Points transfers to airline and hotel partners launched; Avianca LifeMiles added as fifth partner

no transfer partners → 5 partners (1:1 to Flying Blue, Qantas, Ethiopian, LifeMiles; 2:1 to Accor)

Around August 11, 2026 (date approximate), U.S. Bank switched on its first-ever points transfer program for Altitude Reserve cardholders without an announcement, roughly eight months after the December 2025 launch it had promised. Points transfer 1:1 to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles, and 2:1 to ALL Accor Live Limitless; Flying Blue and Qantas disappeared from the transfer page on August 12 and were restored on August 17 and August 27 respectively. On August 29, 2026, Avianca LifeMiles was added as a fifth partner at 1:1. The Altitude Reserve has been closed to new applicants since November 2024, and some holders of legacy FlexPerks Travel Rewards cards also report the option; no U.S. Bank card currently open to applications can transfer. Transfers run through a U.S. Bank-branded Points.com page reached from the Rewards Center.

What to do: Altitude Reserve holders with a balance: a 1:1 airline transfer beats the 1-cent Real-Time Rewards floor, but move points only with a specific award in hand.