Why the Altitude Reserve is Amazing | BEST Luxury Hotel Credit Cards

[@ramonsuarez1051]

I live in Florida where they have no US Bank branches but I established a relationship by opening CD's. They assigned a personal banker to me and she gave me a code to use when I apply for credit cards, and I think that helped. The mobile wallets category is a game changer to me. If you're into smart money habits this is key. I get 3X points at places like Dollar General, Goodwill, and other thrift stores. You save money on saving money! I plan to make this my most used card.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Very cool Ramon! Yeah, that's a great way to get into the US Bank system if they don't offer it in your state. I agree, the mobile wallet category is so flexible, and it's super easy to redeem your points for every travel purchases at 1.5X! If you use tap to pay, this card is a must have!

[@isaiahlaufenberg]

Toss the code 🤣

[@Oatcrust18]

I had no banking relationship and I got approved for this card. My fico was 700

[@TheCreditFrog]

Congrats!🎉! It's nice when the approval is easy like that!

[@ProdChikara]

Damn, how many cards did you have open prior? and recent card openings around that time?

[@jakemercure]

Thanks for this Stan. I missed the live and am considering the USBAR. This helps a ton!

[@TheCreditFrog]

Of course Jake! Yeah, you’ve been very bullish on the USBAR recently. Definitely a great card to have! Still mixed data points on the best way to apply. Strategic vs YOLO, hah!

[@johnwick860]

hi, just checked seats aero... does transferring UR to Virgin Atlantic enables me to book via Virgin Australia Velocity? I see lots of availability either Aeroplan, Alaska, AA, Qantas & Virgin Australia, thanks

[@TheCreditFrog]

Hey, I’m not the best person to help you with that since I don’t do a lot of advanced travel redemptions. I would ask that question to Uncle Luke, Chad, or JP Knowledge, and they will have the answer for you!

[@davidlebron7471]

I have other US Bank cards. Can you pool the points between USB cards like you can with Chase? Also, the Kroger MC (US Bank) offers 5% on Mobile Wallet. Thoughts?

[@TheCreditFrog]

You can pool US Bank points between the Connect and Go, but not to the AR where it counts. The Kroger MC is a nice NAF option, but the low annual cap makes it harder to take as a serious card for everyday MW spending unless you have multiple versions of it.

[@Elricky124]

Anyone know of a refresh for the Altitude Reserve? It has been a while since big changes were made.

[@TheCreditFrog]

I sure hope not! You're right, they haven't refreshed it yet, but hopefully they'll keep it the way it is!

[@ScottSpanbauer]

What do you think about the travel insurance benefits? Do you have any feedback on how to make a claim? Do you go through Visa? How does this compare to the ease or customer experience compared to American Express? I had a bad experience with US Bank when I got the card (customer service gave me different answers depending on who I talked to about my sign up bonus). The card is great but I don't have any confidence in US Bank customer support. That's my only concern with using this card to cover travel. I love the card for the mobile wallet and use it frequently for that alone.

[@newagain9964]

US Bank tech is bad. The reps are friendly but of not much help. Even applying for bank and CC Accts was a chore! I’m not a fan.

[@TheCreditFrog]

I don’t really have any personal experience using travel insurances between VISA Infinite vs Amex. From just hearing from others, I think dealing the Amex is probably better, but luckily I’ve never had to file a claim before. US Bank was great during my recon experience for the USB AR. Very polite - and I got the card in the end!

[@ScottSpanbauer]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@oriocookie1988]

Best deal is the no fee Hilton card with a sign up bonus of 80,000 points and a free night reward. That right there alone is potentially $1,800 in value for a no fee card. It's a no brainer. They do the free night reward promotion once a year usually.

[@TheCreditFrog]

That's definitely a monster welcome offer!! Hilton FNAs are very valuable since they can be used at many properties without a point limit. It's definitely worth it to wait for an elevated offer, if possible.

