Capital One Venture X rewards card review: Premium travel benefits at a reduced price

Capital One Venture X Highlights

Card type: Travel 

• Welcome Bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Annual fee: $395
• Rewards: Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, including 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights when you book through Capital One Travel.

Capital One Venture X: Overview

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the most affordable luxury travel card in the market. It offers benefits on par (or even exceeding) with its competitors, yet has the lowest annual fee. You can even add authorized users for free when competitors charge up to $195 per year for each one. The card earns an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, and cardholders have numerous redemption options, including transferring to 15+ airline and hotel partners.

Numerous benefits await cardholders, including complimentary airport lounge access, an annual $300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles each year you renew the card. Using your card for purchases also unlocks valuable protections for travel, purchases and cell phones.

Who is Capital One Venture X good for?

The Capital One Venture X is best for travelers who want a luxury travel card without the premium annual fee. This card’s annual fee is up to $300 less than competing cards, even while offering similar earning power, redemption options and perks.

It is also an excellent choice for people who want to add authorized users. The Capital One Venture X Card does not charge for authorized users. By comparison, the Chase Sapphire Reserve charges $75 per card and the American Express Platinum Card charges $195 each. Venture X authorized users receive most of the same perks as the primary cardholder, including complimentary lounge access.

Who shouldn’t get Capital One Venture X?

While the Venture X offers many appealing benefits, it isn’t the right card for everyone. The card offers limited bonus categories, which makes it harder for cardholders to maximize rewards on those purchases. It offers 2x miles on everyday purchases, but competing cards offer bonus rewards on travel, dining and other spending categories. To earn higher rates, cardholders must book travel through Capital One Travel, which isn’t always the best option. For example, hotels typically don’t award points, stay credits or elite benefits on third-party bookings.

Additionally, the Venture Miles program may be challenging for beginner travelers. While its travel partners offer extraordinary value, many of the names are unfamiliar to some people. Capital One does not partner with any of the biggest domestic airlines, like American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue or United. This can make it harder to understand the value that’s available and know how to transfer or redeem miles and points once transferred.

Capital One Venture X: How to earn rewards

When you have a Capital One Venture X Card, there are numerous ways to earn rewards. You’ll earn Venture Miles on purchases, as a welcome bonus and for renewing your card, just to name a few. Here are the most common ways to earn rewards with this luxury travel credit card.

Welcome bonus

Upon approval for the Venture X Card, you may qualify for a welcome bonus based on your spending. To earn the welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening make sure you hit the spending threshold before the deadline. This bonus is worth $750 towards travel booked directly or through the Capital One travel portal.

Everyday purchases

Use your Venture X Card to earn 2x miles per dollar spent anywhere. You don’t need to worry about category bonuses or registering for limited-time promotions. While the card doesn’t offer bonus categories, some cardholders can earn more rewards overall since its base rate is double that of other cards. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum earn just 1x points on non-bonus category purchases.

Capital One Travel purchases

Cardholders can earn up to 10x miles when booking travel through Capital One Travel. Through the bank’s portal, you’ll earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights. These rewards are on top of any rewards or other benefits you’ll earn through those travel partner’s loyalty programs.

Renewing your card

Capital One rewards cardholders for their longevity with 10,000 anniversary bonus miles every year they renew the card. These points are worth $100 toward travel booked directly or through Capital One Travel. Combined with the $300 annual travel credit, these benefits offset the card’s $395 annual fee.

Referring others to the card

Cardholders can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles each year by referring friends and family who get approved for the Capital One Venture X Card. For each person that is approved, you’ll earn 25,000 bonus miles. However, keep in mind that you may receive a Form 1099, and the bonus may be taxable.

How to redeem Capital One Venture X miles 

Venture Miles is a flexible rewards program that offers numerous redemption options. While Capital One offers different redemptions, generally, some options offer higher value than others.

Book travel through Capital One

Cardholders can book travel through the Capital One travel portal using miles. When booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and more, you’ll get 1 cent per mile in value. Unlike some airline and hotel loyalty programs, there are no blackout dates or elevated prices when you redeem your Venture Miles.

Statement credits for travel purchases

If you don’t want to book through the Capital One travel portal or your preferred vendor doesn’t participate, you can use your rewards to cover travel purchases at a value of 1 cent per mile. Simply use your Capital One Venture X Card to make your reservation with the airline, hotel, cruise, rental car or other travel vendor. You then have 90 days to redeem your miles to cover all or some of the transaction costs. This feature allows cardholders to earn additional miles if they don’t have enough to cover the cost as of the transaction date.

Transfer to airline and hotel partners

Capital One offers 15+ airline and hotel partners where you can transfer your miles. In most cases, your miles transfer on a 1:1 basis, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 miles. These partners include Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Wyndham Rewards. The value of your miles varies depending on how you redeem your rewards one they’ve transferred to your chosen airline or hotel loyalty program.

