U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power vs Bank of America Travel Rewards Business: Which Is Better?
A $195-a-year points card with lounge access versus a $0 flat-rate travel card with none. Six rounds. Real numbers. One honest scorecard.
The verdict
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power takes it, 3–2 on rounds.
These two cards pay nearly identical base rates, so the decision isn't about earning power at all — it's whether $195 a year in lounge access and expense tools is worth more to you than paying nothing.
Choose U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power if…
- • You travel enough to regularly use Priority Pass lounge access
- • You can clear $10,000 in spend within 120 days for the larger welcome bonus
Choose BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards if…
- • You rarely travel and want a $0 fee with no perks to justify
- • You're a smaller or newer business with a more accessible credit bar
Round by round
- Round 1Annual Fee vs ValueBofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards winsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power4/10
"Outsized annual fee given its rather limited perks"
- No foreign transaction fee
- $195/yr with no travel credit
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards8/10$0/yr
No fee; bundled travel accident insurance and lost-luggage reimbursement
- No foreign transaction fee either
- Base rate unremarkable without Preferred Rewards boost
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
This round goes to BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards.
- Round 2Welcome BonusU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power winsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power8/10
75,000 pts
Worth ~$750 after $10,000 spend in 120 days
- $250 more than Travel Rewards' bonus
- Needs $4,000 more spend to qualify
Source: US Bank Altitude Power dossier
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards7/1050,000 pts
Worth $500 after $5,000 spend in 90 days
- Half the spend requirement of Altitude Power
- $250 less total value
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
This round goes to U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power.
- Round 3Everyday Rewards RateU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power winsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power7/10
2X / 2.5X
2X uncapped everywhere, 2.5X on up to $5,000/quarter mobile-wallet spend
- Higher base rate than Travel Rewards outside its travel-booking lane
- Mobile-wallet 2.5X bonus capped at $5,000/quarter
Source: US Bank Altitude Power dossier
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards6/101.5X / 3X
1.5X flat rate, 3X only when booked through the BofA Travel Center
- 3X lane beats Altitude Power's 2X on Travel Center bookings specifically
- Base rate a third lower than Altitude Power's
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
So this round goes to U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power.
- Round 4Points Value & RedemptionTieU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power6/10
~1¢/point
No transfer partners; instant redemption via Real-Time Rewards
- Instant redemption at checkout
- No transfer partners for outsized value
Source: US Bank Altitude Power dossier
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards6/101¢/point
No transfer partners; flexible credit against any travel/dining charge
- Credit applies to any travel/dining charge, not preset categories
- No transfer partners either
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
This round goes to BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards.
- Round 5Perks & ProtectionsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power winsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power8/10
Priority Pass Digital
Complimentary lounge membership plus Spend Management expense tools
- Lounge access can outweigh the $195 fee for frequent flyers
- Expense management tools included
- No bundled trip insurance
Source: US Bank Altitude Power dossier
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards7/104 coverages
Travel accident, lost luggage, trip delay, trip cancellation — all free
- Broader protection bundle, no fee attached
- No lounge access
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
This round goes to U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power.
- Round 6Foreign Transaction Fees & Who It FitsBofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards winsU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power6/10
$0 / 720+
No foreign transaction fee; typically requires excellent credit
- Fits an established, travel-heavy business
- Higher credit bar, plus the $195 fee
Source: US Bank Altitude Power dossier
BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards8/10$0 / $0
No foreign transaction fee, no annual fee, more accessible credit bar
- Fits a wider range of businesses, including newer/smaller ones
- Shorter 0% intro APR window (7 cycles) than competitors' 9–12 months
Source: BofA Travel Rewards dossier
This round goes to BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards.
Which one is for you?
Business owner who travels often enough to use lounge access
→ U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power · Priority Pass membership can outweigh the $195 fee within a handful of trips
Business that can clear $10,000 spend in 120 days for the bigger bonus
→ U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power · 75,000-point bonus worth ~$750, higher than Travel Rewards' $500
Business that rarely travels and wants no fee to justify
→ BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards · $0 annual fee nets more value on routine domestic spend
Smaller or newer business with a lower credit bar
→ BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards · More accessible credit requirement, no $195 commitment
Side by side
- No foreign transaction fee
- Bonus points redeemable instantly via Real-Time Rewards
- No category management required
- Base 2X rate itself is fully uncapped
- No foreign transaction fee
- Redeemable for cash, gift cards, or Travel Center bookings
- 3x lane Cash Rewards lacks entirely
- Extra 3x lane benefits mid-tier members too
- $195/yr with no travel credit
- Needs $4,000 more spend than Triple Cash's bonus
- Lower than Triple Cash in its bonus categories
- No way to earn above 2X outside the mobile-wallet cap
- Base 1.5x rate unremarkable without Preferred Rewards boost
- Modest vs competing no-fee travel cards' bonuses
- 3x only applies through the BofA Travel Center
- Max multiplier needs $20,000+ balance held 3+ months