[@thejokerspeaks]

Definitely a card I'm considering for next year, I'd just have to get used to paying with mobile wallet. Love how this and BILT are reinventing the game. BTW, how much do you value BILT status? I'll likely spend $16K - $24K on dining and travel alone, so it wouldn't take much extra spend on rent day to hit Gold. I could hit Platinum if I was determined, but it would be difficult to pair an extra $25K in business spend on these specific days, never over $5K, and hope my suppliers process on the desired day. I like the though of 1-2 "accidental" business charges instead.

[@TheCreditFrog]

US Bank Altitude Reserve is so 🔥! For Bilt status, I don't know if I'd go out of my way for it, but the transfer bonuses are pretty good with better status. A couple of months ago, there was a transfer bonus to Aeroplan with a 75% bonus with Blue status all the way up to 150% bonus with Platinum. You can spend up to $5,000 on rent day to get 10k Bilt points so I would try to target non-category spend on those days to meet the spend requirements for higher tiers. I'll probably end up with Silver status by the end of this year.

[@MMSTUDIOS5]

Can‘t wait to get this card. Thanks so much for all the good information.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Of course! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CesarJoel]

Congratulations 🎉 on reaching 10k subscribers brother!🫵 Keep up the great work!👍

[@TheCreditFrog]

Thanks so much César! Appreciate your great support along this journey!! Keep up the great work as well! 👊

[@15enric15]

Which high yeald saving account do you use ?

[@TheCreditFrog]

Ally Bank

[@sspringss2727]

​​@@TheCreditFrog mine going a bit further into detai?l

[@chatanp]

Don't forget about the $100 credit you get at Ritz-Carlton properties when paying with the RC Visa for paid stays

[@TheCreditFrog]

That’s true! I don’t normally pay for RC stays but it’s definitely a great perk on the times that I do!

[@chatanp]

@@TheCreditFrog- not to mention, it's an incredibly elegant card. Love your content...

[@TheCreditFrog]

@@chatanp Thanks so much!

[@eduardocaudillo6025]

I’ve been with US Bank for 6 years now and I am still shocked that not many people apply for the card, ask about the card, or even know about the card hahaha I love the feeling I get though when I show to clients the value I get with this card, especially after covid. If you ever need help with anything US Bank related Stan let me know! I would be more than happy to help! Keep the good content up!

[@TheCreditFrog]

That's awesome to hear that you work with US Bank! Yeah, every time I've interacted with a US Bank rep, they gush about the USBAR, and then I let them know that I have it too! I really appreciate you reaching out Eduardo, and yes, if I have any nuanced questions, I'll definitely reach out to see what your take is!

[@candiceabr]

I love your answers to the luxury hotel card question. I think the platinum card can be very helpful for travel even if only once or twice per year because the FHR and hotel collection give you such great perks. Also love that it comes with hilton gold and marriott gold. A free night cert is great but you still have to either pay cash or have enough points for the other nights if staying more than 1 night. I love having the Ritz card too but if I could only have 1 would probably choose the platinum. Luckily don't have to choose!

[@newagain9964]

I don’t think the return is worth it for 1-2 yr travel to hold plat…unless ur a Disney, equinox, Walmart heavy user also. VX or CSP is best travel cc for 1-2 folks

[@TheCreditFrog]

I agree. Platinum is definitely my main luxury travel credit card for all the reasons you mentioned, Candice! It’s also helpful that it gets elevated hotel status for Marriott and Hilton. FHR should not be underestimated, especially if you can get a great deal on top of the provided benefits and the $200 statement credit!

[@AngellT]

Two 2 night FHR bookings back to back using P1 and P2 Amex Plat cards is epic, especially if you stay at a nice Hyatt and stack GOH/Globalist on top of both of the bookings.

[@TheCreditFrog]

@@AngellT Another great way to use FHR! Thanks for sharing!

