Card Features and Benefits:

The Capital One Venture X Credit Card is an excellent premium level credit card for frequent travelers that prefer to keep things simple - perhaps carrying just one or two cards.

With a great sign-up bonus, 2X miles on all purchases (Plus up to 10X miles on travel booked via Capital One) and the ability to convert points to one of 15+ travel partners, the Capital One Venture card is a great choice for people who want rewards flexibility.

Why is the Capital One Venture X Credit Card so Compelling?



The Capital One Venture X card is one of the most flexible cards around, particularly if you are a frequent traveler. It earns double miles on every purchase with no bonus categories to remember - except for hotels and car rentals which earn 10X miles when booked via Capital One Travel and 5X on airfare booked via Capital One Travel - which utilizes Hopper. Hopper is known to save up to 15% on airfare and with the Capital One tie-up, you can even place a flight on hold for up to 14 days!

You can redeem these points for previous travel purchases (worth a penny a point) or transfer them to 15+ air and hotel travel partners.

Note: "Capital One Miles" is simply a marketing term for the Capital One rewards program. They're the equivalent of what everyone else calls "points." You can generally use the terms interchangeably.

Capital One Venture X Earn Rate

As mentioned, it's simple:

• 10X Capital One Miles on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel
• 5X Capital One Miles on airfare booked via Capital One Travel - which utilizes Hopper.
• 2X Capital One Miles on everything else

Capital One Venture X Credit Card Benefits

Capital One launched this card with a laundry list of benefits which are very impressive. You'll quickly see that the annual fee is wiped out and then some by the benefits.

• Up to a $300 credit annually (cardmember year, not calendar year) for bookings made on Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (equal to $100 towards travel)
• Unlimited access to including Capital One Lounges and their Partner Lounge Network including Plaza Premium and Priority Pass. (Note: Effective January 1, 2023, Priority Pass non-lounge airport experiences (like dining, retail shopping and spa discounts) are not part of the Visa Infinite® benefit program for Venture X cardholders.)
• When using airport lounges, members (and authorized users) can bring in two guests to Plaza Premium and Capital One lounges as well as unlimited guests for Priority Pass lounges.
• Up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (top tier!) for primary cardholders, authorized users and account managers
• Primary Car Rental Collision/Damage Coverage
• Venture X customers will have the opportunity to book once-in-a-lifetime trips across the globe by purchasing or redeeming points on Capital One Entertainment. Plus, Venture X cardholders will receive a complimentary PRIOR Subscription (valued at $149) that includes access to global travel guides, early bookings and a twice-weekly newsletter.
• Visa Infinite Trip Interruption / Cancellation benefits
• Authorized Users can be added for no fee and they also get their own Priority Pass membership.
• Cardholders can earn up to 100,000 miles per year for referring friends, who can then experience the unparalleled benefits Venture X has to offer (up to 4 referrals per year; 25,000 miles awarded per referral)
• No foreign transaction fees

What a mouthful of benefits! But note how the first two bullet points above wipe out the annual fee with $5 on top. It's almost as if Capital One is paying you $5 a year to have this card - and then they throw in Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access for not just you, but for no-fee Authorized Users as well - and top tier Hertz President's Circle.

TSA PreCheck / Global Entry Credit

Added bonus: You'll receive up to a $100 reimbursement every for years for using the card to purchase either TSA PreCheck ($85) or Global Entry ($100).

Redeeming Capital One Venture X Miles



You can use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase on your card or redeem your miles by booking a trip through Capital One Travel at a value of one cent per point for an effective 2% cash back on all purchases - or you can transfer them to a range of airlines and hotel partners.

So what constitutes travel? According to the terms and conditions from Capital One, purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents and time shares are generally considered to be travel purchases. Availability for redemption is based on the merchant category code assigned to them by the merchant.

If you are using points to wipe out charges for travel booked on your Venture X card, redemptions must be made within 90 days from the date your travel purchase posts to your account.

Capital One Miles Expiration

Capital One Miles don't expire as long as you have the card. In other words, you can accumulate points for as long as you need to before a travel expense pops up. That feature makes the points a lot more flexible.

Capital One's Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners

The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers several airline and hotel partners to whom you can transfer points. The transfer ratios vary by partner, so I've broken them up for you:

See the full list of Capital One Miles transfer partners and transfer times.

