U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Making Major Negative Changes

U.S. Bank’s premium travel card — the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card — is preparing a major shake-up to its rewards rates, rewards redemption terms and benefits. The changes are largely negative and represent a significant devaluation of the card, which was closed to new applicants in November 2024 but remains popular with existing cardholders.

The following changes will be effective Dec. 15, 2025:

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Curtailed benefits, lower point values

The Altitude Reserve currently earns an unlimited 3x points on mobile wallet purchases. However, starting Dec. 15, 2025, that rewards rate will be capped at $5,000 in spending per billing cycle. After that, the rate drops to 1x. While that's still a fairly generous spending cap, it's not the only negative change.

Also effective Dec. 15, 2025, the card’s annual $325 credit — the benefit that most helped to offset its $400 annual fee — will be valid only for purchases made through U.S. Bank’s Travel Center. As of now, the credit is much more versatile and can be applied to any eligible restaurant and travel purchases.

Point values for the Altitude Reserve are also dropping from 1.5 cents per point to 1 cent per point when redeemed for travel through the Travel Center. If you still have points on your Altitude Reserve account, consider redeeming them before Dec. 15, 2025, while they’re still worth 1.5 cents each.

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Some positive changes

The Altitude Reserve is improving on some counts, most notably through the addition of hotel and airline transfer partners. However, U.S. Bank said the names of the partners aren’t yet available.

Certain reward rates are increasing, too. The Altitude Reserve currently earns 5x points on hotels and car rentals booked in the Travel Center, but starting Dec. 15, 2025, the rate rises to 10x points for hotels and car rentals. At that time, the card will also earn 5x points on flights booked through U.S. Bank.

Also effective Dec. 15, 2025, some of the Altitude Reserve’s redemption options are getting enhanced. Select gift card redemptions will be eligible for a 5% discount, and redemptions for charity will receive a 100% match from U.S. Bank.

Another redemption option is through U.S. Bank’s Shop With Points program in which points are used to pay for Amazon purchases. According to a U.S. Bank spokesperson, cardholders will soon be able to redeem points for Amazon Fresh as well.

Despite some of these enhancements, many cardholders are sure to find it more difficult to justify the Altitude Reserve’s three-digit annual fee.

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