How do I activate the Altitude Connect travel insurance benefits?

Travel insurance benefits on the Altitude Connect activate automatically when you charge the full cost of common carrier transportation to the card. For trip cancellation and interruption, the prepaid ticket must be purchased with the Altitude Connect for the benefit to apply. Cell phone protection activates by charging your monthly wireless bill to the card, with coverage beginning the first day of the following calendar month. No registration or pre-enrollment is required for any benefit. The TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit of up to $100 every four years applies automatically when you pay the fee with the card.

Who is covered under my Altitude Connect benefits?

The primary cardholder is covered under all Altitude Connect insurance benefits. Immediate family members, including a spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under 22, are covered under Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. For trip cancellation and interruption, the benefit may extend to traveling companions when the trip is purchased together on the same card transaction. Confirm the specific terms with Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029 before travel if you have coverage questions about additional travelers. Cell phone protection covers the cardholder's devices registered on the monthly wireless bill paid with the card.

How does the Altitude Connect rental car coverage actually work?

The Altitude Connect provides secondary CDW (collision damage waiver) for rental cars. At the counter, decline the rental agency's CDW or LDW, then charge the full rental to the card. Coverage activates automatically for collision damage and theft up to the vehicle's actual cash value. Secondary means your personal auto insurer pays first on any damage claim; the card covers the remaining balance. Exotic vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, and passenger vans over 8 seats are typically excluded. Certain countries including Ireland, Israel, and Jamaica are also excluded under standard Visa Signature CDW terms. Call the benefit administrator to confirm coverage before booking a rental outside North America.

How do I file a claim with the Altitude Connect?

For trip cancellation and interruption, contact Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029 as soon as the incident occurs. You will need the original itinerary and card statement showing the charge, plus documentation of the covered reason, such as a physician's statement for illness or the carrier's written cancellation notice. For cell phone damage or theft, contact the Benefit Administrator at 1-866-894-8569 within 60 days of the incident (1-303-967-1096 from outside the US). A police report is required for stolen phones and must be filed within 48 hours of the theft. Submit the completed claim form and all documentation within 90 days. File the day the event happens, not when you return home.

What does the Altitude Connect not cover?

The Altitude Connect does not cover emergency medical expenses abroad, emergency evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, or travel accident insurance. Trip cancellation applies to prepaid common carrier transportation costs only: hotel deposits, tour fees, and activity prepayments are excluded from the benefit. The rental CDW is secondary, not primary, meaning your personal auto insurer is involved in any damage claim. Cell phone protection excludes mysterious disappearance (a phone that vanishes without evidence of theft or physical damage). Purchase protection and extended warranty are not included with this card. For international travel with significant non-refundable hotel and activity bookings, the travel coverage gaps are material.

Do I need separate medical insurance if I have the Altitude Connect?

Yes. The Altitude Connect does not include emergency medical coverage abroad. The Travel and Emergency Assistance Services benefit coordinates referrals to local doctors and hospitals, but all medical costs are the cardholder's full financial responsibility. A single emergency room visit in Europe or Japan can run $5,000 to $60,000. A serious hospitalization can exceed $100,000. If you travel internationally, a standalone travel medical policy covering at least $100,000 per person is strongly advisable. Annual multi-trip plans start around $100 to $150 per person for healthy adults. This is the most significant coverage gap on the Altitude Connect for international travel.

Is the US Bank Altitude Connect still a good travel card at $0 annual fee?

For travel protection, the Altitude Connect offers real value at no annual cost: $2,000 trip cancellation per person, $300 trip delay after 12 hours, secondary rental CDW, and $600 cell phone protection. The coverage gaps are significant, specifically no emergency medical coverage abroad and no lost luggage protection, but those gaps are common across no-annual-fee travel cards. For domestic travel or short international trips with flexible bookings, the protection is above average for a $0 card. For international trips with large non-refundable hotel and tour expenses, consider a supplemental travel policy or a premium card with medical coverage alongside this one.

