U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Cardholders Not Getting Any Extra Perks During Pandemic
During the current pandemic, several credit card issuers have made changes to reflect the shift in spending habits for cardholders. This is especially noticeable for premium travel cards. These are cards that come with high annual fees and provide mostly travel related bonuses and benefits.
Amex, Citi and Chase
Amex for example added streaming and wireless credits to the Platinum Card among other things and Business Platinum cardholders received wireless and additional Dell credits. The Amex Hilton Aspire Card earns 12x at supermarkets and food delivery purchases count towards the $250 Hilton resort credit. The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Card earns 6x at supermarkets now and food deliveries count towards the $300 travel credit. Amex also increased earning for Delta cards. Citi made similar changes for the Prestige card, where supermarket and restaurant purchases count towards the $250 travel credit. Chase is offering a $100 annual fee credit for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and some extra earning on groceries, Dosh and Tock. Not as good as the rest of them, but still something.
US Bank
U.S. Bank also issues its own premium travel card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite. This card comes with a $400 annual fee and provides $325 in travel credits. But cardholders can’t really take advantage of those credits right now and U.S. Bank is not offering any options either. This is their reply to a question about possibly applying the travel credit to other purchases:
Thank you for contacting Cardmember Service via our website about your U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite(r) account ending in XXXX.
You receive travel credits for transactions directly with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines. We are unable to change the type of transactions that are eligible for travel credits. We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused you.
Additionally U.S. Bank has not been offering any partial credit either for cardholders, setting apart from other issuers.
Guru’s Wrap-up
If you could get some value out of premium travel cards right now, you probably would be more willing to renew. American Express especially has also been generous with retention offers, besides the added benefits. But seems like U.S. Bank is not budging at all. Let me know if you have received a different response from U.S. Bank.
If you haven’t used your U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite credits yet, loading your Uber Cash account is an option. Those credits can be used for Uber Eats as well. You can always book travel as well, if you have solid plans and are sure that they won;t be affected by the current pandemic.
