Amex Platinum vs. Capital One Venture X: which premium travel credit card is best for you in 2024?

15.12.2023 - 10:19 / lonelyplanet.com

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

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In the world of top-tier premium travel cards, The Platinum Card® from American Express* and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stand out among the rest. Both cards offer an impressive portfolio of benefits, including lounge access, the ability to book super-luxe hotels within an exclusive collection and statement credits for members to use at home or throughout their trip.

Crucially, each of them also lets its members earn points and miles on various spending categories that can later be transferred to any number of airline and hotel partners for free flights and accommodations. Rewards can also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise or a litany of other travel options booked via Amex Membership Rewards or Capital One Travel.

The most important thing to consider is what you hope to get out of your premium travel credit card experience, which brands you prefer to fly and stay with above others, the different ways each card lets you earn rewards and which included benefits you have the highest chance of maximizing.

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering signing up for The Platinum Card from American Express or the Capital One Venture X, plus how they stack up against each other. 

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

If you’re just starting your points and miles journey, a generous welcome bonus can be a terrific way to boost your current rewards balance. Just make sure you can hit the minimum spending requirement responsibly, as no amount of bonus points is worth going into debt for.

Amex Platinum: New applicants can earn 80,000 bonus points after they spend $8,000 within the first six months of opening their account. That translates to $1,600 in travel when your points are redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars or cruises through AmexTravel.com.

Capital One Venture X: New cardholders can pick up 75,000 bonus miles after they spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening their account. Those miles are worth about $750 in travel when redeemed through Capital One Travel.

Verdict: Both welcome bonuses are terrific options, so it really comes down to which card you prefer to sign up for over the other and which minimum spending requirement