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The Capital One® Venture X® Credit Card hits the sweet spot—it’s a top-tier travel card without the premium price tag.
Jet-setters like me can expect pampering with perks like airport lounge access, rental car privileges, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit.
If used correctly, this card’s robust ongoing value can more than justify the $395 fee.
But what’s the catch?
You’ll need an excellent credit score (720+) to qualify. Plus, the card has a jarring lack of transfer partners.
So, is the Venture X the Goldilocks card you’ve been searching for? Or is it a forgettable one?
This article will include:
- How I rate the Venture X Credit Card.
- Its biggest pros and cons.
- Good alternatives to the Venture X.
Read more:
- Best Business Credit Cards
- Credit Cards for Free Travel and Cash Back
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve
Our Verdict
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium rewards card with a $395 price tag. You earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights. While these are tied to Capital One Travel, you can also earn 2x miles on everything else. But the card shines for its perks, such as annual travel credit, insurance, and global airport lounge access. They also throw in a 10,000 bonus miles anniversary gift.
4.6
Capital One Venture X Credit Card: On FIRE Score
| Annual Fee | annual_fees | 4/5 |
| APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | 5/5 |
| Intro Offer | [bonus_miles_full | 4/5 |
| Maximum Rewards | 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
5/5 |
| Everyday Rewards | 2x miles on all qualifying purchases. | 5/5 |
| On FIRE Score | 4.6/5 |
What Is the Capital One Venture X Credit Card?
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may be one of the best credit cards I’ve ever reviewed. If you think that’s an exaggeration, the card’s features should convince you otherwise.
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Venture X is Capital One’s most premium travel card—with benefits that can compete with card_name and card_name and an annual fee that easily beats the others.
How Does the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card Work?
At $395 a year, this credit card gives you a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months.
The rewards rate is just as good. Here’s a list of what you get:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2x miles on all other purchases.
You also get added benefits like:
- An anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year.
- A $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel portal.
- Another $100 credit that you can use towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- A complimentary Priority Pass Membership and access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
- Cell phone insurance of up to $800.
- Exclusive discounts on dining and entertainment experiences.
Capital One Venture X Credit Card Fees
| Details | Metric |
| Annual fee | annual_fees |
| Purchase APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
| Cash advance APR | cash_advance_apr |
| Balance transfer fee | balance_transfer_fees |
| Cash advance fee | cash_advance_fee |
| Foreign transaction fee | foreign_transaction_fee |
| Late penalty fee | late_payment_fee |
Venture X Rewards Card: Pros and Cons
Here’s a list of every Venture X benefit and drawback you should know about:
Pros
- Great intro offer.
- Generous rewards program.
- An anniversary gift of 10,000 bonus miles.
- Global airport lounge access.
- $300 annual travel credit.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- Free authorized users.
- Cell phone insurance.
- Extended warranty, return, and purchase protection.
- Trip cancelation insurance.
- A reference bonus of up to 100,000 bonus miles.
Cons
- Comes with a $395 annual fee.
- Recent drop in value.
- The card’s benefits are tied to Capital One’s travel portal.
- Lack of transfer partners.
Why I like it
Great intro offer
Like a charming partner, the Venture X woos you from the start with a 75,000-mile intro bonus when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. That’s an added value of $750 when you spend on travel expenses.
Generous rewards program
The Venture X Rewards card gives you a brilliant mix of flat-rate rewards and bonus rewards categories.
Like the OG Capital One Venture card, Venture X offers a straightforward way to earn travel rewards, giving you 2x miles on almost all purchases.
But that’s where the similarity ends—Venture X steps it up by offering increased rewards for travelers. While the OG Venture card gives you 2x miles on airfare and 5x miles on hotels and cars, Venture X offers 5x miles on airfare and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars when booked through Capital One Travel.
Interested in plain hard cash back? Check out our list of the best cash back credit cards in 2023.
Extensive travel benefits
This card offers tons of perks for frequent travelers. Here are some of my favorites:
- Capital One Venture X lounge access
With access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, you can live the jet-set life with this card.
As a Venture X cardholder, you’ll score a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, along with access to exclusive Capital One Lounges (which come with two free annual guest passes).
Currently, you can enjoy the Capital One Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside Washington, D.C.
- $300 annual travel credit
Offset your getaway expenses with a $300 travel credit applied to eligible purchases. Note that this offer only applies if you book through Capital One Travel.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
Venture X offers a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® so you can breeze through airport security.
