Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $395
• APR: 19.99%–29.99% variable
• Rewards: 2x miles everywhere, 10x hotels/rentals, 5x flights through Capital One Travel
• Bonus: 100,000 bonus miles after $10,000 spend in 6 months ($1,000 value)
• Best For: Frequent travelers, premium benefits seekers, lounge access enthusiasts
• Credit Needed: Excellent (740+)

Overview

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One's flagship premium travel card designed to compete with elite offerings like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum. With a $395 annual fee—lower than many competitors—this card delivers exceptional value through its combination of elevated earning rates, comprehensive travel benefits, and valuable annual credits that effectively reduce the net cost to near-zero for active cardholders.

What sets the Venture X apart is its accessibility and simplicity. Unlike some premium cards that lock you into specific airline or hotel programs, the Venture X offers flexible points that transfer 1:1 to 17+ airline and hotel partners, or can be redeemed at 1 cent per point for any travel purchase. The 100,000-mile welcome bonus (worth $1,000 in travel) is one of the most generous in the premium card space, requiring $10,000 in spend over six months.

The card's annual benefits package is compelling: a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth $100), complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited lounge visits, and access to exclusive Capital One Lounges in major airports. For travelers who use these benefits, the effective annual fee can be as low as -$5 (actually profiting from the card).

A 2025 policy change requires cardholders to spend $75,000 annually to maintain complimentary guest access to lounges—otherwise guests cost $35 per visit. Despite this adjustment, the Venture X remains one of the best-value premium travel cards for those who travel regularly and can utilize its robust benefits suite.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 19.99%–29.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 19.99%–29.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: None specified

Note: Premium cards typically don't offer promotional APR periods. This card is designed for transactors who pay balances in full monthly, not for carrying debt.

Benefits Overview

Travel & Lounge Benefits

• Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited visits to 1,300+ lounges worldwide
• Capital One Lounge access at Dallas DFW, Denver, Washington Dulles, and Las Vegas airports
• Guest access: Two complimentary guests at Capital One Lounges, one at Capital One Landings (requires $75K annual spend for 2025+)
• $300 annual travel credit automatically applied to Capital One Travel purchases
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles every year (worth $100)
• No foreign transaction fees anywhere in the world

Premium Travel Perks

• 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Hertz President's Circle status for free upgrades and expedited service
• Plaza Premium Airport Lounge access for yourself and two guests
• Travel portal perks including price freeze and flexible cancellations

Security & Protection Benefits

• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
• Primary rental car insurance (no need to use personal auto insurance)
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $1,500 per person
• Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger
• Travel accident insurance up to $500,000
• Roadside dispatch up to four calls per year
• Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim (two claims per year, $50 deductible)

Lifestyle Benefits

• Capital One Entertainment access to presale tickets and exclusive experiences
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status (through enrollment)
• 24/7 concierge service for travel planning, reservations, and recommendations
• Extended warranty protection adds one additional year to U.S. manufacturer warranties
• Purchase protection covers new purchases up to $10,000 per claim for 90 days

Rewards & Earning Structure

• 2x miles per dollar on all purchases with no spending caps
• 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• No earning limits or caps
• Miles never expire as long as account remains open

Redemption Options:

• Transfer partners: 17+ airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratio (Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Flying Blue, Turkish Airlines, JetBlue, Choice Privileges, Marriott Bonvoy, Wyndham Rewards, and more)
• Travel purchases: Redeem at 1 cent per mile for any travel purchase (flights, hotels, rental cars, activities)
• Statement credit: Redeem for travel-related statement credits
• Gift cards: Redeem for gift cards (typically lower value)
• Cash back: Redeem for cash at varying rates

The flexibility to either transfer to airline/hotel partners OR redeem for any travel at 1 cent per mile makes the Venture X miles some of the most valuable in the industry.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first 6 months from account opening.

This substantial bonus is worth approximately $1,000 when redeemed for travel at the base 1 cent per mile rate, but can be worth significantly more when transferred to partners for premium cabin award flights. For example, transferring to Turkish Airlines or Flying Blue could book business class flights to Europe valued at $4,000+ for 100,000 miles.

