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?
The US Bank Altitude Connect card doesn’t get a ton of press, but it can be a valuable card to grab for its new account bonus and potentially for card benefits. However, as first reported by Doctor of Credit, a number of card details have changed substantially.
Ironically, the value of points earned on the card will decrease, but the value of holding the card may increase for cardholders looking to maximize benefits while avoiding annual fees.
Current offer & key card details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
20K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 20K after $1K spend in 90 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 50K after $2K spend in 120 days (Ended 9/9/24) FM Mini Review: This card offers decent returns on gas station and travel spend and it features no foreign transaction fees, but points are now only worth 0.8cpp. However, return on most other spend is relatively weak. Earning rate: 4X travel, gas stations & EV charging (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs) ✦ 2x take out, food delivery (including apps like GrubHub, UberEATS, etc), dining, grocery (including meal kit delivery) and streaming services Card Info: Visa issued by USB. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Complimentary Priority Pass Select with 4 free visits ✦ Up to $100 in credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry ✦ Complimentary 5 GB / 15-day plans + 20% off on all other GigSky plans (international roaming) |
Changes the Altitude Connect Card
First off, points are now worth only 0.8c for redemptions (including for cash back, Real-time mobile rewards, shopping on Amazon, and most other redemptions) starting on September 9, 2024. You’ll still be able to redeem points at a value of 1c per point through the US Bank Travel Portal after that date.
That makes the card’s bonus categories less interesting — while an unlimited 4% back on gas and travel has been pretty good on this card, an effective 3.2% cash back on those categories is less compelling. Furthermore, gas at grocery stores and wholesale clubs are now excluded, which will limit the utility further for many.
In addition to the reduction in redemption value, the $30 annual streaming service credit that the card had previously is gone, as well as the cell phone insurance.
However, it’s not all bad news necessarily. The card no longer has an annual fee but will continue to offer up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse your application fee once every four years for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. That’s a nice deal!
Furthermore, you will continue to get 4 free Priority Pass lounge visits per year. Again, if you’re averse to carrying a card with an annual fee, that’s a pretty solid benefit.
Personally, I don’t much value either the Global Entry / TSA credit or the Priority Pass benefit since I have plenty of other cards that offer those benefits, but I see them being a pair of reasons to have and/or keep this card for someone who only travels to airports with lounges now and then who wants to keep annual fees to an absolute minimum.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the US Bank Altitude Go Card in light of these changes. That card also carries no annual fee and offers 4x on dining, but those points are currently worth $0.01 per point for cash back redemptions. There were some minor changes to that card as well, but thus far there is no mention of any change to the annual $15 credit for streaming purchases…potentially making it more compelling alternative to the Altitude Connect.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Called in and product changed a US Bank Altitude Go card to the Altitude Connect. Took about 5 minutes.
Are we sure that these changes are only for the consumer version of this card? I have both the consumer and business versions, and it looks to me like the business version of this card remains unchanged, namely that points can still be redeemed for 1 cent per point. Plus, the biz version is still being advertised on the US Bank website as being able to get points for 1 cent per point value.
It sounds good in some ways like 4x for EV charging but if you are just going to redeem through Amazon it might be easier get an Amazon Visa that gives 1 cent per point at Amazon with 2x on gas and restaurants. I think for certain people this card makes sense but many of the spend rates can be beaten with Sapphire or Amex cards with better redemption value.
For most people in the credit card game I think the 4 Priority Passes are weak. Last time I was at the airport I had to pull out a stack of PP cards just to have them figure out which ones work there. I guess this benefit is better than an Amazon card for those that don’t travel much.
Has anyone tried to product change a US Bank Cash+ to this US Bank Altitude Connect?
I have a second US Bank Cash+ that I don’t use and would love to get 4 more Priority Pass visits that can be used at restaurants.
This has been my gas and hotel card, But it’s been sock drawered since these changes as I now have the autograph journey. I’m thinking of product changing to the altitude go but I want to see what happens with it first. One thing to point out the priority pass here does include restaurants. I’m also looking more into the gig sky data complimentary that you get with this card. The smart delay feature is pretty cool to me too, where they give you lounge access if your flight and gets delayed
I may be in the minority, but I’m strongly considering this card in 6 months as a ways of having an additional 4 PP entries per year (just got the USB AR which gives 8). While I could conceivably use 8 in a busy year, I doubt I’d end up using 12 – and to me that’s worth it over something like CSR or Amex Plat because of the lower fees of the USB cards, and not needing to use coupons to maximize value. Also dumping Cap One Venture X because of an awful experience using the travel credits through their portal.