- No foreign transaction fee
You can also travel worry-free overseas, as you won’t spend extra money on foreign transactions (this one’s a given for any decent travel card).
Additional bonus miles
Apart from the welcome bonus, Venture X also gives you:
- An anniversary gift of 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100) to reward your loyalty.
- Up to 100,000 bonus miles (worth $1,000) if you refer your friends and family to apply for a Venture X card and they get approved.
Free authorized users
You can add up to four authorized users to your card account at no charge. The best part? These additional users will also get the same lounge access as you (including access for up to two guests).
Insurance covers and purchase protection
Your Venture X card comes with valuable insurance covers, including:
- Cell phone insurance: Pay your monthly wireless bill with your Venture X card to be eligible for up to $800 in coverage per claim. Note that a $50 deductible applies per occurrence.
- Trip cancelation insurance: The card’s complementary trip insurance offers up to $500 per person for reasonable expenses when your trip gets delayed for over six hours.
- Extended warranty, return, and purchase protection: Extend your warranties for an additional year if they’re valid for three years or less. You can get returns of up to $300 per item and $1,000 annually per account.
Learn more about credit card perks like travel insurance benefits.
Why you may want a different card
A $395 annual fee
This one’s a game of relativity. On one hand, $395 is a substantial amount. On the other hand, this yearly fee is significantly less than what you’ll pay for other luxury cards.
For instance, the card_name Card will cost you $550 a year, and card_name will set you back by $695.
However, if a large annual fee is a hard limit for you, consider the original card_name or the card_name with fewer perks.
Recent drop in value
The dreaded credit card devaluation phenomenon has hit almost every card’s rewards system, and Venture X is no exception. The card’s latest welcome offer (75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in your first three months) is a drop from its previous bonus (100,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 in your first six months).
The new welcome offer may seem more achievable, but it’s less valuable. The 100,000 bonus miles would add up to $1,000 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel portal. Plus, Bankrate’s mile valuations give Capital One miles an average redemption value of 1.7 cents per mile. So, with the right transfer partner, the 100,000 miles could have been worth around $1,700.
The new 75,000-mile offer, on the other hand, would only be worth around $1,275 with the right travel partner (or $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel portal).
Note that competitors like the card_name, which comes with an annual fee of just $95, offer 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in your first three months. This adds up to a base value of $750 when you consider Bankrate’s points valuations for the card (each point is worth 1.25 cents).
Check out our list of the best credit cards for free travel for more options.
Benefits are tied to Capital One’s travel portal
As you read this Capital One Venture X card review, you’ll quickly realize that most of Venture X’s benefits are tied to its issuer’s online travel booking portal—Capital One Travel.
Sure, the website is loaded with features, including predictive pricing models, an easy interface, price drop protection, 24/7 alerts, and options to temporarily freeze prices.
But the card’s rewards system poses one flaw—a lack of flexibility.
Let’s say you’re a valued customer of a particular hotel chain and would like to book with them directly to add to your elite status. However, using the Venture X card to complete this transaction will mean that you won’t maximize your rewards.
It’s only fair to mention that competitors like the card_name also link their rewards to their own travel portals. This card also comes with a $300 annual travel credit that can be used for a broad range of travel purchases, including campground fees, taxi rides, and train fares. And you can use this credit to make a purchase anywhere, not just on Chase’s travel portal.
Venture X also has a $300 travel credit. But you can only apply it to bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal.
Some of you will be quick to point out that the Sapphire Reserve Card has a higher annual fee of $550. Looks like it’s a deadlock between equals for now.
Here’s a Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve comparison if you want to know more about Chase credit cards.
Lack of transfer partners
A good set of transfer partners will ensure that you make the most of your credit card loyalty program. With Venture X, you can transfer your points to over a dozen airline partners. However, none of these partners are U.S. carriers. Transferring your miles to a foreign airline carrier may not be ideal if you’re just starting.
But to be fair, the card has a growing roster of partners. Plus, it offers US hotel partners for transfers to programs such as Wyndham Rewards.
Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Additional Things to Know
Our Verdict
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium rewards card with a $395 price tag. You earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights. While these are tied to Capital One Travel, you can also earn 2x miles on everything else. But the card shines for its perks, such as annual travel credit, insurance, and global airport lounge access. They also throw in a 10,000 bonus miles anniversary gift.