The $10,000 spending requirement over 6 months averages to $1,667 per month, which is reasonable for households with regular expenses or those planning large purchases.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $395
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Authorized User Fee: $0

Effective Annual Fee Calculation:

• Annual fee: $395
• Less $300 travel credit: -$300
• Less 10,000 anniversary miles ($100 value): -$100
• Net effective cost: -$5 (profit)

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Frequent travelers taking multiple trips per year
• Airport lounge enthusiasts who value Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges
• Flexible points collectors wanting transfer partners and travel portal options
• International travelers needing no foreign transaction fees and global lounge access
• Premium benefits seekers who want Venture X-level perks without Reserve/Platinum pricing
• Capital One Travel users who can maximize 5x-10x multipliers
• Those who can use the $300 travel credit annually
• Travelers who value trip protections (cancellation, interruption, delay coverage)

Not Good For

• Infrequent travelers who won't use lounge access or travel credits
• Those preferring cash back over travel rewards
• Loyalty program devotees committed to single airline/hotel ecosystems
• Those unable to meet $10K welcome bonus spend requirement
• Light spenders who can't reach $75K for guest lounge access (if needed)
• Those seeking category bonuses beyond travel (no elevated grocery, gas, dining earning)
• Balance carriers (high APR negates rewards value)

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Industry-leading 100,000-mile welcome bonus worth $1,000+
• $300 annual travel credit effectively reduces annual fee to $95
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles worth $100 reduces net cost to -$5
• Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (primary cardholder)
• Exclusive Capital One Lounge access at four major airports
• Strong 2x earning on all purchases (no caps or limits)
• Exceptional 10x on hotels/rentals, 5x on flights through Capital One Travel
• 17+ valuable transfer partners for maximum redemption flexibility
• No foreign transaction fees for international travel
• Primary rental car insurance (rare benefit)
• Comprehensive trip protection suite (cancellation, interruption, delay)
• Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($120 value every 4-5 years)
• Complimentary authorized users with full lounge access
• Miles never expire with active account
• Lower annual fee than Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550) or Amex Platinum ($695)

Cons

• $395 annual fee (though offset by credits and benefits)
• 2025 guest access change: $35 per guest unless spending $75K annually
• High APR (19.99%–29.99%) makes balance carrying expensive
• $10,000 welcome bonus spend requirement is steep for some households
• Capital One Travel portal may have limited inventory vs. booking direct
• Transfer partners, while valuable, are fewer than Chase Ultimate Rewards
• No elevated earning on dining, groceries, or gas (flat 2x everywhere)
• Excellent credit required (740+) for approval
• Some transfer partners have complex award charts requiring research
• Benefits maximized only if you actively travel and use lounge access

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

Assuming you're a regular traveler spending $40,000 annually:

First Year Total Value: $2,560
Ongoing Annual Value: $1,460

Less annual fee: -$395
Net first-year value: $2,165
Net ongoing value: $1,065

For travelers spending more at Capital One Travel—say $10,000 on hotels at 10x—you'd earn 100,000 miles ($1,000) from those bookings alone, significantly increasing the card's value proposition.

Premium Redemption Example: Transfer 100,000 miles to Turkish Airlines to book a business class flight to Europe (often requiring 90,000-100,000 miles), valued at $4,000+ if purchased with cash, yielding 4 cents per mile value.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You travel frequently (4+ trips per year) and value airport lounge access
• You can easily meet the $10,000 spend requirement in 6 months
• You'll utilize the $300 annual Capital One Travel credit
• You want flexibility to transfer miles to airlines or redeem for any travel
• You value comprehensive travel protections (trip insurance, rental car coverage)
• You're seeking premium card benefits at a lower annual fee than competitors
• You always pay balances in full (no interest charges)
• You have excellent credit (740+) for approval
• You want Priority Pass access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide
• You travel internationally and need no foreign transaction fees

You Should Skip It If...

• You travel less than 2-3 times per year (benefits won't justify $395 fee)
• You prefer cash back over travel rewards
• You're loyal to a specific airline/hotel program (no cobranded benefits)
• You can't meet the $10,000 welcome bonus spend requirement
• You carry credit card balances (high APR negates rewards)
• You're building credit and don't have excellent credit score
• You won't use lounge access or travel credits
• You need elevated category bonuses (dining, groceries, gas)
• You prefer simpler redemption without researching transfer partners
• The $395 annual fee feels too steep regardless of benefits

Apply Now

Apply for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.