Why the Venture X is a mainstay in my wallet

06.09.2024 - 21:13 / thepointsguy.com

I'll admit it — I'm addicted to premium travel rewards cards. Most people choose just one or two of the most popular top-tier cards — such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — but I have all three.

That being said, the Venture X is the premium card I most often recommend to points-and-miles collectors to get their foot in the premium travel card world.

Here are six reasons why.

This card has a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees), an expense too high to gloss over. However, I reduce that annual fee by taking advantage of the $300 annual credit toward bookings through the Capital One travel portal. That brings the effective annual fee down to $95 — but there's more.

I also receive 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year I have the card. Given that TPG's September 2024 valuations state that Capital One Venture Miles are worth 1.85 each, those 10,000 points are worth $185. That means that I'm actually "making" $90 a year by holding the card — and that's without taking into account all the other benefits below.

While my Amex Platinum takes the cake for lounge privileges — including access to Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying on Delta-operated or -marketed flights), amongst others — the Venture X is also a great option. It gives you a Priority Pass Select membership plus access to Plaza Premium lounges. Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

Cardholders also get access to Capital One's small (but growing) lounge network. Living in Austin, I often connect through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where the first Capital One Lounge opened in November 2021. This was the same month the card launched with a 100,000-point welcome bonus. (Now, the standard offer is 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months, worth $1,388.)

My favorite part of the lounge is the grab-and-go food and drink options; these options are great when you have a short connection and want to save money by not purchasing overpriced airport food.

This card keeps on giving. You can add up to four authorized users to your card for free (see rates and fees).

I've added two family members and two friends as authorized users. They can take advantage of all the lounge benefits I enjoy — most notably the more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Plus, they can bring in two guests per visit with unlimited complimentary access.

If there is anything I endeavor to teach a credit card rewards beginner, it's this: Don't put all your eggs in