The Ultimate Capital One Venture X Review: Unlock Premium Travel Rewards

Hi Credit card lovers,

If you love to travel and want a credit card that offers premium rewards, the Capital One Venture X might be perfect for you. This card is packed with benefits that can make your trips more enjoyable and less expensive. From earning miles on every purchase to enjoying access to exclusive airport lounges, the Venture X card offers plenty of perks for frequent travelers. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at what makes the Capital One Venture X card stand out, its costs, and how to maximize its rewards.

Key Takeaways

• 75,000-Mile Welcome Bonus: Get a hefty bonus after opening your account.
• Annual Fee: $395, offset by valuable perks.
• Lounge Access: Enjoy over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and Capital One Lounges.
• Travel Perks: Includes credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and Hertz President’s Circle status.
• Extra Benefits: $300 annual travel credit and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus.

Welcome Offer

The Capital One Venture X card greets you with a fantastic welcome offer: 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. These miles are worth $750 when redeemed for travel through the Capital One Travel portal, but they can be even more valuable if you transfer them to one of Capital One’s travel partners.

Here are some tips to help you reach that spending goal:

• Prepay Bills: Prepay upcoming expenses like utility bills, phone bills, or insurance premiums.
• Plan Big Purchases: Time your larger buys, like appliances or electronics, to align with your new card.
• Everyday Expenses: Use your Venture X card for groceries, dining, gas, streaming services, and all your daily adventures to accumulate miles without even thinking about it.

By smartly managing your spending, you can unlock the welcome bonus and start your travel rewards journey on a high note.

Annual Fee Breakdown

The Capital One Venture X card comes with a $395 annual fee, which might seem high at first glance. However, the card offers several benefits that can help offset this cost and even provide more value.

• $300 Annual Travel Credit: You get $300 in statement credits every year for travel bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal. This credit alone covers a significant portion of the annual fee.
• 10,000 Mile Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your account anniversary, you receive 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 when redeemed for travel.

When you add these benefits together, they effectively reduce the annual fee to just $95. But considering you get the $100 value from the 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, you can actually come out $5 ahead. If you’re a frequent traveler, the perks and credits can turn this fee into a valuable investment in your travel experiences.

Rewards Structure

The Capital One Venture X card offers a robust rewards structure that makes it easy to earn miles on all your purchases:

• Everyday Spending: Earn 2x miles on all other purchases, making it simple to accumulate rewards on your day-to-day expenses.
• Travel Bookings:
  • Hotels and Rental Cars: Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
  • Flights: Earn 5x miles on flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal.

This is an easy catch-all card. It means that whether you’re booking a flight, renting a car, or buying groceries, you’re constantly earning miles for future travel.

Capital One has over 15 transfer partners, including airline and hotel partners, allowing you to maximize the value of your miles by transferring them for flights and stays. This flexibility makes the Venture X a powerful tool for travelers looking to maximize their credit card rewards.

Lounge Access and Travel Perks

The Capital One Venture X card unlocks a world of premium travel benefits, ensuring your journeys are as seamless and enjoyable as possible:

• Priority Pass Select Membership: Gain unlimited complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through the Priority Pass Select program. Relax, recharge, and enjoy complimentary amenities like food, beverages, Wi-Fi, and more.
• Capital One Lounges: Experience the ultimate in airport luxury with unlimited complimentary access to Capital One’s own exclusive lounges. These havens offer upscale amenities, local cuisine, craft cocktails, and dedicated workspaces.
• Plaza Premium Lounges: Venture X cardholders also enjoy unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounges, further expanding your lounge options worldwide.
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses: Venture X cardholders receive complimentary access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses when flying on Virgin Atlantic.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Receive up to $100 in statement credits to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, expediting your airport security experience.
• Hertz President’s Circle Status: Enjoy top-tier benefits with Hertz, including complimentary upgrades, exclusive discounts, and expedited service. *This benefit will expire on December 31, 2024.

With these exceptional perks, the Capital One Venture X card transforms your airport experience into a relaxing retreat, ensuring you arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for your next adventure.

Travel Protections

The Capital One Venture X card offers a robust suite of travel protections, safeguarding your trips and providing peace of mind:

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered reasons like illness, severe weather, or jury duty, you may be reimbursed for non-refundable travel expenses.
• Travel Accident Insurance: This coverage provides financial assistance in the event of accidental injury or death while traveling on a common carrier (e.g., plane, train, bus) when the fare was purchased with your Venture X card.
• Lost or Delayed Baggage Insurance: If your checked or carry-on luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed, you can be reimbursed for the cost of essential items and replacement baggage.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your trip is delayed for six hours or more due to a covered reason like bad weather or equipment failure, you can be reimbursed for expenses like meals, lodging, and transportation.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (Primary Coverage): When you use your Venture X card to pay for your entire rental car, you’re automatically covered for damage or theft of the rental vehicle with primary coverage. This means you can avoid filing a claim with your personal auto insurance and save on potential premium increases. Coverage includes up to the actual cash value of the rental car for physical damage and theft, reasonable loss of use charges, and towing charges.

How the Protections are Activated:

• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: This coverage is triggered when you use your Venture X card to pay for a significant portion of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, or tour packages. If you use miles for part of the cost and cover the rest with your Venture X card, you may still be eligible, provided the portion paid with the card meets the minimum requirement.
• Travel Accident Insurance: Activated when you use your Venture X card to pay for the entire fare of a common carrier ticket (e.g., plane, train, bus). Using miles for part of the fare and paying the rest with your card may still qualify you, depending on the terms.
• Lost/Delayed Baggage Insurance: This coverage is activated when you use your Venture X card to pay for the entire fare of a common carrier ticket. If you use miles for part of the fare and pay the rest with your card, you may still be eligible, depending on the specific terms.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: Triggered when your common carrier travel is delayed for six hours or more due to a covered reason, and you used your Venture X card to pay for the entire fare. If you use miles for part of the fare and cover the rest with your card, you may still be eligible.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (Primary Coverage): This coverage activates when you use your Venture X card to pay for the entire rental car and decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental car company. If you use miles or another payment method for part of the rental, this coverage may not apply.

When the Protections are NOT Activated:

• Not Using the Venture X Card: If you don’t use your Venture X card to pay for eligible travel expenses, the protections will not be activated.
• Not Meeting Eligibility Requirements: Each protection has specific eligibility requirements. For example, trip cancellation/interruption insurance requires that a significant portion of the trip be prepaid and non-refundable.
• Exclusions: Each protection has certain exclusions, such as pre-existing medical conditions or travel to high-risk destinations. Refer to the card’s Guide to Benefits for a complete list of exclusions.

Important Considerations:

• Read the Fine Print: Always carefully review the terms and conditions of each travel protection in the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Guide to Benefits. The specific requirements for using miles in conjunction with the card to activate coverage may vary.
• Contact Capital One: If you have specific questions about using miles and travel protections, contact Capital One customer service for clarification and guidance.

By understanding the terms and conditions and using your card strategically, you can maximize the travel protections offered by the Capital One Venture X card, even when using miles for part of your travel expenses.

Comparison with Other Premium Cards

Before diving into a detailed comparison, let’s recap the highlights of two other popular premium travel cards: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®:

Renowned for its robust travel and dining rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 3x points on travel and dining worldwide, a $300 annual travel credit, and access to over 1,300 Priority Pass™ lounges. It also provides valuable perks like a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®, complimentary Lyft Pink membership, and DoorDash credits. The annual fee is $550.

The Platinum Card® from American Express:

The Amex Platinum Card® stands out for its unparalleled lounge access, including the exclusive Centurion Lounge network and Delta Sky Clubs, as well as access to Priority Pass™ lounges. It boasts a high earning rate of 5x Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel and on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It offers a variety of statement credits, such as up to $200 for airline incidental fees and up to $200 for Uber rides, as well as complimentary hotel elite status with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold. The annual fee is $695.

Now, let’s see how the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stacks up against these premium options:

Feature	Capital One Venture X	Chase Sapphire Reserve®	The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee	$395	$550	$695
Annual Travel Credit	$300	$300	Up to $200 airline fees, up to $200 Uber
Anniversary Bonus	10,000 miles (worth $100)	None	None
Lounge Access	Priority Pass™, Capital One Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses	Priority Pass™	Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Priority Pass™, and more
Earning Rates	– 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel – 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel – 2X miles on all other purchases	– 3X points on travel and dining worldwide – 1X points on all other purchases	– 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel – 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel – 1X points on other purchases
Travel Credits and Perks	– Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fee credit – Hertz President’s Circle status (through 12/31/24)	– Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fee credit – Complimentary Lyft Pink membership – DoorDash credits	– Up to $200 airline incidental fee credit – Up to $200 Uber Cash – Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrolled annually) – Up to $200 hotel credit with The Hotel Collection – Up to $300 Equinox credit or Equinox+ membership – Walmart+ membership – Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fee credit – Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status – Hilton Honors Gold Status

• Annual Fee Comparison: The Capital One Venture X boasts the lowest annual fee among the three, especially when factoring in the value of the $300 travel credit and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus.
• Lounge Access: The Amex Platinum Card® offers the most extensive lounge network, but the Venture X provides a robust selection of lounges, including Capital One’s own luxurious spaces.
• Earning Potential: The Venture X card excels with high earning rates for travel booked through Capital One Travel, making it highly rewarding for frequent travelers.
• Travel Credits and Perks: Each card offers valuable travel perks and credits, but the variety and ease of use differ. The Venture X’s straightforward $300 travel credit is simple to redeem, while the Amex Platinum Card® offers a wider array of credits, although they may require more effort to maximize.

While each card caters to different travel preferences and spending habits, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stands out for its compelling combination of a lower annual fee, generous rewards on travel purchases, and a comprehensive suite of travel benefits.

