United Explorer 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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Here’s a closer look at why we think the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is a top contender for travelers.

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• You’ll earn a high 3x points on two broad categories: travel and mobile wallet purchases.
• The card offers a generous $325 annual travel credit that is automatically applied to eligible purchases like flights and hotels.
• With a $400 annual fee, the $325 travel credit effectively lowers your net cost to just $75 per year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• High rewards rate on travel purchases and, uniquely, on all mobile wallet spending.
• A suite of premium travel benefits, including an annual travel credit and airport lounge access.
• Flexible redemption options, with the ability to use points instantly against recent purchases.

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Cons

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• Comes with a high annual fee.
• Points can't be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs, limiting redemption flexibility.
• You must have an existing relationship with U.S. Bank to apply for the card.

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

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Explorer or U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, comes down to your specific travel habits and spending patterns. Both cards offer compelling travel rewards, but they cater to very different types of users.

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• United℠ Explorer Card is best for frequent travelers, particularly those who regularly fly with United Airlines and want to take advantage of airline-specific perks.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium travel rewards card ideal for frequent travelers and tech-savvy spenders who often use mobile wallets for purchases.

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Redemption

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United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, offering the most value when used for flights with United and its partners.

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U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: Points offer flexible redemption options, including travel booked through the rewards center, cash back, and a unique feature that lets you redeem points instantly for purchases via text.

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Travel Perks

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• United℠ Explorer Card: This card is deeply integrated with the United Airlines ecosystem. Perks include two one-time United Club℠ passes annually, a free first checked bag for you and a companion on United flights, and priority boarding privileges. It also has no foreign transaction fees and offers a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: This card provides broader, non-airline-specific travel benefits. Cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for access to a global network of airport lounges. It also features an annual travel credit, a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee, and no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to cut through the noise of generic "best card" lists, Kudos offers a data-driven platform to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the optimal choice based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can "test drive" a card using your real spending data to see a personalized projection of your potential annual rewards, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Incentives and Guarantees: New members can access incentives like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ rewards and a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Personalized Matching: The platform analyzes your transaction history to provide personalized card recommendations that maximize your rewards.
• Comprehensive Management: Track your credit score, monitor transactions, and manage all your cards and their perks in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Explorer?

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The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent choice for frequent United flyers who travel at least a few times per year. The card's benefits, such as a free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion, can easily offset the annual fee after just one round-trip flight. Additionally, travelers who value expedited security screening and want to avoid foreign transaction fees will find significant value in what the United℠ Explorer Card offers.

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

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The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is best suited for frequent travelers who can maximize the card's travel benefits and tech-savvy individuals who regularly use mobile wallets for purchases. These cardholders can easily offset the $400 annual fee by taking advantage of the $325 annual travel credit and earning 3x points on both travel and mobile wallet spending. As this card is exclusive to existing U.S. Bank customers, it's a strong contender for those already in the bank's ecosystem looking for a premium travel card, as detailed in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the United Explorer vs. U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve comparison shows that neither card is quite right for you, don't fret. Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be a better match for your travel style and spending.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer requirements - Some cards require an existing relationship with the bank before you can apply.
• Assess your loyalty and spending - Ensure the card’s benefits align with the airlines you fly and your everyday purchase habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome bonus.
• Confirm eligibility rules - Some issuers, like U.S. Bank, may require an existing banking relationship before you can apply.
• Learn the benefit triggers - Understand what actions are required to activate perks, such as booking flights with the card itself.

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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Which card offers more flexible travel rewards?

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The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers greater flexibility, as its points can be redeemed for travel purchases in real-time, while the United Explorer card's miles are best used within the United Airlines and Star Alliance network.

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Do both cards provide airport lounge access?

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Yes, but the access they provide is different. The United Explorer card typically offers two one-time United Club passes each year, while the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve includes a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for access to a wider network of lounges.

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Are the annual fees for these cards comparable?

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No, the annual fees are quite different. The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve has a significantly higher annual fee, which is justified by its extensive annual statement credits for travel and dining.

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