6 things to do when you get the Capital One Venture X
We love credit cards that come with an array of perks — especially when they can outweigh the card's annual fee. When you maximize benefits on a credit card, it can mean the bank is essentially paying you to keep the card year after year. However, not using the perks means you're potentially paying a fee for no reason.
This definitely applies to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The card has a ton of perks, and you need to use as many of them as possible to justify the $395 annual fee.
The Venture X card also has a 75,000-mile welcome offer right now for those who spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account membership. That bonus could be worth $1,388 according to TPG's latest valuations.
If you recently got the Venture X credit card, here are the things you should do now to unlock the card's full value.
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Get access to over 1,300 airport lounges
Airport lounge access can play a major role in easing the stress of traveling, and Venture X cardholders can access two types of lounges simply by having the card. You'll need to enroll for access to the majority of these, though.
If you have the Venture X, you get unlimited access to Capital One lounges. This also applies to your authorized users on the card, along with complimentary entry for up to two guests per visit (children 2 and under are free). Additional guests are $45 each.
To gain access, simply show your boarding pass and Venture X card.
At present, the only Capital One Lounge open for guests is at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The lounge is in Terminal D, near Gate 22. Additional lounges are planned for Denver International Airport (DEN), located in Concourse A on the mezzanine level, and Dulles International Airport (IAD), located in the main terminal, just after the TSA PreCheck security line.
Related: From Peloton to premium eats: A complete guide to Capital One’s airport lounges
The vast majority of lounges that Venture X cardholders can access come with Priority Pass Select membership. After enrolling and receiving your membership card, you and your guests will have access to over 1,300 lounges in airports worldwide. Enjoy free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, showers (in some locations) and a quiet space to stretch out while waiting for your flight. You can bring all guests traveling with you into Priority Pass lounges for free, so long as you have boarding passes for a same-day departure.
To enroll, simply visit this page and enter your 16-digit Venture X account number. Then, follow the prompts to complete your registration.
Alternatively, you can access this page by logging in to your Capital One account, navigating to the benefits section and clicking on the Priority Pass icon.
Just note that it may take up to two weeks for the site to recognize your new card.
Incredibly, authorized users on your card also get Priority Pass membership, which leads us to the next point.
Add free authorized users
You can add up to four authorized users to your Venture X account for free. You'll be responsible for anything they charge to their cards, but all of the miles earned from their purchases will go into your rewards balance. If you're using your card responsibly, adding authorized users to your account can also help their credit scores.
The real benefit here is that you can share some of your best benefits with authorized users. Authorized users receive access to Capital One lounges and a Priority Pass membership of their own — with the same guest access as the cardholder. The best part is that there's no cost to add up to four authorized users to your card. Using the Capital One Lounge as an example, that means 15 people (you plus four authorized users along with two guests apiece) can enjoy visiting the lounge.
Fifteen people entering a lounge for free meals before a flight — all thanks to a single credit card with an annual fee of $395 — can't be understated.
Related: Credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users
Apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
No one likes waiting in line at airport security. Luckily, there's a way to speed up the process, and the Venture X can help you get it for free.
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are programs designed to help pre-screened passengers get through security checkpoints more quickly. Global Entry applications cost $100, while TSA PreCheck applications cost $85. Each one is valid for five years.
Once every four years, Capital One will reimburse Venture X cardholders up to $100 as statement credits toward application fees for these programs. This credit is once per account, meaning authorized users do not get their own fee reimbursement.
If you're going to choose between one of these programs, I recommend Global Entry. That's because it includes TSA PreCheck benefits in addition to expedited screening when returning to the U.S. from another country.
Change your method of payment on your cellphone bill
How much did you spend to buy your cellphone? For most of us, that answer is in the range of hundreds of dollars — though some top-of-the-line models can exceed $1,000. In short, phones aren't cheap. And the cost of replacing them after damage or theft can be painful.
