What happened
Existing U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve cardholders can now move points 1:1 to Air France-KLM Flying Blue after years of promised partners. Qantas Frequent Flyer and Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles take the same 1:1 rate. Accor Live Limitless is 2:1.
The product is not open to new applicants. Korean Air SkyPass did not make the initial list even though U.S. Bank issues SkyPass cards. ShebaMiles is an unusual partner. The lineup is small next to larger transfer programs, and more partners are not guaranteed.
Fixed redemptions already pay 1 cent per point, down from 1.5 cents. Flying Blue awards on domestic Delta Air Lines flights start at 5,000 miles each way, with Europe in business class from 60,000 points each way.
Price Flying Blue against the 1-cent redemption before moving a balance, as there is nothing to apply for until the product reopens or the list grows.
- Numbers
- 1:1 ratio: Flying Blue transfer ratio
- 2:1 ratio: Accor Live Limitless transfer ratio
- 1:1 ratio: Qantas Frequent Flyer transfer ratio
- 1:1 ratio: ShebaMiles transfer ratio
- 1 cent cents per point: current fixed redemption value
- 3 points per dollar: mobile wallet earn rate
- $5,000: monthly cap on 3x mobile wallet earning
- 5,000 miles: example Flying Blue Delta domestic one-way award
- 60,000 points: example Flying Blue Europe business one-way award
- Who qualifies
- Existing U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve cardholders; the card is not open to new applicants
- Takeaway
- If you still have the card, compare value at the four partners—especially Flying Blue—against 1-cent redemptions; there is nothing to apply for until the product reopens or the partner list grows.