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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Platinum
vs
US Bank Altitude Reserve.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

American Express

Amex Platinum

Annual fee

$695

Points

Membership Rewards

Signup bonus

175K points after $8K in 6 months (highest published)

Top earning rates

  • →5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel
  • →5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel
  • →1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)

Top perks

  • →$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)
  • →$200 airline incidental credit
  • →$200 Uber credit
See Amex Platinum detailsarrow_forward

US Bank

US Bank Altitude Reserve

Annual fee

$400

Points

FlexPerks

Signup bonus

50K points after $4.5K in 3 months

Top earning rates

  • →3x on mobile wallet purchases (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  • →3x on travel
  • →1x on everything else

Top perks

  • →$325 annual travel credit on travel and dining purchases
  • →Priority Pass lounge access
  • →TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
See US Bank Altitude Reserve detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Platinum wins if

Pick this if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits.

Honest downside: Weak everyday earner. The $695 fee only pencils out if you use the credits, otherwise it is the most expensive card to carry.

US Bank Altitude Reserve wins if

Pick this if you tap-to-pay everywhere with your phone. The 3x on mobile wallet is unique.

Honest downside: Closed to new applicants in 2024. Existing cardholders still benefit, but no new sign-ups.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex PlatinumUS Bank Altitude Reserve
Annual fee$695$400
Points currencyMembership RewardsFlexPerks
Signup bonus175K points50K points
Top earn category5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel3x on mobile wallet purchases (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Second earn category5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel3x on travel
Third earn category1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)1x on everything else
Signature perk$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)$325 annual travel credit on travel and dining purchases
IssuerAmerican ExpressUS Bank

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Platinum or US Bank Altitude Reserve?

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Amex Platinum wins if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits. US Bank Altitude Reserve wins if you tap-to-pay everywhere with your phone. The 3x on mobile wallet is unique.

Can I have both the Amex Platinum and the US Bank Altitude Reserve?

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Yes. These are issued by different banks (American Express and US Bank), so they don't conflict on application rules. Many travelers carry both to stack the strongest benefits from each card's ecosystem.

Which has the higher annual fee, Amex Platinum or US Bank Altitude Reserve?

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Amex Platinum has the higher annual fee at $695, compared to $400 for US Bank Altitude Reserve. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.