United Club 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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This section breaks down the key reasons why we're fans of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card.

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• It offers a high rewards rate on both travel and mobile wallet purchases, making it a strong earner for everyday spending.
• While the card comes with an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees and offers a substantial annual travel credit to help offset the cost.
• The $325 annual travel credit effectively reduces the $400 annual fee to just $75 if you maximize the credit (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Excellent rewards on all mobile wallet purchases, a standout feature in the premium card market.
• A generous annual credit for travel purchases and complimentary airport lounge access.
• Flexible point redemption, including the ability to instantly apply rewards to recent purchases via Real-Time Rewards.

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Cons

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• The card comes with a high annual fee that may be difficult to justify for those who don’t travel often.
• Reward redemption is less flexible than some competitors, with limited options for transferring points to airline or hotel partners.
• Applicants are required to have an existing relationship with U.S. Bank to be eligible for the card.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, depends entirely on your travel style and airline loyalty. Let's break down what kind of traveler each card is best suited for.

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• The United Club℠ Card - This is a premium travel card designed specifically for frequent flyers of United Airlines. It's best for travelers who want to maximize their benefits and enjoy an elevated experience when flying with the airline.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card - This card is a strong choice for frequent travelers who are also existing U.S. Bank customers. It particularly rewards tech-savvy users who make a lot of purchases with a mobile wallet.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel with the airline. This is best for travelers loyal to United who want to maximize their benefits within that ecosystem.

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U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: This card offers more flexible redemption options, allowing you to use points for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. Points are most valuable when redeemed for travel booked through the U.S. Bank portal.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card includes a full United Club membership, granting access to its lounges and those of participating Star Alliance partners. In contrast, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card provides a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which offers entry to a different, extensive network of global airport lounges.
• Travel Credits & Perks: With the United Club℠ Card, benefits are deeply tied to the airline, offering perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and other Premier Access services on United flights. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card takes a broader approach, providing flexible annual credits for travel and dining, plus a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
• Booking Portals: Cardholders of the United Club℠ Card book travel and redeem rewards primarily through the United Airlines ecosystem. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card features its own travel portal where points are worth more, providing flexibility to book travel with various airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them equally suitable for international travel and purchases made outside the U.S.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of credit cards and 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 transaction history before you apply, taking the guesswork out of your decision.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed breakdown of your chances of being approved for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved through the platform, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card’s regular earnings when you shop at participating stores.
• Financial monitoring: Keep track of your transactions, spending habits, and credit score in one place.
• Exclusive offers: Gain access to special promotions, such as the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding certain approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is tailor-made for the die-hard United Airlines loyalist, particularly those who fly the airline several times a year for business or leisure. These travelers will get the most value from the complimentary United Club membership, which provides access to a network of airport lounges, and other premium perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. It's also a strong contender for international travelers and those chasing MileagePlus Premier status, as detailed in a comprehensive review of the card's features.

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

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The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is tailored for existing U.S. Bank customers who are frequent travelers and can easily offset the $400 annual fee. Its value is maximized by tech-savvy users who consistently use mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, earning 3x points on those everyday purchases. These cardholders can then leverage the $325 annual travel credit and redeem points for 1.5 cents each toward travel, making this premium travel card a powerful tool for their lifestyle.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the airline-specific perks of the United Club℠ Infinite Card don't align with your travel habits, or the mobile wallet-centric rewards of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card feel too restrictive, other premium travel cards 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: You will generally need good to excellent credit for premium travel cards.
• Review eligibility rules: Some cards have unique requirements, like needing an existing relationship with the bank.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer spending requirement without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules: Some issuers have application limits or require an existing banking relationship.
• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.
• Be patient if searching: Try different browsers or incognito mode if you don't see the best offer at first.

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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What kind of lounge access does the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card provide?

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The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. This gives you access to more than 1,300 airport lounges and restaurants globally, but it does not include access to United Club lounges.

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Can I bring guests into the United Club?

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A United Club membership typically allows you to bring up to two adult guests, or one adult and your dependent children under 21, into the lounge with you. Policies can vary by location, so it's always a good idea to check ahead.

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Does a United Club membership grant access to other Star Alliance partner lounges?

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No, a standard United Club membership only provides access to United Club locations and select partner lounges. To access lounges operated by other Star Alliance airlines, you generally need to have Star Alliance Gold status.

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