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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum: Which premium card is better for you?
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
also contributed to this story
October 13, 2025 • 14 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
This article compares two premium travel rewards cards, focusing on their lounge access, statement credits and travel protections.
Both cards offer extensive airport lounge access, but one provides a broader network and more statement credits, while the other features a lower fee and simpler earning structure.
Redemption options and transfer partners differ, with one card offering higher point values and more transfer opportunities, while the other provides flexible redemptions and unique partners.
The best choice depends on your travel frequency, spending patterns and ability to maximize benefits.
What to consider
Eligibility for welcome offers may vary and not all applicants will qualify for the highest bonuses.
Authorized user lounge access policies and associated costs are changing for both cards, with notable updates taking effect in February 2026.
Statement credits and travel protections require enrollment and have specific terms and conditions.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of lounge access, statement credits, earning structures and transfer partner options to help you choose the best premium travel card for your needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Earning rates
10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar)
5 points per dollar spent on eligible prepaid lodging booked through Amex Travel
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Redemption options
Multiple direct redemption options, including redeeming as a statement credit for travel purchases
Transfer miles to 15-plus airline and hotel partners
Multiple direct redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise and travel
Transfer points to 17 airline partners and three hotel programs
Statement credits
$300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years
Up to $600 prepaid lodging statement credit each calendar year (up to $300 biannually) on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Hotel Collection or eligible Airbnb Luxe bookings when you pay with your Amex Platinum (The Hotel Collection and Airbnb Luxe require a minimum two-night stay; effective Jan. 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts will require a minimum two-night stay)
Up to $400 Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $100 each quarter) when you pay with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation required*
Up to $300 digital entertainment statement credit per calendar year (up to $25 monthly)*
Up to $300 Equinox credit each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)*
Up to $300 Lululemon statement credit per calendar year (up to $75 quarterly) at U.S. stores (excluding outlets) and online*
Up to $219 Clear+ membership statement credit per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)*
Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year for incidental fees charged by one qualified airline you select*
Up to $200 Oura statement credit per calendar year (only for hardware purchases)*
Up to $200 Uber Cash each calendar year (up to $15 per month, plus a bonus of up to $20 in December). (Valid on U.S. purchases; your Platinum card must be added to your Uber account and you can redeem with any Amex card.)
Up to a $120 Uber One statement credit that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership*
Up to $155 Walmart+ statement credit each calendar year (up to $12.95 monthly on one membership fee; subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups excluded)*
$120 Global Entry credit every four years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4½ years
Priority Pass Select membership (plus two guests; does not include restaurants; until Feb. 1, 2026)
Same lounge privileges for authorized users (until Feb. 1, 2026)
Centurion Lounges ($30 per guest age 2 to 17 with proof of age, $50 per guest over 18 unless the cardmember has qualified for guest privileges by spending $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year)*
Priority Pass™ Select membership (plus two guests; does not include restaurants)*
Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (guests cost $50 each; eligible Platinum cardmembers 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, unless they spend $75,000 or more on their card to unlock unlimited visits)*
Aspire lounges*
Escape lounges (plus two guests or immediate family)*
Plaza Premium lounges (plus two guests)*
Select Lufthansa lounges*
Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges (guest policies vary)*
Elite status
Complimentary Hertz President's Circle status#
Complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*
Complimentary Leaders Club Sterling status*
Complimentary car rental status, including Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle and National Emerald Club Executive status*
Travel protections
Auto rental collision damage waiver
Lost luggage reimbursement
Trip cancellation and interruption
Trip delay reimbursement
Baggage insurance^
Car rental coverage**
Premium Global Assist Hotline***
Trip cancellation and interruption^^
Trip delay coverage^^
Shopping protections
Cellphone protection
Extended warranty
Return protection
Cellphone protection^^
Extended warranty^
Purchase protection^
Return protection^
#Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
*Enrollment is required.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
^Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
^^Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
New Venture X cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's October 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth $1,388.
THE POINTS GUY
Meanwhile, those applying for the Amex Platinum can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
According to TPG's valuations, this bonus is worth up to $3,500.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Its welcome offer is worth more than double the Venture X's bonus.
With the Venture X, you’ll get a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, as well as a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. If you can maximize these benefits, you’ll easily offset the card’s $395 annual fee, which is comparatively low for a premium travel credit card.
The Venture X also comes with travel and shopping protections, which grant you peace of mind even though it's hard to calculate their monetary value.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Plus, you can add up to four authorized users to your account for no additional charge. However, starting Feb. 1, 2026, the Venture X will no longer provide complimentary lounge access to authorized users. Instead, cardholders will have the option to pay $125 annually for each authorized user to maintain access to all lounges.
You can add authorized users to your account at a cost of $195 annually for each one (see ). These authorized users receive lounge access as well as their own Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Its lounge access and statement credits are hard to beat — for those who are able to maximize them.
Earning rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
The Venture X earns 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on eligible prepaid lodging booked through American Express Travel. It earns 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
YULIYA TABA/GETTY IMAGES
While Venture X may offer more earning opportunities, keep in mind that according to TPG's October 2025 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards are worth 2 cents each, while Capital One miles are valued at a lower 1.85 cents each.
Winner: Venture X. Most people will earn more rewards with 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases than with the Amex Platinum’s earning structure.
Redeeming rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
Alternatively, you can use your miles to book travel through Capital One Travel or redeem them as a statement credit for recent travel purchases at a flat rate of 1 cent per mile.
You also have the option to redeem your Capital One miles for gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per mile or use them to pay with Amazon or PayPal at a rate of 0.8 cents per mile. Your least valuable option is to redeem your miles for cash back at a rate of 0.5 cents per mile, so we recommend avoiding this option if you can.
Lower-value redemption options include redeeming your points as a statement credit for eligible charges, using Pay with Points at select online merchants and redeeming your points for gift cards. You’ll almost always get a value of less than 1 cent per point with these options, so again, we recommend opting for travel redemptions to get the most value from your points.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Membership Rewards points offer more high-value options and are worth more than Capital One miles.
Transferring rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
Both Capital One and American Express allow you to transfer your rewards to valuable travel partners easily. In both instances, you can transfer your rewards to most travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In most cases, your points will transfer instantly. Both programs also regularly offer transfer bonuses that allow you to get even more value from your rewards.
TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed likes utilizing his Amex points for premium cabin redemptions. He often transfers his points to Aeroplan to take advantage of the program's valuable award chart and stopover program.
Winner: Amex Platinum. You can transfer Membership Rewards to a higher number of travel partners.
Should I get the Venture X or the Amex Platinum?
The Amex Platinum is the better choice for very frequent flyers, thanks to its extensive lounge access and bonus-earning on airline purchases. However, if your travels keep you on the ground a little more, you’ll likely prefer the lower annual fee and broader earning potential on the Venture X. With it, you’ll get substantial benefits like lounge access and an annual travel statement credit, with a much lower annual fee and broader earning opportunities.
Bottom line
Both the Venture X and the Amex Platinum are great cards, but it's important to consider your spending habits and travel patterns when making a decision.
If you’re looking for extensive airport lounge access and multiple statement credits and don’t mind paying a higher annual fee, the Amex Platinum is the better card for you. If your main priorities are earning a flat rate on all your purchases and getting premium perks for a lower annual fee, the Venture X is your winner.
That said, both cards are solid options. No matter where you land, either card will significantly enhance your travel experience.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click .
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
