Card Score: ✅✅✅✅ 4.2/5
*The credit card score is based on the sole opinion of Credit Mileage without input or influence from the card issuer.
Overview of the Capital One Venture X Card
Released in late 2021, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel card that comes with an annual fee of $395. Despite this fee, the card offers significant value through its high rewards rates, annual travel credits, and luxury travel benefits, making it a strong contender against other premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Key Features of the Capital One Venture X
- Sign-up bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Annual fee: $395.
- Earning rates: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases.
- Travel credit: Up to $300 in statement credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel.
- Anniversary bonus: 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary (worth approximately $100).
- Airport lounge access: Complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and other partner lounges.
- Travel perks: Coverage includes primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and travel accident insurance.
- Purchase protections: Extended warranty, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Who Should Consider the Capital One Venture X?
The Capital One Venture X card is tailored to frequent travelers who want a premium card without the steep annual fees of some competitors. Its blend of strong earning potential, luxury travel perks, and travel credits make it particularly appealing to those who spend regularly on travel and seek to maximize the value of their purchases. It’s also a good fit for cardholders who appreciate airport lounge access and the flexibility to redeem miles for a variety of travel-related expenses.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Program
Earning Miles
One of the standout features of the Capital One Venture X is its rewards structure. Cardholders earn:
- 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.
This high earning rate for travel purchases booked through Capital One Travel makes it a great card for those who frequently book hotels, rental cars, or flights. The flat 2x miles on every other purchase is also notable, as it means you’re earning travel rewards for all your spending, without needing to track category bonuses.
Redeeming Miles
Capital One Venture X miles can be redeemed in several ways, providing flexibility in how you use your rewards:
- Travel purchases: Redeem miles for travel purchases such as flights, hotels, rental cars, and more at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
- Transfer partners: Transfer miles to more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs. Partners include Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, and Emirates Skywards. Transfer ratios typically range from 1:1 to 2:1.5, depending on the partner.
- Statement credits and gift cards: You can also redeem miles for statement credits or gift cards, although these options don’t provide as much value as redeeming for travel.
The Capital One Venture X offers significant redemption flexibility, and the option to transfer miles to travel partners gives cardholders a chance to maximize the value of their rewards. With this, the card offers flexibility similar to competitors like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum.
Rewards Expiration and Transfer Options
- Expiration: Capital One miles do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
- Transfers: You can transfer miles to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs. This flexibility allows frequent travelers to get more value out of their rewards by leveraging favorable transfer rates and using miles for luxury flights and hotels.
Capital One Venture X Sign-Up Bonus
New Capital One Venture X cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 when redeemed for travel purchases or transferred to airline and hotel partners for potentially even greater value.
Given the spending requirement of $4,000 in three months, this bonus is relatively easy to achieve for most frequent travelers or those making large purchases, making the Capital One Venture X a top card for earning an immediate windfall of travel rewards.
Capital One Venture X Annual Fees and Credits
Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture X comes with an annual fee of $395, which is lower than most premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550) or the American Express Platinum Card ($695).
Travel Credits and Perks
One of the key benefits that help offset this annual fee is the $300 annual travel credit, which applies to bookings made through Capital One Travel. This credit is automatically applied to travel purchases, making it easy to use.
In addition, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles on each account anniversary, which are worth around $100 toward travel. Together, these perks can cover the cost of the card’s annual fee for many travelers.
Capital One Venture X Travel and Purchase Protections
Travel Insurance
The Capital One Venture X offers robust travel protections, including:
- Primary rental car insurance for damage due to collision or theft when you decline the rental company’s insurance.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance covers up to $2,000 per person for non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered event.
- Trip delay reimbursement provides up to $500 for reasonable expenses incurred due to a trip delay of more than six hours.
- Lost luggage reimbursement covers up to $3,000 per passenger if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by a carrier.
Purchase Protections
The Capital One Venture X card also offers several purchase protections, including:
- Extended warranty protection: Extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties by one additional year.
- Purchase protection: Covers new purchases for up to 90 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim.
- Cell phone protection: Get up to $800 in coverage per claim (with a $50 deductible) if your phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly bill with the card.
These benefits make the Venture X a solid card for both travel and everyday purchases, offering peace of mind when booking trips or making significant purchases.
Capital One Venture X Airport Lounge Access
As a premium travel card, the Capital One Venture X provides complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, which are expanding to more locations across the U.S. In addition, cardholders have access to Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges, giving you more than 1,300 lounges worldwide to relax in before your flight.
Unlike some cards that limit complimentary guests, the Venture X allows you to bring two free guests into lounges. Additional guests can enter for a fee, which is typical for premium cards.
Capital One Venture X Comparison to Other Premium Travel Cards
To understand how the Capital One Venture X stacks up against its competitors, let’s compare it to other popular premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express.
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the closest competitors to the Venture X. Here’s how they compare:
- Annual fee: The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee of $550, compared to the Venture X’s $395.
- Earning rates: The Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel and dining (after the first $300 is spent annually on travel) and 1x on all other purchases. The Venture X, by contrast, offers 10x miles on hotels and rental carsand 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2x on all other purchases.
- Travel credits: Both cards offer $300 in annual travel credits; however, the Sapphire Reserve’s credit is more flexible, applying to any travel purchases, while the Venture X’s credit is limited to bookings through Capital One Travel.
- Lounge access: Both cards offer Priority Pass membership. However, the Venture X offers access to Capital One Lounges, which could be a unique advantage depending on your location.
Capital One Venture X vs. The Platinum Card from American Express
Read our review of the Amex Platinum Card here.
The American Express Platinum Card is known for its luxury perks, but it comes with a hefty $695 annual fee. Here’s how it compares to the Venture X:
- Annual fee: The Platinum Card’s $695 annual fee is significantly higher than the Venture X’s $395.
- Earning rates: The Platinum Card earns 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel and on prepaid hotels, but only 1x on all other purchases. The Venture X’s 2x miles on all purchases is a more generous base rate.
- Travel credits: The Platinum Card offers up to $200 in airline fee credits, $200 for Uber, $100 for Saks Fifth Avenue, and other credits. However, these are more restrictive than the Venture X’s $300 travel credit.
- Lounge access: The Platinum Card offers access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Clubs, which may be more attractive to certain travelers. However, the Venture X’s Capital One Lounge access may appeal to those who prefer its growing network.
Pros and Cons of the Capital One Venture X Card
Pros:
- High rewards rates on travel booked through Capital One Travel.
- $300 annual travel credit helps offset the annual fee.
- 10,000 bonus miles each year starting on your anniversary.
- Complimentary lounge access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass, and other partners.
- Flexible redemption options, including valuable transfer partners.
- Extensive travel and purchase protections.
Cons:
- $395 annual fee, while lower than some competitors, may still be high for some users.
- Travel credit is limited to bookings through Capital One Travel.
- Transfer partners are less extensive compared to competitors like Chase or Amex.
- Capital One Travel booking may not always offer the lowest prices compared to booking directly with airlines or hotels.
Final Thoughts: Is the Capital One Venture X Worth It?
The Capital One Venture X is an excellent choice for frequent travelers looking for a premium travel credit card with a relatively low annual fee and high earning potential. The card’s $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary miles, and lounge access easily offset the $395 fee, making it a valuable card for those who can take advantage of its benefits.
While it may not offer the same level of prestige or extensive perks as the American Express Platinum Card, or the same flexibility as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Venture X strikes a great balance of value, rewards, and travel perks. For frequent travelers who want premium features without paying a steep annual fee, the Capital One Venture X is certainly worth considering.