Does the Altitude Connect cell phone protection cover a cracked screen?

Yes, a cracked screen qualifies as physical damage under the Altitude Connect cell phone protection benefit. The benefit reimburses up to $600 per claim after a $100 deductible, with a limit of one claim per 12 months. If the phone is repairable, the benefit pays the repair cost up to the cap minus the deductible. If the phone requires replacement, the benefit pays the lesser of the carrier's suggested retail value for a similar model or the actual replacement cost, less the $100 deductible. Your monthly wireless bill must be charged to the Altitude Connect for the billing cycle before the month the damage occurs. Contact the Benefit Administrator at 1-866-894-8569 to file a claim within 60 days.

What benefits does the US Bank Altitude Connect card actually cover?

U.S. Bank·$0/year·Visa Signature·Virginia Surety Company (Assurant)

Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviewsUpdated June 11, 20268 min read

1,7/5Independent review · verified June 2026

Travel Insurance

1,2

Car Rental

3,2

Protection

0,8

Our Verdict · Travel Insurance

Our take on travel insurance for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews

$2,000 trip cancellation per person, transport costs only. No emergency medical coverage. That second gap is the most significant financial risk this card leaves open for international travelers. The cancellation benefit through Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) covers prepaid common carrier costs: flights, trains, and bus tickets. Hotel deposits, tour fees, and activity payments fall outside this benefit, regardless of the cancellation reason. Trip delay pays up to $300 for lodging and meals after a 12-hour delay, a high bar compared to the 6-hour threshold on most premium travel cards. Most cardholders reviewing the US Bank Altitude Connect benefits assume trip cancellation covers all prepaid expenses. The VSC terms say otherwise: common carrier costs only. Standalone travel insurance covering $5,000 in trip cancellation and $100,000 in emergency medical starts around $150 per year. If you travel internationally with significant non-refundable bookings, that cost is hard to skip. Filing a claim goes through Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029. Have the original itinerary, card statement showing the charge, and documentation of the covered reason ready before you call. File the day the incident happens, not the day you get home. If your trips are domestic with flexible lodging, the card's coverage is probably enough. If you travel internationally with large prepaid non-refundable expenses, the coverage gap is real.

What works on travel

$2,000 trip cancellation per person: covers prepaid common carrier tickets for covered reasons including illness. No annual fee for this protection.
$2,000 trip interruption per person: same covered reasons as cancellation. Covers prepaid transportation costs to return home early.
$300 trip delay benefit: kicks in after a 12-hour delay and covers lodging and meals during the wait.
$0 annual fee since September 2024: these travel protections come at no yearly cost, unusual for a card with real insurance coverage.

Where travel breaks down

Trip cancellation covers common carrier costs only: hotel deposits, tour fees, and activity prepayments are excluded from the benefit regardless of cancellation reason.
No emergency medical coverage abroad: Travel and Emergency Assistance provides referrals only. All medical costs fall directly on the cardholder.
12-hour delay trigger for trip delay: one hour short of that threshold and nothing is reimbursed. Most cardholders expect a 6-hour trigger.
No lost luggage, no baggage delay, no travel accident coverage: these are standard benefits on cards in the $95 annual fee range.

Our methodology

Every score is derived from official bank documents: terms and conditions, benefit guides, and claim procedures. No commercial relationship influences our ratings.

Travel Insurance · 11 guarantees

What does U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Travel Insurance actually cover?

Common Carrier only scope means your prepaid hotel, vacation rental, and activity fees are not reimbursable regardless of why you cancel. A $1,500 hotel deposit stays at the cardholder's loss.

Deductible : No deductible

Trip cancellation covers prepaid common carrier transportation costs charged to the Altitude Connect, up to $2,000 per person per covered trip. Coverage applies to flights, trains, and intercity bus tickets. Hotel deposits, tour fees, and activity prepayments are explicitly outside this benefit. Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) administers claims at 1-800-992-6029.

