The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect edges out the Southwest Premier for most cardholders — it wins on 4 of 4 comparison categories and offers 60,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Southwest Premier is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.
Southwest Premier vs U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- Southwest Purchases 3x
- Grocery Stores and Restaurants 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- Hotels 5x
- Car Rentals 5x
- Travel 4x
- Ride Share $25
- Priority Pass (~$200/yr)
- 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List statusAfter $5,000 spend
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect edges out the Southwest Premier for most cardholders — it wins on 4 of 4 comparison categories and offers 60,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Southwest Premier is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect tops out at 5x versus 3x for Southwest Premier. Current signup bonus values are roughly $850 for Southwest Premier and $900 for U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/southwest-premier-vs-u-s-bank-business-altitude-connect
- U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect wins 4 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect reaches 5x; Southwest Premier reaches 3x.
- Annual fee: U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect is $95/yr; Southwest Premier is $149/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $850 and $900.
Common Questions: Southwest Premier vs U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect
Is the Southwest Premier or U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect better for dining?
Southwest Premier earns 2x on dining; U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect earns 2x on dining. Southwest Premier wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Southwest Premier currently offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,000 in 3 months). U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect offers 60,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 6 months). U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the Southwest Premier and the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Southwest Premier is from Chase and U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect is from U.S. Bank, so they're governed by separate bank policies.