Capital One Venture X: Benefits and Review

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Capital One Venture X card is one of my favorite options for families who want a flexible points option and the best card option for luxe benefits.

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Basic Card Details

Earning rates

• 10x Venture miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
• 5x Venture miles on flights booked via Capital One Travel
• 2x Venture miles on all other purchases

Annual Fee – $395

The annual fee is $395 a year. If you’ve never had a card with a high annual fee, this may seem crazy! But thanks to just 2 annual benefits ($300 travel credit and 10k anniversary points), it is really easy for many people to break even on this.

That’s not even taking into account all the other benefits!

You can also add 4 authorized users for free to share some of the benefits.

Annual Travel Credit – $300

The $300 annual travel credit is per cardmember year. That means if you apply for the card in March 2022, you have through February 2023 to use the credit.

This credit is for bookings made through Capital One Travel. You can book flights, hotels, or car rentals.

If you usually would book $300 of flights, hotels, or car rentals during a year, it is really easy to use this credit. Even better, you will earn 10x miles on hotels or car rentals that you book through the portal — so in using this credit, you also could earn 3000 miles. Keep reading to see how we used this benefit without even paying for a hotel.

In my experience, the credits appeared on my statement within a week of the purchase I made through the portal. Note that the Vacation Rental Credit was a temporary credit when the card launched.

$300 credit hack: I ended up having to cancel the hotel I had booked through the Capital One portal and I got a refund. Notably, Capital One didn’t take remove the travel credit. I’ve had a few other people test this out and it seems to be a standard policy. If you want to essentially cash out the $300 credit you can book a refundable reservation and let your credit post. Wait at least another full statement cycle and then cancel it. You should get a refund and keep your travel credit (based on my experience anyway). This could change at any time but in July 2022, it is working.

Account Anniversary Bonus – 10,000 miles

Every year on your account anniversary, you will also receive 10,000 bonus miles. At the minimum, you can redeem this for $100 in travel credit.

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My Favorite Venture X Benefit: Lounge Access

This is hands down my favorite perks of the card. It is especially valuable because you can add 4 authorized users for free and they all get their own lounge access for themselves and 2 guests. You get access to lounges with 3 different lounge networks: Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium.

The easiest way to keep track of which airports have lounges that give you access is to get the Lounge Buddy App. It lets you create a free account and note which cards you have that give you lounge access. Then when you search an airport, it will show you all the options at that airport.

The ability to add Authorized Users for free is what sets this card apart and makes it the best credit card for families who want lounge access.

Large Family Lounge Hack: Capital One lets you add kids of any age as authorized users. Not only will you help build their credit (Assuming you use the card responsibly), that means you can get even more people into the lounge! Each cardmember can bring 2 guests.

Capital One Lounges

Capital One currently has a lounge at the Dallas Fort Worth airport and lounges are scheduled to open in Denver and Washington Dulles in 2023.

Each cardmember can bring 2 guests with them into the lounge.

To access the lounge, just show your Venture X card. Check out this great review by Miles for Family to see what the lounge is like.

Priority Pass Lounges

Each cardmember is also able to enroll in a Priority Pass membership. Enter in your home airport or airports you are traveling to on the Priority Pass website to browse some options!

Though there are sources that say you get 2 guests with your Priority Pass membership, the terms are actually vague about guests allowed for Priority Pass.

The Capital One website currently says, for Priority Pass, “Unlimited complimentary access for your guests traveling with you.” While it does not specify a number of guests for Priority Pass lounges, it does specify two guests for Capital One and Plaza Premium Lounges. This leads me to believe that you could actually get in more than 2 guests per card but I haven’t had the chance to test it myself yet.

When the Venture X was first released, the Priority Pass membership was more included access to non-lounge Priority Pass experiences, including select airport restaurants and spas. As of January 1, 2023, Priority Pass membership through the Venture X will exclude these non-lounge experiences just as American Express does.