Car Rental Benefits include Primary CDW and Hertz Status

We don't want you to miss these benefits for frequent car renters:

• Primary Car Rental Collision/Damage Coverage
• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status for primary cardholders, authorized users and account managers. This is their highest status and lets you choose a car from the President's Circle lot as long as you rent a midsize or larger card. The status is valid until Dec 31, 2024.

Using Your Capital One Miles for Maximum Value

Traditionally, using your miles for international premium class tickets has garnered the best value, but that's not always the case. Be sure to keep an eye on those transfer ratios!

Use Turkish Miles and Smiles to Fly within North America

This program is a best bet for bargains within North America, which covers a heck of a lot of regions, including Mexico, the United States (including Hawaii), Bermuda, Canada and the Netherland Antilles. Of course, you won't be flying on Turkish Airlines. Rather, you'll use a Star Alliance partner, such as United or Air Canada. Turkish determines the cost of awards depending on your geographic "zone," so the breadth of what the airline considers to be North America will work in your favor.

100,000 Capital One miles are worth 100,000 Turkish Airways Miles and Smiles points. A one-way economy award starts at 7,500 miles wholly within the United States and 10,000 miles to from the United States to one of the other destinations. That's more than 10 one-way tickets from the lower 48 states to Hawaii.

Want to go in business class? How about 12,500 points for that ticket. Los Angeles to Cancun? Seattle to Bermuda? Those trips are only 10,000 miles. (Read more about how to use Turkish miles to fly business class within North America on the cheap.)

Europe is also inexpensive, with round trip economy tickets pricing out at 60,000 miles and business class tickets costing 90,000. Istanbul is a beautiful city and geographically advantaged transfer point, so consider flying on the host airline.

Try Avianca for Cheap Mileage Flights to Europe



Avianca LifeMiles are another underestimated favorite for redeeming miles. Capital One points transfer 1:1 to Avianca, so you'll be able to take advantage of their program at par.

One of my favorite uses of Capital One Miles is to transfer them to Avianca for premium class flights to Europe. Fly from New York to Paris in business class for just 63,000 miles one-way, so maxing out the Capital One bonus will be almost enough for a roundtrip in business to Europe. If you want to check out international First Class, such as Lufthansa's First Class which includes its famous First Class Terminal, it will only cost you 87,000 miles one way with no surcharges aside from their $30 booking fee.


Lufthansa First Class 747-800

Transfer Capital One Miles To Avianca for Cheap Flights to Asia, as well

Avianca is a great option for Asia, as well. Well, not Avianca itself, but you can use your miles on ANA, which is one of the top airlines in the region. There is no mileage chart for Avianca LifeMiles and the site is not particularly user-friendly (a common "feature" with many of the non-US airlines), but a little hunting and pecking will get you some answers. Business, depending on where you are flying in Asia, will run you 75,000 - 80,000 points, while First Class in the ANA Suite is about as good a product as you will find.

How about Hotel and Air (Business Class, of course) to Las Vegas?

Why not combine a few of the options that we've suggested? Use the Turkish Airlines suggestion above to fly to Las Vegas in a premium class of service for 25,000 miles roundtrip.

Then, find yourself a nice hotel. Capital One Miles convert to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. You're not going to want to stay at a Wyndham property, though. Instead, take advantage of the Wyndham Rewards partnership with Caesars, and book yourself three nights at The Cromwell, a boutique hotel in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel prices out at 30,000 points per night, so enjoy a long weekend and stay for three nights.

Other Ways to Use Your Capital One Venture Card Miles

Converting your Capital One Miles to airline miles or hotels points is the most profitable way to use them, but there are a few other options, as well.

Adequate: Use for Gift Cards or Travel

Book Travel: You can book travel through the Capital One travel portal. Points are worth a penny each for travel bookings. Because Capital One is a third-party site, though, you may not receive elite benefits and/or points with the travel provider.

Gift Cards: You can also purchase gift cards using Capital One Miles. In most cases, these miles are also worth a penny each.

Poor: Using for Cash or Shopping (Amazon, I'm Looking at You)

You can redeem points for non-travel expenses, but you really don't want to. Cashing them out directly is only worth 0.5 cents per point, turning the card into a 1% cash back card (Remember, you earn two Capital One Miles per dollar spent.). You can also shop with them through Amazon or make purchases through PayPal but again, you'll be doing so at a discount. Don't use these options!