4.6
How to get approved for Capital One Venture X?
The Venture X card is a new and exclusive offering. Getting approved for the card can feel like trying to get into an elite nightclub. And since Capital One Venture X approval odds can be unpredictable, you don’t want to damage your credit score in the process.
For the best shot at getting approved for Venture X, make sure you have an excellent credit score, minimal new credit accounts, and a credit history that’s over three years old. Plus, ensure you haven’t applied for any new cards for at least a week before submitting your Venture X application.
Of course, having an existing Capital One card and occasionally carrying a balance can help. But remember that even if you check all the boxes, approval isn’t guaranteed with this premium card.
When does Capital One Venture X charge an annual fee?
The Capital One Venture X annual fee of $395 will show up on your first statement after you open the account and then every 12 months after that.
You can easily recoup this fee with just the $300 annual travel credit and the 10,000-anniversary bonus miles (which provide $485 in combined value each year).
How to add an authorized user to your Capital One Venture X Card?
A primary cardholder can easily give another person permission to make purchases and manage account features.
All you have to do is log into your Capital One Venture X card account, click Manage Account Users, Add New User, and then fill out the short form to add an authorized user.
Make sure to designate whether this new user will be an Account Manager or an Authorized User.
How to Maximize Capital One Venture X Points
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card has been praised for its ease of use and travel benefits. But that won’t mean much if you can’t maximize your rewards. So, here’s everything you need to know:
How can you earn rewards?
For starters, you’ll make two miles for every dollar spent on almost all purchases. You’ll also earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
Keep in mind that these miles will never expire and there is no cap to the amount of rewards you can earn on purchases.
How can you redeem these rewards for travel?
You have three ways to redeem your miles for travel:
1. Redeem for past travels
If you’ve already booked a trip, simply purchase with your Capital One Venture X card. Then, within 90 days, log into your account at capitalone.com, go to Rewards, and select Cover Your Travel Purchases.
You can also give Capital One’s Rewards Center a call. Tell them you want to use your miles to “cover” the cost of recent travel purchases.
The team will credit your account, usually within 2-3 days. Partial redemptions are possible too, if you don’t have enough miles to cover the whole cost.
2. Make new travel purchases
You can also use your miles upfront to pay for new travel reservations. Visit Capital One’s travel portal at travel.capitalone.com and book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.
The mileage cost varies based on the total purchase amount.
Here’s a quick formula: Take the total cost and multiply by 100. For example, a $200 flight would cost you 20,000 miles. Taxes, fees, and surcharges are included in that total. Just keep in mind that each separate charge on your statement requires its own redemption.
3. Transfer your rewards to Capital One Venture X partners
You can transfer your Venture X miles to select travel partners including Air Canada Aeroplan (a United partner), Air France/KLM Flying Blue (a Delta partner), or British Airways Avios (an American Airlines partner).
You can also transfer your rewards to Capital One’s unique hotel partners, including Wyndham, which lets you redeem vacation rentals at a rate of 15,000 points per room.
Check out more top travel credit cards.
Can you redeem your rewards for something other than travel?
Yes, you can redeem your miles for cash in the form of an account credit or a check, gift cards, and more. But keep in mind that rates for these redemption options vary and can change at the discretion of Capital One.
How much are Capital One Venture X points worth?
When used for travel purchases on the Capital One Travel portal, each mile is valued at one cent. So, you’ll need about 30,000 miles to pay for a $300 flight ticket.
Bankrate’s mile valuations give Capital One miles an average redemption value of 1.7 cents per mile. So, when transferred to the right partner, your 30,000 miles can buy you a flight ticket worth $510.
But what does the bigger picture look like? Let’s assume your family spends a reasonable $20,000 a year using the Venture X card. Here’s how much you can expect to earn:
| Benefits | First-year value | Ongoing value (with no welcome bonus) |
| Estimated yearly rewards for a card spend worth $20,000/year | $400+ | $400+ |
| Welcome bonus | $750 (75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 during the first three months, assuming a redemption value of one cent per mile) | — |
| Perks | $300 Capital One travel credit
$299 (Priority Pass Select membership) $100 (10,000-mile account anniversary bonus) $25 (up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years) |
$300 Capital One travel credit
$299 ((Priority Pass Select membership) $100 (10,000-mile account anniversary bonus) $25 ( up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years) |
| Annual fee | – $395 | – $395 |
| Total value | $1,479 | $729 |
Best Credit Cards to Pair With the Venture X Rewards Card
Now, this boils down to your lifestyle. But I would personally pair a premium travel rewards card with one that makes unlimited cash back on dining, groceries, and more.
