Update 8/1/25: This is now confirmed at this link and in an email sent out today: 1) redemptions against travel is down to 1 cent-per-point; 2) $325 travel credit only works on Travel Center bookings, not on all Travel and Dining as before; 3) mobile wallet purchases only earn 3x on up to $5,000 each billing cycle. Changes effective on December 15, 2025.
Original Post 7/28/25:
There is an official looking image circulating showing negative changes to U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve.
- Card will earn 10x points on hotel and car rentals and 5x points on flights booked using the U.S. Bank travel center
- Ability to transfer points to other loyalty programs
- 5% discount on gift card redemptions
- Card will earn 3x on mobile wallet purchases on the first $5,000 each billing cycle, then 1x
- Points will be worth 1¢ when redeeming against travel (currently 1.5¢)
- $325 annual credit can only be used for travel through the travel center (previously available on all travel and dining purchases)
Our Verdict
Not surprised that this is being nerfed, but still disappointing. The addition of the travel transfers could make up for the fact that points will only be worth 1¢ but that depends on the travel partners.
my AF had posted Aug 1. Just called in to ask for retention offers like I do every year. surprising that this is the first time there was zero retention offer of points.
is real time rewards going away too?
Has the Global Entry credit been upped from $100 to $120?
Serious question – are there better cards to use as daily driver? Aside from US-only Smartly, this still seems like the best overall card with 3% cashback on any mobile wallet purchases. Virtually all of my in-person transactions are mobile wallet.
Understanding there are better rotating category and specific category cards (like 5% rotating or cards that give you 9% on gas, etc.)
I guess it depends how much one travels. Don’t forget this card has a $400 annual fee. until now you could get back $325 as statement credit for travel or dinning, but starting December that $325 credit applies only towards travel, which is a deal breaker for me since I don’t travel much.
I got the email finally confirming all the bad news.
Hopefully the $325 credit isn’t too annoying to use…
as mentioned on this blog, “) $325 travel credit only works on Travel Center bookings, not on all Travel and Dining as before” – that is pretty much useless to me.
P2 annual fee hit July 10. Called and no retention offer, and worse yet, was told there were no product changes possible (card has been open for multiple years)
Holy cow. So lame.
USBAR was the first ultra premium credit card I opened and the only one that’s been an easy decision to keep open every year. The card has actually gotten better over time with the addition of dining to the $325 annual credit, an increase in bonus points offers for spending on certain categories, and double cash back days for card linked offers. When I didn’t want to deal with the limited options of transfer partners this card shown above all others.
Very sad to see these changes. I seriously doubt their travel portal will have the weight of Cap One, Chase, Citi, or AMEX to offer any kind of premium booking benefits and I’ve had the worst website experiences with them compared to other banks. I don’t want another travel portal credit and definitely not through their website. Boo.
I never book through travel portals because #1 I have to book on the airline and hotel website for status. Losing 1.5x to 1.0x is annoying, but losing the $325 credit to being forced to use a travel portal effectively ends my 5 year relationship with this product when it renews in January. Thankfully they gave me until Dec 15th to burn my credits and end the product.
With this now the least they can do is allow to pool points from the Altitude Connect and Go and probably maybe some other cards
They upped the redemption rate on the GO card from $25.00 to $33.33. I’ll be ending this card’s relationship on the next cycle after redemption.
this is a big nerf, but at the end of the day, after everything else happening in the industry, what’s the better alternative? exactly, not much.
even though this was a travel card, RTR made it so easy that people treated it like a cashback card, and 4.5% was legit OP.
now, just like every other premium travel card out there, there’s some hoop to jump, whether it’s hunting for better than 1cpp, dealing with travel portals, coupon books, fine print on incidentals, etc.
for many people, 3% on everything tap for an effective $75 annual fee is still better than all the other alternatives.
But the $325 redemption on the travel portal is a card killer. I’d never use it. Period. I’m not giving up status just for a small redemption. I’m very loyal to my brand of airline and hotel, so I’d rather give up the credit and get the redemption because I don’t mind spending $325 if it gives me increased status with my loyalty program.