When you receive your physical card, you can use the number to sign up here for Priority Pass Membership : https://prioritypass.com/capitalone

You have to be 18 to sign up for Priority Pass Membership. If you added your kid as an authorized user, there is an easy workaround to get the Priority Pass Membership in the name of an adult.

That’s because of this: the name on the Priority Pass membership does not have to match the name on the credit card. Essentially the credit card gives you the benefit of signing any one person up for a Priority Pass membership.

In our case, I added my son as an authorized user on my card. He is 9 so he can’t get a Priority Pass membership because there is a minimum age of 18. Instead, I used his card number and created a Priority Pass membership for my husband.

There are two extra benefits here, too! First, I didn’t have to add my husband to the card as an authorized user (so it doesn’t affect his 5/24 status for trying to open Chase cards). Second, it will help my son build credit.

A few weeks after you sign up, you will receive your Priority Pass card in the mail. I recommend you download the app and use the digital membership card instead!

When you enter a Priority Pass location, you’ll typically need to show your membership card and your boarding pass for the day. They will process your card and add any guests you have with you. Be sure to check open and close times as well as guest policies for individual lounges.

If you are a single parent, you can add your child as an authorized user on the card and then open a second Priority Pass membership in your name. When you go to use a Priority Pass lounge, you can use both cards in your name and they will allow you to bring in two guests per card.

Plaza Premium Lounges

Capital One Venture X cards also give you access to select Plaza Premium Lounges. This includes some Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses.

Show your Venture X card to get access to the lounges for yourself and two guests.

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Capital One Venture X Benefits

You can find more details and even more benefits in the Venture X’s benefits guide. Because the Venture X is a Visa Infinite card, you also get access to Visa Infinite perks.

Cell Phone Protection

If you pay your cell phone bill with the Venture X card, you will receive complimentary cell phone protection. It applies to all lines on the bill.

You get $800 of coverage if your cell phone is stolen or damaged. There is a $50 deductible per claim and you can use the benefit twice per 12 month period.

This includes accidental damage.

Free Shipt Membership for 3 Years

With your Venture X card, you are also entitled to a Free Shipt Membership for 3 years! This gives you free delivery on orders over $35. Activate your benefit here.

Free Museum Membership – includes the Louvre!

Through a new partnership with Cultivist, Capital One Venture X cardholders can get a 6 months complimentary Enthusiast level membership (a $240 value).

Note that the ongoing monthly membership fee of $40 is automatically billed after complimentary membership expires. Make a note to cancel your membership after 6 months.

This membership allows you and 3 guests to enter the museums for free. If you’re a family, you may want to stagger when you sign up for this benefit to maximize your time.

Sign up here to activate your membership. Browse the list of museums to see which require you to request tickets 24 hours in advance, others give you instant access. The Louvre requires 7 days advance notice.

This can represent huge savings for families who love museums!

TSA Precheck / Global Entry Credit

If you pay for your TSA PREcheck or Global Entry membership with the Venture X, you will get a statement credit for up to $100 (valid once every 4 years).

Hertz President’s Circle status

The primary cardmember and authorized users can sign up for this status. Perks include being able to skip the counter, guaranteed upgrades, and free additional drivers.

Extended Warranty Protection

You can receive an additional year of warranty protection at no charge on eligible items that are purchased with your Venture X card.  

Visa Infinite Concierge

Want a hand making the perfect dinner experience? A Visa Infinite concierge will help make the reservation and more, like line up live stage show, music or sporting event tickets.

Venture X Travel Insurances

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage

If you paid for a ticket with your Venture X, you can receive up to $2,000 per eligible person for the nonrefundable common carrier ticket.

“Eligible persons” include you (the cardholder), your spouse or domestic partner and your dependent children if you charged the entire cost of the trip to your card or redeemed your miles earned from the card.

The trip cancellation and interruption insurance on the Venture X will only cover you and your immediate family members in one of the following scenarios, but there are some excluded situations.