Redeeming Rewards: Flexible and Valuable Options

The Capital One Venture X card offers flexible and valuable options for redeeming your earned miles, making it easy to maximize your rewards:

• Capital One Travel Portal: You can redeem your miles directly through the Capital One Travel portal for flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Each mile is worth 1 cent, making this a straightforward way to use your rewards.
• Transfer Partners: Capital One has over 15 airline and hotel partners where you can transfer your miles, often at a 1:1 ratio. This can provide even greater value, especially when booking premium travel experiences. For a detailed guide on how to maximize value with transfer partners, check out our in-depth blog post on [Capital One Miles Worth](https://c-love-credit.com/capital-one-miles-worth/).
• Booking with Miles: Use your miles to “erase” travel purchases charged to your card within the past 90 days. This gives you the flexibility to book travel through any provider and still use your miles.
• Everyday Redemptions: If travel isn’t on your agenda, you can use your miles for Amazon purchases or through PayPal for online shopping. However, these options might not offer the best value for your miles compared to travel redemptions.

Is Capital One Miles Worth it?: Maximizing Capital One Miles Value

Tips for Maximizing Your Rewards:

• Plan Ahead: Transferring miles to airline and hotel partners can provide the highest value, particularly for business or first-class tickets and high-end hotel stays. Planning your redemptions can help you take full advantage of these opportunities.
• Monitor Promotions: Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses and special promotions that can enhance the value of your miles.
• Combine with Other Cards: Pairing the Venture X card with other Capital One cards can boost your earning potential. For example, using the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card for dining and entertainment and transferring the cash back to miles can amplify your rewards strategy.

By leveraging these redemption options and strategies, you can make the most of your Capital One Venture X card, turning everyday spending into extraordinary travel experiences.

Capital One Duo: Maximize Rewards with Venture X and SavorOne

Combining the Capital One Venture X card with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card allows you to maximize rewards across various spending categories.

Here’s a detailed comparison of the earning potential for each card in different spending categories:

Spending Category	Capital One Venture X	Capital One SavorOne
Hotels and Rental Cars	10x miles through Capital One Travel	5% cash back through Capital One Travel
Flights	5x miles through Capital One Travel	1% cash back
Dining	2x miles	3% cash back
Entertainment	2x miles	3% cash back
Grocery Stores	2x miles	3% cash back
Streaming Services	2x miles	3% cash back
Capital One Entertainment Purchases	2x miles	8% cash back
Uber Rides and Uber Eats	2x miles	10% cash back (until November 14th 2024)
All Other Purchases	2x miles	1% cash back

Benefits of the Capital One Duo:

• Increased Earning Potential: Earn high reward rates on a wider range of purchases by leveraging both cards.
• Flexibility in Redemptions: Transfer the cashback from your SavorOne card to Venture X miles, enhancing the value of your rewards.
• Enhanced Travel Perks: Enjoy the premium travel benefits of the Venture X card, including lounge access, travel credits, and comprehensive travel protections.

By using these two cards together, you can maximize your rewards in multiple spending categories and then transfer the cash back earned with the SavorOne card to your Venture X miles. This strategy allows you to accumulate more miles faster and enjoy greater travel benefits.

Pros and Cons: Is the Capital One Venture X Right for You?

Pros:

• Generous Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• High Earning Rates:
  10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
  2x miles on all other purchases.
• Valuable Travel Credits: Receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth $100).
• Lounge Access: Enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges, Capital One Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses.
• Comprehensive Travel Protections: Includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, lost/delayed baggage insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and primary auto rental collision damage waiver.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit: Up to $100 in statement credits to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• Hertz President’s Circle Status: Enjoy top-tier benefits with Hertz, including complimentary upgrades and expedited service.

Cons:

• High Annual Fee: $395 annual fee, which might be a deterrent for some users, although the travel credits can offset this cost.
• Travel Credits Limited to Capital One Travel: The $300 annual travel credit can only be used for bookings through the Capital One Travel portal, limiting its flexibility.
• Not Ideal for Non-Travel Purchases: While the card offers 2x miles on all purchases, there are other cards that offer higher reward rates for everyday spending categories.
• Complexity of Maximizing Rewards: To fully benefit from the card’s rewards and perks, you need to be an active traveler who books through Capital One Travel and takes advantage of transfer partners.

The Bottom Line

The Capital One Venture X card is a top-tier travel rewards card that offers a rich array of benefits tailored for frequent travelers. With its generous welcome bonus, high earning rates on travel purchases, and valuable travel credits, the card provides significant value that can easily outweigh the $395 annual fee. The comprehensive suite of travel protections, along with access to premium airport lounges, further enhances the card’s appeal.

However, the card’s strengths shine brightest for those who frequently book travel through the Capital One Travel portal and can fully utilize the travel-related perks and protections. If you fall into this category, the Venture X card can be a powerful tool to maximize your travel rewards and elevate your travel experiences.

For those who prefer cash back rewards or have less travel-focused spending habits, other cards may offer more suitable reward structures and benefits. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your personal spending patterns and travel needs.

With its compelling combination of features, the Capital One Venture X card stands out as an excellent choice for travelers seeking premium rewards and benefits. If you’re looking to make the most of your travel spending and enjoy a suite of high-end travel perks, the Capital One Venture X card is definitely worth considering.