So, it may be a good idea to pair the Venture X card with either the card_name or the card_name.
The Savor Cash Rewards Card lets you earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases.
Blue Cash Preferred, on the other hand, earns you 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Alternatives to the Capital One Venture X Credit Card
Looking for alternatives? Here’s a quick Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum comparison—
Capital One Venture X Card: Useful Links
- Apply for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card here.
- Find out more on the Capital One website.
- Here’s the Capital One Venture X customer service page.
- Check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.
Capital One Venture X Reviews From Customers
Check out these customer reviews to get a better insight into the Venture X Rewards Credit Card:
“I love this card. The points system is unreal. I used this on my trip to Germany this year and was very impressed with the redeeming points process and how quickly points stack.”
“This is a very good travel card overall. I like that the annual fee is lower compared to competing cards. Also, I like how the annual fee is covered just by booking roughly one trip and getting the annual bonus points. I had the pleasure of being able to visit the Capital One lounge at Dulles Airport and it was a great experience. I look forward to more Capital One lounges opening.”
“The Capital Venture X lounge access is great, but it should bring back the restaurant credit, as some airports do not have lounge access in certain terminals.”
“I’m not a frequent traveler. So, the benefits don’t trump the pricey annual fee and high-interest rate for me.”
Is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Good for Me?
For frequent flyers with excellent credit, the Venture X card is a first-class choice. With luxury travel perks and a lower annual fee than other premium cards, it offers serious value—if you can take advantage of all its benefits.
This card is tailored to jet-setters who appreciate premium travel rewards over simple cash back. If you only travel occasionally or prefer not to pay a high annual fee, a basic cash back card may better suit your needs.
But for those who hit the skies regularly and want special treatment, the Venture X really soars. With so many bonus categories, introductory perks, and upscale benefits, it’s one of the top premium picks for savvy travelers.
Convinced that this is the right card for you? Click here to apply.
FAQ
What lounges can I access with a Capital One Venture X Card?
Venture X cardholders can enjoy unlimited complimentary access, plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit, across all Capital One Lounges. There’s an extra charge of $45 per visit for additional guests.
These Capital One Venture X lounge locations are currently open:
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D near Gate D22 (Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Denver International Airport, Concourse A on the Mezzanine Level (Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Dulles International Airport, in the Main Terminal directly after TSA PreCheck (Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Additionally, you get a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership, which allows unlimited access for you and two guests to over 1,300 lounges worldwide.
How to sign up for a Priority Pass with Capital One Venture X?
Activating your Priority Pass with Capital One Venture X is easy.
- Visit Capital One’s Priority Pass page within 1–2 weeks of receiving your new card. Or, watch for a Priority Pass welcome email and click the enrollment link inside.
- You’ll need your new Venture X card number to sign up, so have it handy before you start. Enter all 16 digits without spaces or dashes to verify your membership eligibility.
- After confirming your country and contact details, billing information is required. But don’t stress—it’s only used to identify you at the lounge, not to charge your card.
- One quick membership declaration and you’ll be ready to start lounging like a VIP!
Search participating airports on the Priority Pass site or mobile app to discover available ones for your next trip.
How to upgrade Capital One Venture to Venture X?
Current Venture customers can contact customer service to check if they qualify for an exclusive bump up to the Venture X card. But note that these coveted upgrades aren’t guaranteed and are only offered to accounts in good standing. That means making payments on time and keeping your credit score shipshape.
Our Methodology
Our credit card reviews aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of both quantitative and qualitative factors. The quantitative analysis focuses on the financial costs and benefits associated with each card, including interest rates, fees, rewards programs, cash back offers, and other monetary perks. However, we also consider qualitative aspects that impact the everyday use and value of the card. These include the simplicity of the application process, the structure of the rewards program, the likelihood of utilizing certain card features, and the suitability of the card for frequent or infrequent use. Our On FIRE rating system allows for quick comparisons between cards within a particular category. When choosing a new credit card, consumers should weigh the quantitative dollar amounts along with qualitative ease-of-use factors to select the best overall option for their needs.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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