway because US Bank shuts down people who purchase gift cards.
Samsung phones no longer have removable batteries. I would gladly give up a few dollars earning potential not to carry around a portable charger.
So, 3x literally everywhere is not good enough for you?
Can’t use it online. Can’t use it at restaurants. That eliminates 95% of my spending. Most places that I could use Samsung Pay already accept Android Pay (which wasn’t a problem until now).
Wrong. Visa checkout allows online use and you can at restaurants if you simply get up and do it with the server. Fast food is crazy simple.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard haha.
I am going for my second $325 and then closing the card – so $1,400 of travel for $400, not bad.
I’m not convinced US Bank is ready for prime time. I got the Altitude card a few weeks ago before I left for 2 weeks in Europe.
1. They kept declining charges. It took multiple calls and looooong hold times to get it straightened out.
2. I have to swing by a store today where I used the card the day I got it with Samsung Pay. That charge has still not shown up on my account.
3. My first statement close, was well past my minimum spend and my sign-up bonus hasn’t posted.
I did get 3X points for Samsung Pay charges.