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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($850 more in estimated value) than the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's. Get the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature first; revisit the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAlaska Airlines Visa SignatureU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Annual fee$95$0
Sign-up bonus70,000 miles + Companion Fare20,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$1,050$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$3,000 in 90 mo$1,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBank of AmericaU.S. Bank
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Alaska)3x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • Companion Fare annually
  • Free checked bag
  • 3x on Alaska
  • No foreign tx fees
  • 4X on travel
  • 4X at gas and EV stations (first $1k/quarter)
  • 5X prepaid hotels and cars via the Travel Center
  • No annual fee
Read the full review
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
$95/yr · 70,000 miles + Companion Fare
Read the full review
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · 20,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

The Companion Fare is the hook, $122 + taxes/fees to bring a companion on any Alaska flight, even international business class. If you fly Alaska once a year with a partner, this pays for itself many times over.

Editorial take: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

A no-annual-fee travel earner: 4X on travel and at gas and EV stations (on the first $1,000 per quarter) with a 20K welcome offer worth $200. Points are capped at 1 cent each, so treat this as cash-value travel earnings rather than transferable points.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + Companion Fare, worth roughly $1,050, versus 20,000 bonus points (~$200) on the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card.
Is the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
At $95/yr, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and U.S. Bank) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature: $3,000 spend in 90 months. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: $1,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.