[@candiceabr]

Genius!!!! Love it!!!@@AngellT

[@johnwick860]

Hi, does closing a $0 AF on 1st yr on AMEX Delta Gold Business in the 2nd yr land me on AMEX popup jail? given that I only get the SUB and not pay the $150 AF on the 2nd yr? and in the future when I apply either for the Delta Platinum business or Delta Reserve Business, will AMEX not approve me? thanks

[@TheCreditFrog]

I don't know. Amex pop-up jail is hard to predict.

[@zsm5833]

If the US Bank ever raises the RTR redemption to 1.8~2 cpp a lot of ppl might ditch all those trifecta setups and get this card. And there’s a slight catch about USBAR in terms of mobile wallet spending. It might not work for restaurants, waiters/waitresses take your card for the bill and you end up don’t have the 3x multiplier.

[@NathanCashback]

Sure. Worst case scenario is 1x, 2nd worse is 1x and you get the statement credit for it.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Yeah, it'd be nice if it was higher, but 1.5X is on par with the CSR, and the USBAR is more flexible with the RTR. There's definitely that exception with restaurants, which is why I have another card (Bilt) dedicated specifically to use when dining out!

[@412foto]

you mention at the end getting gift cards to use the $50 quarterly credit. Can you confirm that doing so will trigger the credit?

[@TheCreditFrog]

I can't confirm it personally, but I've heard from others that have done this successfully.

[@412foto]

@@TheCreditFroggreat because quarter almost over

[@Milkinporsche]

Keep up the good work Stan, almost 10K subs!

[@TheCreditFrog]

Thanks so much! Appreciate your support Yue!!

[@thomasjohnson2916]

Going to apply for the card in two weeks already have the shoppers card .

[@TheCreditFrog]

Nice! Good luck with the application 🎉! That Shoppers card gets you that previous relationship.

[@34skyline]

I just open a US bank smarty Checking and the savings , I know you don’t need those accounts to get the reserve but the reason I got the checking and savings account because US bank is having a promotional $800 bonus, That’s going to help pay the annual fee for a few years but not applying just yet, There one more Chase card I want to get once I get that and finished the sub I will get the reserve

[@TheCreditFrog]

Awesome! That's the best time to apply for those accounts so you can grab the bonus. Definitely take your time, there's no rush to get the USBAR, but it definitely should be in your game plan somewhere down the line!

[@DugrozReports]

Love that card! 😅

[@TheCreditFrog]

Hah! You sure do! Especially after that monster appreciation offer!

[@DugrozReports]

@@TheCreditFrog Indeed!

[@PurpleDrazi]

6-12 months? Has US Bank changed things around? Have had my USB AR card for about two years now. IIRC, applied for the card just a matter of days after opening checking account eta: Nevermind, I watched the rest of the video 😉

[@TheCreditFrog]

Haha, yeah! I recommend 6-12 months of gardening, but certainly not required! Probably improves your chances though.

[@chrisoverbey5937]

I go 5/24 in about another 5 weeks. After that, my primary targets are this card and starting to climb the AMEX Hilton ladder

[@TheCreditFrog]

Hilton ladder is a great strategy! Personally, my favorite Hilton card is the Surpass.

[@ItsMeCJ]

Is it too late to be first????

[@chatanp]

@itsMeJC - you always first man!

[@TheCreditFrog]

Hahaha! You are first to say first again! So, again, I’ll allow it 🥇

[@jimmyjames6492]

🏆AMEX Hilton Aspire + CHASE Ritz Carlton🏆Thanks for the info + video!

[@TheCreditFrog]

Two awesome luxury travel cards!! You bet Jimmy James!

[@newagain9964]

If u fly little, no point to have ritz card tho. And by having aspire you’ve made urself a Hilton loyalist (or else u wasting money and opportunities). For a land based road warrior the plat prob is best card. Besides what Stan said, I’ll add there’s always hotel offers on card! Always!

[@yurig2530]

@@newagain9964Aspire is not about wasting money, it's about getting money.

[@Dudevegaslv]

Capital One Venture X beats both of them !

[@TheCreditFrog]

Depends on the situation!

[@Rhaegar7504]

Stan travels domestically. AR smokes the venture X for that.