If you’re a frequent traveler or someone looking to maximize flight miles and travel perks, you’ve probably heard of the Capital One Venture X Credit Card. With its admittedly pretty impressive range of benefits, it’s becoming a top choice for those seeking the best credit card for flight miles and travel rewards and is my go to card.
But is the Capital One Venture X worth it? Short answer: yes, it definitely is. Get the card here.
But if you need more than that, in this post, I’ll dive into the Venture X benefits, including how you can earn miles, take advantage of Capital One flights, and enjoy features like travel protection and lounge access.
And before we dive into the list, let me say that while I am a ~Basic Economy B~, I am not a ~financial advisor~. I’m just someone who loves travel and maximizing rewards! I’ve been a longtime fan of my Capital One Venture Card, but when the Venture X came out, I upgraded—and I’ve never looked back.
I opened it during my engagement when we had several big expenses to pay for and was able to take full advantage of the welcome bonus which at the time equated to 100,000 points (or $1000). I have loved having the card ever since and only discovered more of its perks the longer I’ve had.
Just a quick tip: I always use my credit cards like debit cards, paying them off in full every month. No interest payments on this blog, because that’s definitely not a Basic Economy B move.
If you’re wondering whether the Capital One Venture X Travel Card is the right fit for you, keep reading for 7 reasons you should get a Capital One travel credit card and why it might just be your new favorite way to book travel.
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Reason #1 – Earn Miles & Pay Less for Travel!
This one’s a no-brainer. The Venture X earns 2x miles on every dollar you spend, no matter what. But if you book travel through the Capital One Travel Portal, you’ll earn 10x miles on hotels and 5x miles on rental cars and flights.
For example, I booked flights to Vietnam for $900 each and earned 9,000 miles—enough to cover $90 worth of future travel that would have been $0 of future travel if I would have booked through the airline instead of the portal.
Capital One often offers sign-on bonuses too. When I opened my card, I snagged 100,000 miles ($1,000 value) after spending $10,000 in six months. That offer is currently 75,000 miles or a $750 value.
While hitting that spend might be tough in day-to-day life where your expenses are generally under that, but it’s totally doable if you’re making big purchases like wedding expenses, home renovations, or childcare.
Reason #2 – Use Your Miles on More Airlines
If you’re loyal to one airline, a Delta Skymiles American Express card, the United Quest card or one tied to that airline might make sense for you. But if you’re like me—always looking for the cheapest flight with no real loyalty to any airline—Capital One miles offer more flexibility.
I’ve used my Capital One miles for great deals on KLM, Air France, AeroMexico, and Virgin Atlantic. You can convert your Capital One miles to those airlines’ miles and sometimes get even more value than using them directly.
Reason #3 – The Annual Fee Basically Disappears*
The Venture X has a $395 annual fee, but here’s why it’s worth it: every year, you get 10,000 miles (worth $100) and a $300 travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel Portal. That’s $400 in value, which offsets the fee entirely.*
Plus, you still get 2x miles on all purchases, airport lounge access, $95 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, great rental car coverage, and more.
*Okay, you still have to pay the fee, but the girl math makes sense to me.
Reason #4 – Access to the Capital One Travel Portal
The Capital One Travel Portal can be a great tool for earning extra miles. You get 10x miles on hotels and 5x on rental cars and flights—but always double-check the prices! Sometimes the portal’s prices are higher than booking directly and it’s not worth the mile difference. I’d say for me that’s the case about 50% of the time.
For instance, I’ve seen flights for $250 on Google Flights but $300 on the portal. Even with the extra miles being valued at $30, that doesn’t make up for the price difference. But when the prices match, I always book through the portal to rack up those extra miles.
There’s also a price drop guarantee—if the price drops within 10 days, Capital One refunds the difference up to $50. They’ll do this automatically without you having to obsessively watch the flight price to make sure you made a good decision on when you booked the flight (just me?)
Reason #5 – Primary Rental Car Coverage
This one’s a capital B Big deal if you rent cars often. Most credit cards only offer secondary rental car insurance, meaning you have to go through your personal insurance first after a collision, which can be expensive and impact your yearly premiums.
But with the Venture X, you get primary rental insurance, so you bypass your own insurance (and avoid messing with your premiums).
As long as you use your Venture X card to pay for the rental, you’re covered—even if you don’t book your rental car through the travel portal. Trust me, this can save you a lot of headache (and phone calls) if something goes wrong.
Like if you scrape up your rental on your honeymoon trying to make a tight turn into a parking garage. Marital bliss for sure.
Reason #6 – Lounge Access
The first time I used my Priority Pass lounge access, it changed my travel life. This may sound dramatic but I assure you it was not.
I was stuck with a 4+ hour delay in Panama City, so I figured I’d finally set up my account. It took 10 minutes, and my sister and I entered a world of comfy seating, free food, and all the wine we could drink. Airport lounge life is luxury.
I’ve probably saved hundreds of dollars (and avoided some gray hairs) since discovering lounges. Not every lounge is as good as Panama’s, but even the average ones offer free food and cushy seating that is usually way more comfortable than anything the airport has to offer the general public. Plus, the Venture X allows you to bring two guests for free, which is an awesome perk.
With the Venture X you have unlimited lounge visits every year, so you don’t need to decide which layover you want to have a terrible time and which one you want to enjoy a free croissant and mimosa.
This perk is also available to any authorized users. So in my case, my husband is an authorized user and if he’s traveling without me, he has his own Priority Pass lounge access that he can enjoy.
Reason #7 – Free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
Both the Venture and Venture X will cover the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every few years. If you only travel domestically a few times a year, PreCheck is worth it. If you travel internationally, Global Entry is a game-changer.
TSA PreCheck is $95 every 5 years and Global Entry is $100 every 5 years. You don’t have to do anything to get this benefit, just pay for the fee with your Venture X card and Capital One will automatically credit your account when the charge shows up on your statement.
PreCheck means shorter security lines and no need to remove electronics, liquids or shoes. But be aware—it’s only for U.S. airports. Global Entry, on the other hand, lets you breeze through customs when you return to the States, skipping long lines after a grueling international flight. And if you’ve ever stared down the barrel of the customs line at LAX after flying back from Asia for the past 16 hours, you’ll understand that it is worth every penny.
Spoiler alert, experienced travelers swear by TSA Precheck. Check out my whole list of experience traveler confessions here.
Reason #8 – It’s a Cool Metal Card That Feels Awesome
I mean, let’s be real—the Venture X is a sleek metal card that’s just fun to hold.
But more importantly, it’s a great tool to help you save on travel and enjoy the journey in style.
In conclusion, the Capital One Venture X Credit Card has proven itself to be a fantastic option for travelers who want to maximize their rewards and benefits. Whether you’re looking to rack up flight miles, enjoy airport lounge access, or take advantage of the Capital One Venture X travel protection, this card offers serious perks that can elevate your travel experience.
So, is the Capital One Venture X worth it? For me, the answer is a resounding yes. Apply for your own Venture X today.
From earning miles on every purchase to using them flexibly across multiple airlines, the Venture X stands out as one of the best credit cards for flight miles and overall travel rewards. If you’re still on the fence, remember the Venture X benefits more than offset the annual fee—making this a must-have card for anyone serious about travel.
Ready to take your adventures to the next level? The Capital One Venture X Travel Card is definitely worth considering for your next journey.
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