Capital One Venture Rewards FAQ

What Credit Score do I need to get the Capital One Venture X Credit Card?

You should have at least a 740 FICO score before applying for the card.

Do I Need to Pay My Bill in Full Every Month?

Yes, yes and double yes. It doesn't matter how much the card gives you in rewards; it will never offset the double-digit interest rates charged on any balance that you carry over from month to month. If you currently carry a balance, forget the rewards or miles credit cards and get a low-interest rate card, instead.

Does the Capital One Venture X Card Provide Car Rental Damage Insurance?

It does have Primary rental coverage. There are only a few credit cards that provide primary insurance, which means that the card's insurance, not your primary auto insurance company, handles any incidents. For an alternative with primary coverage, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or any of the ones on this list.

Can I Transfer Capital One Miles to Other People?

Yes, you can. They're pretty liberal with allowing you to share Capital One Miles with other people. The only real requirement is that they need to go to another Miles-earning account, not a Capital One credit card that offers cash back.

Does the Capital One Venture X Credit Card Offer Airport Lounge Access?

Yes! It includes full and unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and also to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges internationally + two guest passes. This includes Priority Pass restaurant locations.  And Authorized Users (for which there is no fee) get their own Priority Pass memberships as well!

Do Capital One Miles Expire?

Not as long as you have the card.

What Does Capital One Count as a Travel Expense?

Purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents and time shares are generally considered to be travel purchases. Note that it is the merchant, not Capital One, that codes the transaction category.

Is There a Limit on The Number of Points I Can Earn?

Nope, spend away. The limit on your points earnings is a function of how much you can spend. If you're not paying off your balance every month, get a low-interest rate card.

What Credit Bureaus will Capital One Pull?

One drawback to Capital One is that they will pull from all three bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Can I Add an Authorized User to my Venture X Card?

Yes, you can, and their spending will earn points for you. There's no charge to add an authorized user to a Venture X card even though they get full Priority Pass lounge access and cell phone protection.

Does the Capital One Venture X Credit Card Offer Access to My Credit Score?

You will have access to your score from CreditWise, as well as receive notifications when there are changes to your score.

Is there a no-fee version of the Capital One Venture X card?

There is. Called the Capital One VentureOne, you'll pay no annual fee, however, the card only earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent rather than 2 and the bonus offer for a new card pales in comparison by several hundred dollars worth of value, so it really makes sense to get this version of the Venture card. You can always downgrade it after the first year if you don't feel you are spending enough to justify the annual fee.

Conclusion: Is the Capital One Venture X Card Worth It?

It is.

Yes, the $395 fee sounds like a lot. But I happily pay the $250 annual fee on my Amex Rose Gold Card and the Venture X seems to come with a lot more benefits.

If you are taking advantage of the card benefits, that $300 in reimbursed travel via Capital One Travel brings your fee down to $95.

Then you get 10,000 Capital One Miles annually – which I value at $150 currently. Even at cash value, it’s worth $100.

So, at that point, you are being paid $5 (or $55 if using my valuation) to carry the card.

OK, so now that it’s essentially a card paying you to carry it, let’s see what other value you get:

• Priority Pass membership
• Priority Pass for any authorized users and this has no extra fee
• Cell phone insurance for you and authorized users
• The $100 TSA credit if you need it
• Top tier Hertz President’s Circle status (the best upgrade pool – I am driving a Mercedes A220 from Hertz right now from the President’s Circle lot).
• Access to Capital One lounges (they look pretty good from the pictures)
• An early spend bonus worth at least $1,000 (I’d value around $1,500) plus the $200 credit for vacation rentals.

All of that is worth a LOT more than $0. For starters, unlimited Priority Pass lounge access is only a benefit on premium credit cards with high annual fees. So, where Chase requires you to have their $550 annual fee Sapphire Reserve (OK, net $250 fee after the $300 travel credit) to get Priority Pass, you have this card down to where you are being paid to carry the card and you still get it? I kind of don’t get it!

And then they also throw in top tier Hertz President’s Circle status? That’s a level above what the The Platinum Card® from American Express even offers – and that annual fee is $695!

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