• Death, accidental bodily injury, disease or physical illness.
• Default of the common carrier resulting from financial insolvency.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If you experience a flight delay of at least six hours or requiring an overnight stay, you can receive up to $500 per eligible person for reasonable expenses incurred such as hotel rooms, meals and more. Your period of travel also must not exceed more than 365 days.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Rent an eligible vehicle with your card and you could be covered for damage due to collision or theft. Learn more about rental car insurance.

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My Take

This is the best option for families who are looking to get airport lounge access. Even better, since you can add 4 authorized users for free (who get their own lounge access) it is so easy for a whole family to get in. Or add a friend/parent/sibling and gift them their own lounge access for Christmas!

I love that it is easy to make up your $395 annual fee. The $300 annual travel credit is fairly easy to use (and note my trick above for cashing it out). In general to get the credit, you will have to book through the Capital One portal which means if you book hotel stays you won’t earn elite night credits or be able to utilize any elite benefits you have. But since it is a Visa Infinite card, the car rental protection will be strong, so we will likely use our credit to book rental cars. 

The lounge access for families as well as the ability to easily get our annual fee value back means this is easily a card we will keep long term. 

The transfer partners for Venture miles may seem a bit obscure, but there are some great options which I will outline below. 

In the past, Capital One has been notoriously fickle with people who have many cards open. I was auto-approved even though I’m at 8/24 (have opened 8 personal cards in the past 24 months). 

If you decide to apply, I appreciate if you use my referral link!

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5 Great Uses of Venture X Miles

Here are 4 of my favorite uses for families with Venture X miles!

Use your miles to “erase” any travel purchase — even Disney!

While this is not the way to get the max value from your miles — it is a very easy redemption option that still provides value! If you have 75,000 miles, you can use it to erase $750 of travel purchases.

This works for any expense that codes as a travel expense. You can erase Airbnbs, hotels, or cheap flights. This is also the easiest way to pay for Disney Vacations using points.

You can even plan to use your points this way before you have them.

Transfer to Wyndham Rewards and use to book Vacasa Rental homes

This is my personal favorite option and the one we plan to utilize for our Venture miles.

Rental homes cost 15,000 Wyndham points per bedroom per night. This makes homes with lots of bedrooms very expensive but one bedrooms can be a great value. The pricing does not take into account if homes have lofts or basements with extra sleeping areas. Some one-bedroom homes actually sleep up to 8. Or you can book a 2 bedroom house for 30,000 points.

Read my full post on Booking Vacation Rentals with Points for all the details.

Transfer to British Airways for cheap flights to Dublin or Hawaii

This booking might seem more advanced if you’re new to miles and points, but I promise you can do it!

British Airways has different partner airlines and those are the ones you’d want to use miles to book on. British Airways charges very high taxes and surcharges on its own flights, so we avoid them.

The sweet spot here is direct flights. British Airways uses a distance-based calculation for award flights. It also charges per flight segment. This means it makes flights with connection very expensive.

Two of the best deals are:

• Fly from the West Coast to Hawaii on non-stop flights (on their partners Alaska or American) for 26,000 points round trip. Taxes will be $5.60 each way. You will need to find saver availability on those award flights.
• Fly on AerLingus for 26,000 miles round trip on direct flights from Chicago and farther east (if you fly off-peak). You will pay taxes and fees of $200ish per person.

Transfer to Choice Hotels for great stays in Europe

Venture miles transfer to Choice hotels at a 1:1 ratio. This isn’t as good as the Citi Premier card, which transfers at 1:2 — so if you like this option, I’d recommend you look at the Citi Premier card instead. But Choice has some fabulous hotels in Europe — like this one in Venice which is as low as 16,000 points per night.

It also has some great family options in the US with 1 bedroom suites or bigger.

Buy baseball tickets to a MLB game

Capital One has some exclusive tickets at baseball games — and sometimes you can get great seats for as little as 5,000 points each. See Thrifty Traveler’s write up for all the details.

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Card Application

If you decide to apply, I am so grateful if you use my affiliate link!

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.

Editorial Disclosure – Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.