Recommended : $10,000

What's covered

Death or serious illness of the covered traveler or immediate family member
Severe weather or natural disaster at destination
Financial insolvency of the common carrier

What's not covered

Hotel reservations, tours, and activity deposits are not covered regardless of cancellation reason
Fear of travel without a qualifying covered event
Pre-existing conditions within the standard definition period

No emergency medical insurance in this Guide to Benefits. Every dollar of any hospital bill abroad is yours. A serious ER visit in Japan or Europe runs $10,000 to $80,000.

No emergency medical coverage abroad. Travel and Emergency Assistance provides referrals to local doctors and hospitals only. All medical costs are the cardholder's responsibility.

What's not covered

All emergency medical expenses abroad: no coverage under this card

Travel and Emergency Assistance arranges transport only. A transoceanic air ambulance runs $200,000 or more. All costs are the cardholder's responsibility.

No emergency evacuation coverage. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services coordinates transportation logistics as a referral service only. All evacuation and transport costs are the cardholder's responsibility.

What's not covered

All emergency evacuation and repatriation costs: no coverage under this card

Deductible : No deductible

Trip interruption covers prepaid transportation costs to return home early, up to $2,000 per person. The same covered reasons as trip cancellation apply. Coverage is limited to common carrier transportation costs.

Recommended : $10,000

What's covered

Death or serious illness of the covered traveler or immediate family member
Severe weather or natural disaster preventing travel
Financial insolvency of the common carrier

What's not covered

Hotel, tour, and activity costs not reimbursed
Pre-existing conditions within the standard definition period

The 12-hour delay trigger means an 11-hour delay produces zero reimbursement. Most premium travel cards trigger at 6 hours.

Deductible : No deductible

Trip delay covers reasonable lodging and meal expenses up to $300 when a common carrier delay reaches 12 continuous hours. Transportation costs during the delay period are not covered. An 11-hour delay produces no reimbursement under this benefit.

Recommended : $500

What's covered

Reasonable lodging during the delay period
Reasonable meal expenses during the delay period

What's not covered

Delays under 12 hours produce no coverage regardless of actual expenses
Transportation costs incurred during the delay
Expenses reimbursed by the common carrier

No missed connection coverage. This benefit is not included with the Altitude Connect. If a delayed inbound flight causes a missed connection, rebooking costs and expenses are not covered. Last-minute rebooking on a missed international connection can cost $300 to $800.

What's not covered

All missed connection costs: no coverage under this card

No early return benefit. Additional transportation costs from cutting a trip short are not reimbursed beyond what trip interruption covers for common carrier tickets. A last-minute one-way flight home can cost $800 to $2,000.

What's not covered

All early return transportation costs beyond common carrier ticket reimbursement

No baggage delay coverage. This benefit is not included with the Altitude Connect. Essential purchases during a baggage delay are the cardholder's full financial responsibility. A 48-hour delay can require $300 to $500 in clothing and toiletries.

What's not covered

All baggage delay expenses: no coverage under this card

No lost or stolen baggage coverage. If luggage is permanently lost or stolen in transit, the airline's liability limit is the only recourse ($3,800 domestic, approximately $1,900 international). A checked bag with $2,000 in belongings would be unrecovered above the airline cap.

What's not covered

All lost or stolen baggage costs beyond airline liability: no coverage under this card

No travel accident insurance. This benefit is not included with the Altitude Connect. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage for travel incidents is not provided by this card.

What's not covered

All travel accident AD&D benefits: not listed in this Guide to Benefits

No hotel theft protection. Personal belongings stolen from your hotel room are not covered by this card. Electronics and valuables left in a hotel room can total $1,000 to $3,000 with no recourse if stolen.

What's not covered

All hotel room theft: no coverage under this card

Policy document

We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?

Report an error Send updated PDF

Coverage Radar

Where the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect wins, where it loses

Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.

Compare

Altitude ConnectThis card1.7/5?

$0/yr

With travel insuranceIdeal

Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5

Premium card avg.