Cash back, gift cards and more

There are numerous other options available to Venture X cardholders. However, many of these options provide less than 1 cent per mile in value. While they offer less value than other options, they could still be a decent redemption based on your financial situation.

Venture X rates and fees

• Purchase APR: 19.99%–29.99% variable
• Annual fee: $395
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Additional benefits

The Capital One Venture X Card is overflowing with benefits that cardholders may enjoy. The more you take advantage of these benefits, the easier it is to justify paying the card’s annual fee.

• Annual travel credit. Each year, you’ll receive a $300 travel credit that you can use when booking reservations through Capital One Travel.
• Airport lounge access. The Venture X provides unlimited access to more than 1,300 Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. Complimentary access is available for the cardholder and up to two guests.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement. You’ll receive reimbursement up to $100 once every four years when paying application fees with our Venture X Card.
• Premier Collection benefits. Booking hotels through the Premier Collection includes exclusive benefits like daily breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit and more.
• Travel protections. When you book travel with the Capital One Venture X Card, you’re protected if your trip is delayed, canceled or interrupted. Benefits also include primary rental car protection and lost luggage coverage.
• Purchase protections. Eligible purchases receive an extended warranty of up to one year at no extra cost. Additionally, cardholders are covered with purchase protection against theft or damage and return protection in case the merchant won’t accept an eligible return.
• Cell phone protection. Pay your cell phone bill with the Venture X Card, and it will be covered against loss, theft or damage. This benefit includes up to two claims every 12 months up to $800 each with a $50 deductible.
• Free authorized users. Cardholders can add authorized users without paying an additional fee. The authorized users can also use benefits like lounge access and travel protections.

Credit cards similar to Capital One Venture X

While the Venture X is a standout card among travel rewards credit cards, there are a couple of cards from other issuers that offer similar benefits.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel credit card with one of the most valuable rewards programs. It earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining purchases and up to 10x points when booking travel and dining through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back and more. When you book travel through Chase, your points are worth 50% more, so its welcome bonus of 60,000 points is worth $900 in travel. Chase also partners with 14 airline and hotel where you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis.

Benefits of the Sapphire Reserve include complimentary airport lounge access, premium travel protections and a $300 annual travel credit. Of the cards on this list, it is the only one whose Priority Pass membership also includes access to participating restaurants. Its annual travel credit is also the most flexible since it applies to any purchases that code as travel. The Reserve card has a $550 annual fee, and it costs $75 per authorized user.

The Platinum Card from American Express vs. Capital One Venture X

The The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more than $1,500 in value in exchange for its $695 annual fee. Cardholders have an array of credits that cover airline fees, dining, shopping and more. However, many of these credits must be used monthly; otherwise, they are lost. Benefits also include access to the Global Lounge Collection, benefits through Fine Hotels & Resorts and travel protections. It is the only premium travel card that offers complimentary Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

The Amex Platinum card has limited earning power since its only bonus categories are 5x on flights booked directly or through Amex Travel and 5x prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. All other purchases earn just 1x points. Amex Membership Rewards have multiple redemption options, including the ability to book travel, upgrade cash flights and 21 hotel and airline transfer partners.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

Is Capital One Venture X right for you?

The Capital One Venture X Card offers tremendous value with its robust perks and low price. It includes complimentary lounge access, premium travel protections, cell phone insurance and more. While it has a $395 annual fee, the card’s annual $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary points offset that cost. Plus, you can add authorized users for no additional cost, which is a benefit that many luxury travel cards do not offer.

You’ll earn 2x miles on every purchase, which is double what you’d earn on competing cards for non-bonus category spending, and up to 10x miles when booking travel through the bank’s portal. Miles can be redeemed for travel, statement credits and more, plus you can transfer them to 15+ airline and hotel partners to book award travel.

The Venture X Card offers a ton of value, but it isn’t the best choice for some travelers. Its annual travel credit can also be used on Capital One Travel reservations. The Priority Pass membership doesn’t include restaurant benefits. Additionally, some travelers may not be knowledgeable about Capital One transfer partners to understand how to book travel or maximize rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Capital One Venture X hard to get approved?

For the best odds of getting approved, you should have excellent credit. This means your credit score should be 740 or higher. Consider taking steps to boost your credit score ahead of applying by paying down balances, making sure all payments are made on time and avoiding unnecessary inquiries.

Is the Capital One Venture X Card worth it?

Yes, this premium travel card is worth it for people who travel frequently. It includes valuable protections for travel, purchases and your cell phone, and perks like airport lounge access make travel more enjoyable. It is easier to justify this card’s annual fee since the $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary points offset its cost.

How much is 75,000 Capital One miles worth?

The value of Venture Miles depends on how they are redeemed. It is possible to get 1 cent per mile or higher value on travel by booking through Capital One Travel, getting statement credits for travel purchases or transferring miles to airline and hotel partners.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.