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In the premium credit card market, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and US Bank Altitude Reserve are some of the best travel credit cards available. They offer great credit card rewards, fantastic benefits, and some of the best travel protection benefits as well. But while they are some of the best credit cards, which credit card is better?
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34 comments
Great comparison! I've been eyeing the Altitude Reserve, but not sure I can wring all the value out of it since I already have the CSR.
I've been interested in getting the AR Card but US Bank doesn't allow me to create a bank account due to no branches (From Boston). Is there a way to get around this restriction?
Can the altitude sign up bonus be taken in cash instead of travel points?
I have both freedom cards so the CSR is for me.
If altitude has no transfer partners how do you redeem ?
A few questions:
1. How does booking rental cars through the two portals stack up?
2. If you book a rental through the US bank portal, do you still receive primary CDW? ( i do 2 or 3 3-4 day rentals a year so real time rewards wouldn't help due to high minimum)
3. Does real-time Rewards work with international travel providers (ex train stations in the UK)?
4. With the Altitude reserve, are the trip protections good if you pay for only part of the ticket (ex booking with airline miles, paying taxes with cc), or do you need to pay the entire amount of the ticket using the card? I have seen conflicting information on this, however as the terms, etc are not available online.
As a domestic economy traveler, I plan on getting the Altitude Reserve in November then downgrading my CSR , probably to a second Freedom. Then upgrade back to the CSR in two years when I get ready to go to Europe to take advantage of the increased protections/insurance.
1. Amex Platinum
2. US Bank
3. CSR
4. Literally Everything Else
5. CSP
I hate Samsung
But with that Us bank card using Samsung Pay
They have what is known as MST which tricks non contactless payment card readers into thinking a card was swiped
So effectively you get 3x on everything
Another great video Walter! I have the altitude reserve and as well as the CSR, and while the chase ecosystem is great with transfer partners, it's hard to beat the US rank travel portal! Through the US bank portal just got a plane ticket from Portland to Puerto Vallarta in January… Only 9k freaking points which is pretty awesome!
Great video…
Great video! I have been wanting a comparison of these 2 cards for a while now. I'm definitely leaning on getting an Altitude Reserve after I'm over 5/24 probably by the end of the year. I just received the Chase Business Credit Cards Trifecto over the last few months. My thinking is that I can use the Ink Preferred for 1.25 points transferred through the Chase Travel Portal when needed in addition to all of the travel protections that the card offers but benefit from the Altitude Reserve as my daily spend card. I have been banking with US Bank for several years now. Love that you are one of the few who are willing to proclaim your appreciation for the Altitude Reserve although everyone else is chasing after the most lucrative referrals. Your honesty and openness has not gone unnoticed and needs to be acknowledged more! Keep up the good work.
Solid video! I enjoyed the unbiased comparison of the two cards. I just think as long as Chase keeps the CSR at what it is now with no changes, the Altitude Reserve wins. Chase needs to update their Sapphire cards in my opinion. Happy travels Dustin.
You just have to spend $5500 a year on travel and dinning, OR make 15K points on your other chase Freedom / ink chase and ink / Unlimited, in a year, to justify the CSR.
As the for the AR. You just have to make $2500 in spend on tap and pay to justify it.
As long as you travel once per year and are willing to front load the cost of the annual fee of course.
That's $8K spend total. That's not hard over the span of a year. Can even churn out a few other sign up bonus and still keep it the total spend under $25k total.
I am Sorry,, but CHASE Sucks as a Institution– my opinion. I have respect for US Bank. Thank you, Awesome video, as usual!
Retention offers make the USB AR a keeper (if we keep seeing them).
10k = $150 in travel for $75 net annual fee = paid $75 to keep the card
Dream scenario: Korean Air^ gets added as a AR transfer partner 🙂
^ Note: USB owns the US card portfolio/relationship for Korean Air
Eh… I don’t think so. One HUGE downside of the US Bank portal is the fact that you can’t get your points back if your plans change. To me, that’s a non-starter. Also, no transfer partners? That’s not just a downer for aspirational travel it’s also a problem for economy travelers like me. I can easily get 2x to 4x my value in points with Hyatt, and can often find economy flights for 2x. The best selling point is 3x on e wallets though most online shopping doesn’t yet support this. And again: no refunds of points to me is a nonstarter.
Us bank doesn't accept ITIN number to apply for this card ..they want SSN which I'm not eligible to get one ..even discover it they only accept SSN ..stupid rules
I bank with US Bank. I have the CSR. It’s better for me.
Any tips how to consider taxes as you search without wasting crazy amounts of time when transferring points from amex or chase. Would love a video on which airlines charges the most taxes on award travel, of course it varies based on destination and price but I am assuming some airline charge more.
Have you ever tried adding an authorized user to U.S Bank?
You've just about talked me into the AR. I'm at 3/24 right now, so prob. will do 2 more Chase cards, then look over there strongly.
Rewatching CSR vs everything else videos now that the CSR annual fee is going up. Maybe a video about a CSR exit strategy is in the future?
CSR's travel credit works for the MTA in NYC, does anyone know if the AR's travel credit does too?
Does the priority pass access at least renew every year for US Bank or is it just valid for the first year? It still feels like a good deal when compared to Saphire preferred.
How does lounge access work for the Altitude reserve? I'm confused. It seems like you have to pay an annual membership of $99 after the first year. Is that true? And if so can your travel credit be used to pay for membership?
With the $100 af increase for the CSR that makes the AR even stronger for most people.
Since Chase-CSR increased the AF to $550 and USB-AR disappointed u recently, can us please re-compare these 2 cards one more time?
Or, adding a 3rd even 4th card comparing these altogether? Thanks and good luck!
Chases card just went up to 550dls, this might break the decition for me
Dustin, you should revist this video due to CSR annual fee increase. Maybe, you can do a 3 way comparision between USBank AR vs CSR vs Amex Green
hi Waller's Wallet! Thanks for all the awesome videos and your endless energy. QQ on US bank Altitude Reserve card: are the priority pass select membership and 12 gogo inflight pass only a year 1 benefits? they both disappear in year 2? thanks.
Have a different Chase credit card. Not impressed with their customer service. I am impressed with Amex customer's service.
Thanks Tim good video
While chase has a better priority pass and better overall insurance. But Altitude reserve is cheaper effective annual fee. Altitude Reserve also earns better. Altitude reserve is the one for me!!