Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Capital One Venture X card?
Editor's Note
There's a reason the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has made a name for itself as one of the top premium travel cards.
It's not just the stellar travel perks, like an annual $300 Capital One Travel portal credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each cardmember year, that make the Venture X a desirable product.
It's also the fact that these two benefits alone effectively reduce the card's $395 annual fee to $0 when fully maximized — and that's before you account for other perks, such as lounge access.
The Venture X is the higher-end version of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the tried-and-true Capital One product that charges an annual fee of $95 but still offers a taste of what its more expensive counterpart provides.
That said, there are a few reasons the Venture X might not be ideal, depending on your travel habits and needs. Let's discuss who should — and shouldn't — consider applying for the Venture X.
Key Capital One Venture X benefits
New Venture X applicants can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Those 75,000 miles are worth at least $750 when redeemed for travel through Capital One's travel booking site or as statement credits toward other travel purchases.
However, according to TPG's November 2025 valuations, the bonus value is boosted to $1,388 if you transfer these miles to Capital One's 15-plus airline and hotel transfer partners instead.
In addition to the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (starting in year one), cardholders also get plenty of other valuable benefits:
- Authorized users: Up to four authorized users can be added at no charge.
- Solid earning rates: 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Up to $120 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
- Lounge access: Complimentary access for cardholders and authorized users and up to two guests per visit to Capital One Lounges. Cardholders also get access to 1,300-plus Priority Pass lounges worldwide. However, these policies will change Feb. 1, 2026. After this, authorized users will no longer receive complimentary access to Capital One lounges or Priority Pass lounges (unless they pay a $125 lounge access fee), and cardholders will no longer be allowed two complimentary guests to airport lounges (unless they spend $75,000 on the Venture X in a calendar year).
Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
Who should get the Venture X?
If you're considering the Venture X, here's when it could be a good fit.
You want simplicity in a premium card
Many other premium cards offer numerous statement credits and partner benefits, which can be hard to manage. Thankfully, the Venture X keeps things simple.
This card offers easy-to-use benefits, including the previously mentioned $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles.
The Venture X also serves as a great catch-all card since it earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all charges outside of hotels, rental cars, flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel.
You want to go to airport lounges
Venture X cardholders have access to a growing network of Capital One Lounges, including locations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Denver International Airport (DEN). There's also a Capital One Landing — which functions more like a traditional restaurant — at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Capital One Lounges all have a modern design and offer premium dining experiences, craft cocktails, wellness areas and business facilities. Food and drinks differ from lounge to lounge, often incorporating local delicacies and drinks from nearby cocktail bars.
You want free authorized users
Venture X cardholders can add up to four authorized users at no cost — an excellent value proposition for a premium travel rewards card. You'll earn miles when your authorized users spend on your account, but know that you're still liable for the bill.
Authorized users also get Hertz President's Circle elite status. By registering through your Capital One account, your authorized user can enjoy top-tier status with Hertz car rentals.
Authorized users receive free airport lounge access until Feb 1, 2026. After that, it will cost $125 per authorized user.
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.
You want travel protections
This Visa Infinite card offers some of the industry's most comprehensive travel and trip protection benefits.
That includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, cellphone protection, primary rental car protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and return protection.
Related: 5 of the most underrated travel rewards cards
Who shouldn't get the Venture X?
While the Venture X is an impressive product, it's not for everyone. Here's why.
You want a robust network of premium lounges right now
There are currently five open Capital One Lounges and a single Capital One Landing (a dining concept) you can get into with a Venture X card. In addition, the included Priority Pass Select membership gives you access to a variety of third-party lounges around the world.
Capital One has plans to expand its lounge network, but other issuers have made significant strides in building their own expansive lounge networks. For instance, those with the American Express Platinum Card® (and its business counterpart) receive access to Amex Centurion Lounges.
Amex Platinum cardmembers also get access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes access to Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when catching a same-day Delta flight), and various other lounge networks.
If you want immediate access to a large lounge network, the Venture X may not be the best choice.
You don't travel much or plan to leverage transfer partners
To truly maximize the Venture X card, you should consider leveraging Capital One's transfer program.
Capital One has made several significant advancements to its mileage program over the past few years, including shifting from fixed-rate redemptions to adding airline and hotel transfer partners and improving mileage transfer rates. Some standout transfer partners are Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank.
If you don't use transfer partners, the best you can do is redeem miles at a rate of 1 cent each toward any travel purchase.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Bottom line
The Venture X is an excellent option for those seeking a premium travel rewards card, especially if they frequently fly into or out of an airport with a Capital One Lounge.
However, for those seeking a card with a larger lounge network — or who don't require the flexibility of airline and hotel transfer partners — there may be better options available. It boils down to your specific travel needs.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X
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.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees