Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review 2024
Updated March 21, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Our Methodology Understanding the value of cash back is simple, but valuing airline miles or points redeemable for travel requires digging a bit deeper. At Newsweek, we’ve developed a common language to talk about the value of points and miles: our valuations.
Our valuations translate points into dollars and cents in a way that reflects reality. They are based on actual data across a balance of accessible redemption options, not just the aspirational first and business class redemptions that require a PhD in miles and points to book. The upshot is that our valuations help you understand the actual value you can easily get from your miles and points.
The Capital One Venture X Credit Card offers a generous rewards rate with miles that transfer to partners for a lower annual fee than other premium cards.
Expert take: If you’re after a premium travel credit card with airport lounge access and transferable points, the Capital One Venture X Credit Card is definitely worth considering. This card earns 5X to 10X miles on eligible travel purchases booked through Capital One, plus 2X miles spent on general purchases. You also get exclusive travel benefits like airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles and other perks for a reasonable annual fee of $395.
Pros
- Lower annual fee than other premium travel credit cards
- Earns 5X to 10X miles on eligible travel purchases through Capital One
- Comes with broad airport lounge access
- Visa Infinite card with Visa’s most generous benefits package
- Comes with easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit
- Receive a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership
- Miles transfer to airlines and hotels
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High APR if you carry a balance
- Transfer partners aren’t as versatile as other programs
- No bonus rewards categories outside of travel
Vault’s Viewpoint on the Capital One Venture X Credit Card
Other premium travel credit cards with airport lounge access charge annual fees that range up to $550 or more, which makes the Capital One Venture X Credit Card a better value right off the bat. The annual fee on the Capital One Venture X is just $395 per year, which can be partially made up for with the $300 annual travel credit it offers and the rest made up with the 10,000 anniversary bonus miles you get when you renew the card each year. The Priority Pass membership, Capital One airport lounge access and other benefits add even more value to this offer.
Of course, the overall value of this card also depends on how you plan to redeem your rewards. Capital One has an entirely different list of airline and hotel partners compared to American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, and some would say Capital One’s options are less versatile and useful overall.
That said, the rewards rate on the Capital One Venture X Credit Card has its advantages since you can earn 5X to 10X miles on eligible travel purchases through Capital One and a flat 2X miles per dollar on all other spending. Compare that to premium travel credit cards from both Amex and Chase, both of which give you just 1X points on non-bonus purchases.
Capital One Venture X Highlights
Annual fee: $395
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening
Rewards: 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
Earning Rewards With the Capital One Venture X Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Credit Card has a very straightforward rewards structure that benefits people who travel often the most. Then again, the best rewards rates go to people who are willing to book airfare, hotels and rental cars through Capital One.
Cardholders earn rewards with the following rates:
- 10X miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One
- 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One
- 2X miles on all other purchases
Redeeming Rewards
Capital One Venture X lets you redeem rewards in several different ways, including for transfers to partners, travel through Capital One, travel statement credits, cash back, gift cards and experiences or purchases through Amazon.com or PayPal. Redemption values for each of these options is as follows:
Capital One Venture X Redemption Value
| Redemption | Value Per Mile |
| Transfer to partners | Varies |
| Travel booked through Capital One | 1 cent per mile |
| Statement credits for travel | 1 cent per mile |
| Gift cards | 0.8 cents per mile |
| Experiences | Varies |
| Purchases through Amazon or PayPal | 0.8 cents per mile |
| Cash back | 0.5 cents per mile |
Capital One Transfer Partners
You should also know about the airport and hotel programs you can transfer miles to as well as their transfer ratios. The chart below shows Capital One transfer partners and how their ratios work as it currently stands:
| Capital One Transfer Partners | Transfer Ratio (Capital One miles to other currency) |
| Aeromexico Club Premier | 1,000:1,000 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1,000:1,000 |
| ALL – Accor Live Limitless | 1,000:500 |
| Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 1,000:1,000 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1,000:1,000 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1,000:1,000 |
| Choice Privileges | 1,000:1,000 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1,000:1,000 |
| Etihad Guest | 1,000:1,000 |
| EVA Air – Infinity MileageLands | 1,000:750 |
| Finnair Plus | 1,000:1,000 |
| Flying Blue (Air France) | 1,000:1,000 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1,000:1,000 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1,000:1,000 |
| TAP Miles&Go | 1,000:1,000 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1,000:1,000 |
| Virgin Red | 1,000:1,000 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1,000:1,000 |
Rates and Fees
Capital One Venture X doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, though other fees to prepare for include:
- Annual fee: $395
- Balance transfer fee: $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Cash advance fee: 3% ($3 minimum)
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Regular APR: 19.99% to 29.99% (variable)
- Cash advance APR: 29.99% (variable)
Benefits of the Capital One Venture X
While the Capital One Venture X comes with a $395 annual fee, the benefits it offers can more than make up for this fee the first year and every year thereafter. The main perks you get with this card include:
- 10,000 anniversary miles: Automatically get 10,000 anniversary miles each year you pay the annual fee and renew your card.
- Annual travel credit ($300): Enjoy a $300 annual travel credit for airfare, hotels and more booked through Capital One Travel.
