Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card overview
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the issuer’s first foray into the world of premium travel rewards cards and knocks it out of the park. With an annual fee that undercuts the competition and plentiful perks that are easy to understand, the card is nearly a no-brainer for travelers ranging from luxury seekers to the more budget-minded. Chase and Amex, take notice. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Capital One Venture X exists in the premium space alongside cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). Like them, it has some serious travel perks, valuable statement credits and lounge access — but for a much lower annual fee of $395 (see rates and fees).
The Venture X’s lower annual fee, lounge access and travel benefits that rival or even outclass the competition are why it took home the title of the Best Premium Travel Card at the 2024 TPG Awards.
As Capital One continues opening its own airport lounges, the case for the Venture X becomes even stronger. In addition to the issuer’s first location at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Capital One operates lounges in:
With the Venture X, you’ll get complimentary unlimited access to these as well as access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide with the expansive Capital One Partner Lounge Network for you and two guests. You will need excellent credit for this card, so TPG recommends a credit score of 740 or higher.
If Dallas, Fort Worth, Dulles, Denver, Reagan or Vegas are your home airports, this may be all you need to know to make your decision. But if you are still debating whether the Venture X is for you, here is everything you need to know before clicking that “apply” button.
Capital One Venture X pros and cons
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Capital One Venture X welcome offer
New Venture X cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account. This isn’t the highest welcome offer we have seen, but it meets our criteria for when to apply.
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According to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, 75,000 Capital One miles are worth $1,388, thanks to the outsize value you can get from transferring Capital One miles to the program’s airline and hotel partners.
And if you don’t want to navigate the complexities of transferable miles, you can use your Capital One Miles directly for travel at a rate of 1 cent per mile — making this welcome bonus worth $750.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular Capital One credit cards based on offer history
Capital One Venture X benefits
While lower than its premium competitors, Venture X does carry a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). That might initially seem like a deterrent, but the card’s perks can offset the yearly cost with minimal effort:
- Annual credit: Get $300 in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Anniversary bonus: 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on your first anniversary (worth $185 toward travel according to TPG’s April 2025 valuations)
- Lounge access: Complimentary access for cardholders and up to two guests per visit to Capital One Lounges and lounges in Capital One’s partner network
- Additional cardholders: Add a number of additional cardholders at no charge (see rates and fees); they can enjoy select benefits, and you will earn rewards on every dollar they spend
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Save money by saying no at the counter – rent with your covered Visa Infinite card and get built-in Auto Rental Coverage.
- Cellphone protection: By using the card to pay your monthly wireless bill, your cellphone is protected for the next calendar month.
- Extended warranty protection: Extend your qualifying product warranties automatically when you purchase using your Venture X card.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Cardholders can receive a statement credit for their TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Return protection
Related: Is the Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?
Earning miles on the Capital One Venture X
The Venture X accrues miles at the following rates:
- 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 5 miles per dollar on vacation rentals and flights booked via Capital One Travel
- 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases
This simplicity builds off the $95-per-year Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees), a product that has been around for over a decade. In that way, the Venture X represents the best of both worlds — high earning potential on travel purchases, specifically, but a solid everyday earning rate that’s easy to keep track of.
Related: Why the Venture X is a mainstay in my wallet
Redeeming miles on the Capital One Venture X
When you’re ready to redeem your Capital One miles, you have several options. If you want to get the most value from your miles, you’ll want to take advantage of the option to transfer them to Capital One’s 15-plus hotel and airline travel partners.
However, if you prefer a simpler redemption strategy, Capital One offers several other redemption options for your miles. These include redeeming miles for travel through Capital One Travel, gift cards and Amazon.com purchases.
Note that these fixed-value options will yield well below TPG’s April 2025 valuation of 1.85 cents per point.
If you want to redeem your rewards for cash back, you’ll be much better off with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Related: Should you transfer Capital One miles to partners or redeem them directly for travel?
Transferring miles on the Capital One Venture X
To get maximum value from your Capital One miles, transfer them to any of Capital One’s 15-plus hotel and airline partners, including valuable options like Air Canada Aeroplan and Choice Privileges.
For instance, TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt loves the option to transfer his miles to Avianca LifeMiles for premium-cabin redemptions on United to Sydney and the ability to transfer them to British Airways Executive Club for nonstop domestic flights on American Airlines.
No matter your travel preferences, you’ll be able to find some excellent value in Capital One’s transfer partners.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners
Which cards compete with the Capital One Venture X?
With a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees), the Venture X falls within the premium travel cards category. You might prefer a different premium card option if you’re looking for different perks, such as more expansive lounge access or more flexible travel credits. And if you aren’t ready to fork over a premium annual fee, you can get some of the same perks with Capital One’s mid-tier travel card.
For additional options, check out our list of the best travel cards.
*Note that elevated earning on Sapphire Reserve travel purchases will occur after the first $300 is spent on travel annually.
Read more: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
Bottom line
With simple rewards, impressive lounge access benefits and overall solid value, the Venture X has mass appeal, especially for those searching for a premium travel rewards card.
In addition, there are a lot of under-the-radar perks on the card, including Visa Infinite benefits with an extensive list of trip, luggage, car rental and purchase protections. Add in a growing network of airport lounges, no-fee additional cardholders (see rates and fees), Capital One’s robust transfer partners and a luxury hotel program, and you have a card that is nearly a no-brainer.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X
Related: 10 credit cards that can get you $1,000 or more in first-year value
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