You might want to take a peek at the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards card. 4X on travel and 1.5X on everything else. Redemption rate is 0.8 cent per point. The card gives the version of Priority Pass with a $35 per visit charge BUT also gives $100 per year in statement credits. That would give you three free visits instead of four. But . . . one thing that makes the Pathfinder a little bit different is that amusement parks and tourist attractions code as travel. For some, that moves the needle enough.
Good luck.
In regards to the Altitude Go, I don’t think it has been reported here, but USB added foreign transaction fees to the card recently. It looks like the page on the Altitude Go card has not been updated on this site.
I have a Go card (converted from an old Radisson one). I am thinking about converting it to the Connect card, since that would give me some Priority Pass visits for restaurants (currently I only have cards with restaurant access). The earnings on all of these cards are underwhelming IMO (so many cards with similar earning categories). The streaming benefit on the Go is too complicated for $15 (I could just buy discounted gift cards for must of the services). But if I can get a few restaurant visits, that could be worth keeping the Connect card, especially when the Delta Sky Club entrance limitations start next year.
At this point I’d say the card is not worth X/24 slot, if you care about that, but definitely a keeper if you have it or can convert into it.
Definitely agree. Since I have a Go card I don’t really use (mainly keep it around since there is no AF, and it is an older card given the conversion), I figured I might try to convert it. I won’t really spend much on the Connect, but maybe I’ll use the PP restaurant benefit.
The notification of changes now says you can get $0.01 per point (instead of the devalued $0.008 per point) when redeeming “as cash back to an eligible U.S. Bank account.” I can’t find a definition of eligible account, but presumably it should include the Bank Smartly checking account (which has the current promotion)?
Also, the free GigSky eSIM benefit just keeps getting better. It’s now 5GB free every 15 days. The offer has been extended through Nov 15, 2025.
If I can continue to get one cent per then I’ll continue to use this for gas as I have a us bank checking account. I received a flyer in the mail from US Bank about the changes a couple days ago and it does mention that for highest redemption values redeem to US Bank checking account, but it doesn’t specifically say one cent for point
Is the free GigSky eSIM 5GB every 15 days until next year? I thought it was a one-off deal…thank you!
Yes. My 15 days just expired, and I’ve already started the next free 15 day 5GB.
The personal connect link here goes to a 20k offer. Weird since it’s been 50k for so long.
Thanks, fixed that.
Approved early last week, got the card a couple of days ago. It was reasonable to assume that the $500 SUB is going away after 9 Sept, and this card might be good to have if they enable points pooling with the Altitude Reserve in the future, or better yet, go Wells Fargo and become transferable points. That was my play.
Do we know if the biz version of this card is undergoing the same changes? My understanding is you can move points between the two cards.
Wondering the same thing
Wondering the same
Can these points be combined with Altitude reserve?
Nope
No, but it can always change in the future.
The priority pass might be interesting to people without the Sapphire Reserve. Spend one entry on a Sapphire Lounge and the remaining three on PP restaurants.
Do these work for Priority Pass Restaurants? Feels like they should, just curious if anyone has confirmation.
I don’t have the card yet, but I would bet they do. My reason is the card also has a “SmartDelay” benefit which gives you a lounge pass when your flight is delayed. Those lounges are listed at this link and do list restaurants https://loungefinder.loungekey.com/Pass
The benefit is found in the travel section: https://www.myvisacardportal.com/usbank/en_us/altitude/altitudeconnect/offer-detail.html#travel_perks/A856100
I could be wrong, but since you only get 4 entries per year it’s easy for them to limit restaurant abuse.
Is the SmartDelay benefit in addition to the 4 baseline lounge visits?
As far I can tell, yes. You have to register your flight in advance to even get smartdelay so I can’t see it consuming your 4 regular passes.
I’ve healed the card for a couple years now, yes, it includes restaurants
Any word on the future of the GigSky eSIM benefit? That has been awesome. It’s now offering 5GB free data worldwide every 30 days. Seems unlikely to be extended given the switch to no annual fee. Alas.
Gigsky ends 8/31/24. It’s in a footnote of the current application