- Capital One Premier Collection: This selection of luxury hotels comes with special benefits like complimentary breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit and more.
- Cellphone protection: Get cellphone coverage worth up to $800 when you pay your phone bill with your card. Terms apply.
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100): This credit is available every four years when the card is used to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.
- Hertz President’s Circle status: This elite status comes with benefits like guaranteed upgrades, the widest selection of cars and a free additional driver.
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge access: Valued at $469 if you paid for this membership outright, Priority Pass airport lounge access lets you enter more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
- Capital One airport lounge access: Venture X cardholders also get access to Capital One airport lounges and its partner lounges.
- Visa Infinite benefits: These benefits include return protection, extended warranties, travel accident insurance and more.
Who Is the Capital One Venture X Best For?
The Capital One Venture X Credit Card is a good choice for people who want to earn flexible rewards they can use in more than one way, as well as those who want some luxury travel benefits included. With airport lounge access, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, 10,000 anniversary bonus points and a $300 annual travel credit, this card is also one that makes it easy to get exceptional value compared to the annual fee.
The fact you get the most miles for booking travel through Capital One also makes this card a better choice for people who are fine using the Capital One Travel portal to book airfare, hotels and car rentals. This card’s easy-to-understand earning rate and flat rate of 2X miles on all regular purchases also makes it a solid choice for people who want to avoid complicated rewards programs.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Capital One Venture X Credit Card?
While the Capital One Venture X definitely has its advantages, it won’t be the right fit for everyone and for more reasons than one. For starters, this card’s transfer partners don’t include as many U.S. based options as other programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards. In fact, Chase lets its travel cardholders transfer points to options like Marriott Bonvoy, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt (among other options) at a 1:1 ratio.
Also be aware this card offers the most benefits if you book travel through Capital One instead of directly with airlines, hotels and car rental agencies. You’ll earn the highest possible rewards rate on Capital One Travel purchases, and the $300 annual travel credit is also good only if used for travel through the Capital One portal.
How Does Capital One Venture X Stack Up to Its Competitors?
There are so many travel credit cards out there to compare, with many offering similar perks as the Capital One Venture X. Consider how the following rewards cards might work better for your needs.
Capital One Venture X vs. Capital One Venture Rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards gives you access to the same airline and hotel partners as the Capital One Venture X, but with a lower annual fee and fewer benefits overall. In fact, the Capital One Venture Rewards comes with a $95 annual fee and gives you a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, two visits to Capital One airport lounges per year and Hertz Five Star status.
Rewards rates are also lower with this card, although new cardholders can earn the same welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. From there, members earn 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One and 2X miles on other purchases.
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred®
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers points in a totally different program called Chase Ultimate Rewards. This program also lets members transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, although the Chase Sapphire Preferred® has only basic benefits since it comes with a $95 annual fee. For starters, members get 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through the Chase Travel portal and a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit benefit. Cardholders also get a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription, Instacart benefits, primary auto rental insurance and a suite of other travel insurance protections.
Consumers who opt for this card can earn 60,000 bonus points worth $750 in travel after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Also earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase (excluding purchases that qualify for $50 annual hotel credit), 5X points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025), 3X points on dining, online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services, 2X points on other travel and 1X points on other purchases.
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you want access to airline and hotel partners and more luxury travel benefits overall, you can also consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. A $550 annual fee applies for this card, but it comes with a $300 annual travel credit good for any travel purchases, Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, a fee credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck membership, primary auto rental coverage and the best additional travel protections of any other travel credit card on the market today.
Cardholders also get 50% more value for rewards when they redeem points for travel through Chase Travel, and they can start off earning 60,000 points worth $900 in travel after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Also earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel and 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel (both after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually), 3X points at restaurants, 3X points on other travel (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually), 10X points on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 1X points on other purchases. A $550 annual fee applies.
Is the Capital One Venture X Credit Card Worth It?
The Capital One Venture X Credit Card is definitely worth it if you travel often and want airport lounge access and the ability to transfer miles to partners. After all, the $395 annual fee is low compared to competing premium cards, and you can get most of it back through the $300 annual travel credit this card offers each year.
Rewards are also flexible enough that you can’t really get “stuck” with miles you can’t use. Not only can you redeem miles for travel through Capital One or transfers to partners, but redemptions like gift cards, travel statement credits and Amazon and PayPal purchases are also an option.
Valuations by Vault: Our Thoughts on the Capital One Venture X’s Value
Our internal valuations show that miles earned with the Capital One Venture X are worth approximately 1.21 cents each. This valuation is based on available redemption options offered with the card, including premium travel redemptions available after transferring miles to Capital One airline and hotel partners.
In contrast, points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are worth an average of 1.38 cents each and Chase Sapphire Reserve® points are worth an average of 1.62 each. Keep these valuations in mind as you compare travel credit cards to find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Capital One Venture X Hard To Get Approved For?
Capital One says this card is for applicants with excellent credit, which typically includes FICO Scores of 740 or higher.
What Are the Downsides to the Capital One Venture X?
Downsides of the Venture X include its $395 annual fee and the fact its transfer partners are mostly valuable for international travel.
Does Capital One Venture X Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?
The Capital One Venture X does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
