Ever feel like you are wasting half of your day just to board a plane? The unspoken rule says you need to arrive three hours before your flight for international trips and two for domestic ones, just to pass the security maze lines and then to play the thrilling game of ‘Find the Gate’! But keep a tight grip on your boarding pass because with this card in your pocket, you might even find yourself voluntarily arriving at the airport earlier.
Welcome to the guide that will help you travel in style. The world of credit cards can take you to far places, but this card will take you inside privileged places. The points-earning perks from this card are great, especially the irresistible sign-up bonus.
However, the best part of this card is that it grants you access to airport lounges, where you can lounge like a boss while sipping on complimentary beverages and indulging in a few bites while either working hard or hardly working before your flight.
Capital One Venture X card burst onto the scene in November 2021, charming its way into everyone’s wallet with its phenomenal travel perks. And it’s no wonder why this card is at the top in all the travel card rankings—it’s like the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson of credit cards, smashing competition with its unbeatable perks and rock-solid rewards.
Sign-up Bonus
Firstly, this card comes with a substantial signup bonus of 75,000 points, which is enough for a roundtrip ticket from the US to Europe in economy class or a one-way ticket in business class. Now that we’ve got your attention and you’re daydreaming about sipping Aperol spritz in Italy, here’s the catch: in order to receive the 75,000 points, you must spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. This might sound like a lot, but considering today’s inflation, it’s just the regular budget of a few months including a few overpriced lattes and avocado toasts.
Rewards
Other than the 75K points bonus, what we love about this card is that every purchase earns you 2 points per dollar spent. As a credit card pro, we have multiple cards, and always opt for the one that maximizes our points accumulation. We often find ourselves reaching for the Capital One Venture X because having a card that consistently earns you 2 points on everything is unbeatable. But it doesn’t stop there.
We frequently use this card to book flights and hotels through the Capital One portal, where we are rewarded with a generous 5 points per dollar spent on flights and an impressive 10 points per dollar spent on hotels. Of course, it’s wise to conduct some research because while the portal often delivers fantastic flight deals, the same can’t always be said for hotels.
Additionally, we prefer flex points in our Capital One account over airline points because they offer more flexibility (learn more on flex points here). The travel portal is a great tool to earn points, but beware – do NOT use your points in the travel portal; this is a big mistake. Instead, transfer your points to Capital One travel partners to get much better value for them. Repeat after me: transfer partners are my best friends.
Lounge Access
This card comes with lots of benefits, and without hesitation, the most valuable one is the airport lounge access. The Capital One Lounges and the Priority Pass memberships offer you, and your lucky guest, entry at airport lounges all over the world. No more paying $20 for a tasteless sandwich at the airport, as most lounges provide complimentary food, beverages, and a comfortable place to sit.
Capital One has opened a few lounges in the US, currently in Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington D.C., Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) in Texas, Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado, and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada, and they are the best ones we have experienced in the US.
Having this card has definitely improved our travel experience. Trust us, once you join the lounge life, you’ll wonder how you ever survived the airport without it!
Annual Fee
All this sounds fabulous, but let’s address the elephant in the room: the $395 annual fee. That amount may not be pocket change but let us tell you why it’s a fantastic deal. Sure, $395 might sting a bit at first, but it comes with a sweet $300 credit to splurge on the Capital One travel portal. Without even reaching for your calculator app, you’re now looking at a $95 cost, which is easy to justify considering all the perks this card offers.
First, there’s the lounge access, which alone is worth more than $95. Second, you get amazing travel insurance, purchase extended warranty, return protection, and Hertz rental car President’s Circle status. On top of that, add Global Entry or TSA Precheck (with up to $100 in statement credits), and you’ll be zooming through airport security faster than an F1 car.
So, while at first it may seem like a splurge, this card is the gift that keeps on giving.
Final Thoughts
The first year with this card feels like a honeymoon—75K points, sign me up! But the real question: is it a keeper? You bet! Every card anniversary, you get 10K points and all those awesome perks, which will be hard to live without. Our Venture X and us? We’re in it for the long haul! Here’s to many more years of racking up rewards and living the high life!
Apply here and see you at the lounge!