If you pay your monthly cellphone bill with your Venture X card, you're automatically covered against damage and theft. This applies to every phone line listed on the bill, and coverage will kick in for the next calendar month after your payment.
Related: How I wasted $300 using the wrong card to pay my cellphone bill
Note that there are some limitations to this coverage:
- You can file a maximum of two claims every 12 months.
- The maximum coverage is $800 per claim.
- There is a $50 deductible on each claim.
- Coverage is supplemental, meaning you must first exhaust any other applicable policies (like renters insurance, for example).
- The following are not covered:
- Accessories, except the standard battery or antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Phones purchased for resale or business use.
- Phones that are simply lost or misplaced.
- Phones stolen from checked baggage.
- Rented and borrowed phones.
- Phones on a prepaid plan.
- Cosmetic damage that does not affect the phone's functionality.
If your claim is related to theft of your cellphone, you need to file a police report within 48 hours to be eligible for the coverage from your Venture X card.
Activate rental car elite status
Over the last year or so, rental car agencies struggled with an unprecedented limited supply of cars. Elite status can be the difference between being able to reserve a vehicle or not, depending on where you’re trying to rent. The people waiting in line at the counter might be told that there are no more cars — while you head to the car that was set aside for you, thanks to your elite status.
And even if there are enough cars for everyone, you didn't have to wait in line to find out.
Venture X cardholders — including authorized users — receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status*. This is the top tier in Hertz's Gold Plus Rewards program. You can expect benefits like complimentary upgrades, a wide selection of cars from which to choose in the parking lot, a free second driver and the ability to skip the line. Rather than waiting in line inside to sign forms and get the keys, just head straight to the parking lot, get in your reserved car and drive off.
There are three great elements of this perk that we should highlight. First, it also applies to your authorized users, which is another great reason to add up to four authorized users for free. Second, you can use your Hertz status to gain status with other companies, thanks to status matching.
Finally, and most importantly, you can actually stack this perk with the card's enhanced earning rates on car rentals as well as the annual $300 credit for purchases through the Capital One Travel portal.
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. 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.
Related: The complete guide to car rental elite status matches
And since your Venture X card provides primary rental car insurance, this is definitely a great card to use to pay for rentals. Cardholders can get up to $75,000 in coverage for damage caused by collision or theft to a rental car. This comes without the need to buy insurance from the rental company. The car rental insurance benefit is a Visa Infinite card feature.
Bonus: Use the $200 vacation rental credit
If you applied for the Venture X on (or before) March 14, 2022, part of your initial welcome bonus was up to $200 in statement credits for vacation rentals, covering sites like Airbnb, Vrbo, TurnKey and Vacasa. This is available for the first year of cardmembership, so you'll want to make these purchases no later than 12 months after applying for the card.
Since these are statement credits, you'll need to spend first and then wait for reimbursement from Capital One on qualifying purchases. Capital One says reimbursement should come within a week but notes that it could take up to two billing cycles.
It doesn't all have to be in one purchase, either. If you take multiple trips at lower rates, you'll receive credits from Capital One until you cross the $200 threshold. The terms of the offer say this:
The $200 statement credit will be provided as a single credit if the purchase is greater than or equal to $200, or in multiple statement credits until the total vacation rental purchases are greater than or equal to $200.
And don't forget that you may be able to stack your earnings here. Always check if you can use a shopping portal or earn bonus miles on rentals to maximize your earnings and discounts.
Related: How to use the $200 vacation rental credit on the Capital One Venture X card
Bottom line
The numerous perks included on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can seem daunting. Rather than leaving you wondering where to get started, we've compiled a list of six things you should do as soon as you receive your card. This should give you a jump-start on maximizing your benefits and offsetting the card's $395 annual fee.
The current welcome offer on the card is worth $1,388 based on TPG’s latest valuations, so that's a major incentive to open the card. However, if you can take advantage of the majority of perks and benefits offered by the Venture X, it should keep earning a spot in your wallet year after year.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.