$150 avg. annual fee

Click a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.

Side-by-side comparison

How the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect stacks up against the alternatives

Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Altitude Connect shoppers also consider.

Card	This card Altitude Connect U.S. Bank · $0/yr 1.7/5?	Altitude Reserve U.S. Bank · $400/yr 3.0/5?	Aeroplan Chase · $95/yr 3.2/5?	Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr 3.9/5?
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap	$2,000 per person Common Carrier costs only	$2,000 per person Common carrier costs only	$1,500 per person All prepaid travel	$10,000 per person 13 covered reasons
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad	Not covered Cover this gap →	Not covered	$2,500 Reimbursement only	$2,500 \| $50 deductible $50 deductible
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation	Not covered Cover this gap →	$10,000 Pre-authorization required	$100,000 Pre-auth required	$100,000 \| pre-auth required Pre-authorization required
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in	12h / $300 Trigger: 12 hours	6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours	12h / $500 Trigger: 12 hours	$500 after 6 hours Trigger: 6 hours
Trip interruption Covered amount	$2,000 per person Common Carrier costs only	$2,000 per person Common carrier costs only	$1,500 per person All prepaid travel	$10,000 per person Shared limit with cancellation

StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered

Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.

Cardholder reviews

What cardholders say about the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Real experiences on travel protection and claims 47 reviews

AwardWallet user review

2024

Trip cancellation paid out clean

Had to cancel a flight due to illness. Trip cancellation worked. Submitted a doctor's note and airline receipt, got $1,400 back for the two tickets. Clean process with Virginia Surety.

CardRatings

2024

12-hour delay trigger cost me a reimbursement

The 12-hour delay trigger for Trip Delay is painful. I was stuck 11 hours, one hour short. No reimbursement for the hotel I had to book. The Chase Sapphire Preferred triggers at 12h too, but the Reserve is 6h. You'd need to upgrade for that.

PointsGeek forum

2023

No lost luggage coverage is a real gap

No lost luggage coverage is a real gap. My bag was sent to the wrong city and I couldn't claim anything for the items I had to buy. The Altitude Reserve would have covered me. This card is a step down.

US Claims & Assistance

1-800-397-9010

24/7

International Assistance

collect: +1-303-967-1093

Collect calls accepted · 24/7

Benefit administrator: Virginia Surety Company (VSC) for Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Delay, CDW: 1-800-992-6029 | Indemnity Insurance Company of North America for Cell Phone Protection: 1-866-894-8569 (collect: 1-303-967-1096)

Claims & pre-authorizations

How to file a US Bank Altitude Connect claim

Step 1: Notify the right administrator immediately

For trip cancellation, interruption, trip delay, or rental CDW: call Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029 as soon as the incident occurs. For cell phone damage or theft: call 1-866-894-8569 (collect: 1-303-967-1096) within 60 days of the incident. For travel and emergency assistance (referrals only): call 1-800-397-9010 or collect 1-303-967-1093, available 24/7.

Step 2: Gather your documentation

For trip cancellation: original itinerary, card statement showing the Common Carrier charge, documentation of covered reason (physician statement, death certificate, or carrier cancellation notice), confirmation of non-refundable amounts. For cell phone: copy of your wireless bill showing the Altitude Connect payment, device summary page, and for theft a police report filed within 48 hours of the theft. For CDW: rental agreement, accident report, and repair estimate.

Step 3: Submit within the deadline

Trip cancellation documents: submit within 90 days of cancellation. Cell phone protection: return completed claim form and documentation within 90 days of damage or theft. Reimbursement for cell phone claims takes approximately 10 business days after VSC receives complete documentation. File the day the incident happens, not when you return home.

