U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® review

Not all businesspeople find themselves behind a desk. Whether flying for conferences or commuting to different work sites, travel can be just as important to a career as office supplies. With the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard, business owners and employees can get rewarded on most major travel expenses.

Cardholders earn 5X points on hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center online or in the mobile app. They also earn 4X points on general travel, including airfare, gas and EV charging stations (on the first $150,000 in combined annual spending).

On top of this, cardholders will still earn bonus points on dining and be able to enjoy perks that extend outside the airport, making it a great choice for a travel business card.

Why you might want the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard

This card can go a long way for frequent business travelers. Not only does it offer high bonus rewards for flights and gas, but it also has features that help manage your balance, such as ExtendPay and Pay Over Time. Here are a few additional perks to look out for:

Generous Welcome Bonus 

Cardmembers earn a limited time offer of 60,000 bonus points, worth $600, after spending $6,000 in the first 180 days, meaning you would have to spend roughly $1,000 per month. Not only is it high, but the time given to reach the minimum spend makes it more feasible for a variety of businesspeople, especially when considering that cardholders don’t have to worry about an annual fee for the first year,$95 thereafter . This bonus is perfect for a flight purchase or going toward a larger business expense.

Still, it’s not the highest out there. The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card offers $750 for the same minimum spend but in 3 months, much more rewarding for those with high expenses. Or, if you can see spending that much in the first few months of owning the card, there are other cards like the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card, that offers a more manageable welcome bonus.

Great travel perks 

On top of earning points for travel, cardmembers also receive a Priority Pass Digital annual membership. This gives you access to 1,300 VIP lounges across the globe along with four complimentary visits per year.

But this card isn’t only for frequent flyers. Cardmember receive a $25 statement credit after every three consecutive months of taxi or rideshares paid with the Business Altitude Connect.

Affordable annual fee

If you’re looking for a step up from a no-annual-fee card, this card is a great transition. There’s no annual fee for the first year and then goes up to $95. This means that you won’t have to worry about putting any of the welcome bonus towards covering a fee.

While this may cause some hesitation, it’s actually easy to offset if you take advantage of the four complimentary airport lounge visits per year along with the ride share statement credit. This helps keep the overall value steady, but if you find yourself unable to take advantage of these perks, the card may not live up to it’s full potential.

Transfer points with personal card

While it’s smart to keep your personal and financial earnings separate, it doesn’t mean you can’t use one or the other to your advantage. The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect helps you help yourself by letting you transfer points with a personal U.S. Bank Altitude card. This can be extra rewarding for those who spend more on either business or personal expenses but want to take advantage of all their points. This also comes in handy on last-minute expenses, whether a last-minute business trip or a new couch for your living room.

This perk can be handy if you have heavy upfront costs for your business and during busy seasons like winter holidays. So, whether you are dining out with friends or business associates, you can fully enjoy every point you earn.

Why you might not want the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard

While the U.S. Bank Altitude Business Connect does come with quite a few perks and benefits, it can fall short in other areas.

Too focused on travel

If you’re looking for more business-specific perks, you will likely be disappointed with this card as none of the bonus categories reward typical business expenses such as internet and cable service and office supplies. This can be tough if you’re establishing a business or hoping to earn cash back on recurring expenses. If you’re not a frequent traveler, you may want to skip this one.

Pretty high APR 

Even at its lowest point, the card’s 20.24% to 28.24% APR, it’s still just under the current average credit card interest rates and only goes up. It can be higher than quite a few cards in the business category and around this price point. There’s also the issue of the 32.24 penalty APR, which will last for at least six months when applied. When considering that this card doesn’t have an introductory APR offer, the interest can stack up quickly. For those who tend to carry a balance, it might be better to consider a card with a lower interest rate.

How does the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard compare to other business cards?

The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard is a step up from a no-annual-fee card with a great welcome bonus and travel perks like airport lounge access. However, this card is not the most versatile, and for business owners that don’t often travel, it may not justify the extra expense in the long run.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®	Ink Business Cash® Credit Card	Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Rewards rate 5X points on hotel and rental cars when booked directly in the Rewards Center. 4X points on travel, including airfare, hotels, gas and EV charging stations on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend. 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cellphone services 1 point for all other purchases.	Reward rate 5% cash back on internet, cable and phone services and at office supply stores ($25,000 in combined purchases per year) 2% cash back on gas and dining ($25,000 in combined purchases per year) 1% cash back on other purchases	Rewards rate 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar on all purchases
Welcome bonus  60,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first 180 days	Welcome bonus $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months	Welcome bonus 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months
Annual fee $0 first year, then $95	Annual fee $0	Annual fee $0 first year, then $95
Other things to know Access to Priority Pass airport lounges Complimentary travel services through Mastercard $25 statement credit for rideshares No foreign transaction fees	Other things to know Free employee cards with option to set individual spend limits Car rental insurance Purchase protection Redeem rewards for statement credits, direct deposit, travel and more	Other things to know No blackout dates Transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit roadside dispatch lost luggage reimbursement

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

A drawback of the U.S. Bank Business Altitude card is that most of the perks focus on travel over business. The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is the opposite, with cardholders earning 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services and 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 scent in combined purchases) each account anniversary year.

This is a good choice for small business owners who don’t often travel. The welcome bonus is also quite enticing with $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months. This can feel like a steep timeline for some, depending on the business’ monthly expenses. However, there is the added perk of being able to pool points with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, mirroring the U.S. Bank Business Altitude’s point transfer perk.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard vs. Capital One Spark Miles for Business

For those whose expenses vary from day to day, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business may be a better fit. The card earns 2 miles cash back on all purchases as well as 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. While this rewards rate may be a bit lower than the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect card, it also comes with a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles  — worth $500 in travel — when cardholders spend $4,500 in the first three months.

If you have high expenses that don’t necessarily fall into typical business categories, this can be a great option. Not only do you still get rewarded for travel, but you also have the added flexibility of a flat-rate rewards card. However, it can feel limiting to only be rewarded on travel booked through Capital One, especially if you find better deals on other sites or directly with airlines.

How to use the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard

• Use this card for all travel purchases
• Pay for Uber, Lyft and taxi rides to receive monthly statement credit
• Pair this card with a personal U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card to take advantage of the point-transfer benefit.
• Use Pay Over Time feature for larger purchases to avoid accruing interest.
• Use card overseas to avoid foreign transaction fees

Is the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard right for you?

This card is clearly for those who are always on the go. Between its bonus and heavy list of perks and protections, this card can make a great travel companion. The annual fee is waived the first year and goes to $95 per year afterwards. For frequent travelers who maximize the bonus categories and pay their balance in full each month, this card can easily be worth its price. However, this card can be tricky to take full advantage of if you tend to stick closer to home or the office.