IHG One Rewards Premier vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Which Is Better In 2025?

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®.

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• Cardholders earn a strong 3x points on both travel and mobile wallet purchases, making it highly rewarding for frequent travelers and tech-savvy spenders.
• While the card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it offers a substantial $325 annual travel credit that is automatically applied to eligible purchases.
• The generous annual travel credit can effectively lower the card's annual cost to just $75 for cardholders who maximize the benefit (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers a high rewards rate on eligible travel and mobile wallet purchases.
• Comes with a suite of travel perks, including an annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
• Provides flexible redemption options, such as Real-Time Rewards and an increased point value when booking travel through the U.S. Bank portal.

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Cons

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• Carries a high annual fee that may be difficult to offset for those who do not travel frequently or use mobile wallet payments.
• Lacks direct point transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which limits redemption flexibility compared to competitors.
• Requires an existing banking relationship with U.S. Bank to be eligible to apply.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better IHG One Rewards Premier or U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve comes down to your specific travel style and loyalty preferences. Each card is tailored for a different type of traveler, making one a clear winner depending on your spending habits.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is best for travelers who frequently stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It focuses on maximizing rewards and elite status benefits within the IHG ecosystem.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium travel card ideal for earning rewards on general travel and mobile wallet spending. It offers more flexible travel rewards rather than tying you to a specific hotel brand.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for stays across IHG's extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts. While other redemption options exist, using points for award nights typically provides the most significant value for cardholders.

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U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: Rewards are highly flexible and can be redeemed as a statement credit for a wide range of travel purchases. Points can also be used for merchandise, gift cards, or cash back, giving cardholders multiple ways to leverage their earnings.

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Travel Perks

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• Airport Lounge Access: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card includes a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. In contrast, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card does not offer this perk.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither imposes a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
• Annual Credits: The Altitude Reserve card provides a flexible annual travel credit and a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The IHG Premier card also offers a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, but its main recurring benefit is an Anniversary Free Night certificate valid at IHG properties.
• Travel Ecosystem: With the Altitude Reserve card, you can book travel through the U.S. Bank rewards portal to get elevated value from your points. The IHG Premier card's ecosystem is centered on booking directly with IHG, where you can take advantage of benefits like the fourth-night reward on award stays.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive a Credit Card: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data before you apply with the Test Drive feature.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report to help you apply with confidence.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost Rewards: Earn additional rewards on top of your regular credit card points when you shop at your favorite stores.
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• Exclusive Offers: Unlock special promotions like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties, including brands like Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and Kimpton. It's particularly valuable for those who can maximize its key perks, such as the fourth-night-free benefit on longer award stays and the annual free night certificate that can easily offset the annual fee. Additionally, anyone who appreciates the immediate benefits of hotel elite status will find the automatic Platinum Elite status and its associated perks, like potential room upgrades and late check-out, highly appealing.

Who Should Choose the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®?

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The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who are also heavy users of mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This card offers a rare 3x points on mobile wallet purchases and a substantial $325 annual travel credit, making it easy for existing U.S. Bank customers to offset the $400 annual fee. Cardholders can maximize their earnings by redeeming points for 1.5 cents each toward travel, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve comparison didn't convince you, don't sweat it. There are plenty of other excellent travel cards to consider that might be a better fit.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review issuer requirements: Some cards have unique prerequisites, such as requiring an existing bank relationship before you can apply.
• Understand application rules: Be aware of any issuer-specific restrictions on the number of new cards you can open in a certain period.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application: Plan to apply before a large purchase to help meet the minimum spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Look for elevated offers: Public offers can vary, so search for the best available welcome bonus before you commit.
• Evaluate unique perks: Consider how you will use specific benefits like automatic hotel status or bonus rewards on mobile wallet purchases.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I hold both the IHG One Rewards Premier and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve cards?

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Yes, you can hold both the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card simultaneously. Since they are issued by different banks, having both can be a good strategy to maximize hotel-specific perks and flexible travel rewards.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on everyday spending?

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The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve generally offers a stronger return on everyday spending, particularly with its 3X points on mobile wallet purchases. The IHG One Rewards Premier card's earning structure is more specialized, focusing on IHG stays and select spending categories.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee. In contrast, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card carries a $400 annual fee, which is partially offset by its statement credits.

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