Travel insurance benefits on the Altitude Connect activate automatically when you charge the full cost of common carrier transportation to the card. For trip cancellation and interruption, the prepaid ticket must be purchased with the Altitude Connect for the benefit to apply. Cell phone protection activates by charging your monthly wireless bill to the card, with coverage beginning the first day of the following calendar month. No registration or pre-enrollment is required for any benefit. The TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit of up to $100 every four years applies automatically when you pay the fee with the card.
The primary cardholder is covered under all Altitude Connect insurance benefits. Immediate family members, including a spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under 22, are covered under Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. For trip cancellation and interruption, the benefit may extend to traveling companions when the trip is purchased together on the same card transaction. Confirm the specific terms with Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029 before travel if you have coverage questions about additional travelers. Cell phone protection covers the cardholder's devices registered on the monthly wireless bill paid with the card.
The Altitude Connect provides secondary CDW (collision damage waiver) for rental cars. At the counter, decline the rental agency's CDW or LDW, then charge the full rental to the card. Coverage activates automatically for collision damage and theft up to the vehicle's actual cash value. Secondary means your personal auto insurer pays first on any damage claim; the card covers the remaining balance. Exotic vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, and passenger vans over 8 seats are typically excluded. Certain countries including Ireland, Israel, and Jamaica are also excluded under standard Visa Signature CDW terms. Call the benefit administrator to confirm coverage before booking a rental outside North America.
For trip cancellation and interruption, contact Virginia Surety Co. (VSC) at 1-800-992-6029 as soon as the incident occurs. You will need the original itinerary and card statement showing the charge, plus documentation of the covered reason, such as a physician's statement for illness or the carrier's written cancellation notice. For cell phone damage or theft, contact the Benefit Administrator at 1-866-894-8569 within 60 days of the incident (1-303-967-1096 from outside the US). A police report is required for stolen phones and must be filed within 48 hours of the theft. Submit the completed claim form and all documentation within 90 days. File the day the event happens, not when you return home.
The Altitude Connect does not cover emergency medical expenses abroad, emergency evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, or travel accident insurance. Trip cancellation applies to prepaid common carrier transportation costs only: hotel deposits, tour fees, and activity prepayments are excluded from the benefit. The rental CDW is secondary, not primary, meaning your personal auto insurer is involved in any damage claim. Cell phone protection excludes mysterious disappearance (a phone that vanishes without evidence of theft or physical damage). Purchase protection and extended warranty are not included with this card. For international travel with significant non-refundable hotel and activity bookings, the travel coverage gaps are material.
Yes. The Altitude Connect does not include emergency medical coverage abroad. The Travel and Emergency Assistance Services benefit coordinates referrals to local doctors and hospitals, but all medical costs are the cardholder's full financial responsibility. A single emergency room visit in Europe or Japan can run $5,000 to $60,000. A serious hospitalization can exceed $100,000. If you travel internationally, a standalone travel medical policy covering at least $100,000 per person is strongly advisable. Annual multi-trip plans start around $100 to $150 per person for healthy adults. This is the most significant coverage gap on the Altitude Connect for international travel.
For travel protection, the Altitude Connect offers real value at no annual cost: $2,000 trip cancellation per person, $300 trip delay after 12 hours, secondary rental CDW, and $600 cell phone protection. The coverage gaps are significant, specifically no emergency medical coverage abroad and no lost luggage protection, but those gaps are common across no-annual-fee travel cards. For domestic travel or short international trips with flexible bookings, the protection is above average for a $0 card. For international trips with large non-refundable hotel and tour expenses, consider a supplemental travel policy or a premium card with medical coverage alongside this one.
Yes, a cracked screen qualifies as physical damage under the Altitude Connect cell phone protection benefit. The benefit reimburses up to $600 per claim after a $100 deductible, with a limit of one claim per 12 months. If the phone is repairable, the benefit pays the repair cost up to the cap minus the deductible. If the phone requires replacement, the benefit pays the lesser of the carrier's suggested retail value for a similar model or the actual replacement cost, less the $100 deductible. Your monthly wireless bill must be charged to the Altitude Connect for the billing cycle before the month the damage occurs. Contact the Benefit Administrator at 1-866-894-8569 to file a claim within 60 days.