Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review
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I’ve been looking to expand my horizons on travel credit cards since I started with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Apple Card, but once I realized I needed a more travel-focused rewards system, I began exploring.
Enter Capital One Venture X.
After going through the perks, I applied, got accepted, and received my card.
I’ve been using this card since 2024, and now that I’ve had some solid experience, I’m ready to share the good, the bad, and the swipe-worthy.
💸 Ready to apply?
Use my referral link to sign up for Capital One Venture X
benefits vs drawbacks
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| lounge access includes Priority Pass lounges | lounge guest fees additional guests pay $45 per visit at Capital One Lounges or $35 with Priority Pass |
| $300 annual travel credit use it or lose it — credit doesn’t roll over! | glitchy mobile app booking via phone can be buggy — use desktop |
| 10,000 anniversary miles | higher flight prices in portal Capital One Travel uses Hopper, which can be $$$ |
| 10x miles on hotels + cars when booked through Capital One Travel | requires excellent credit score this can also be a pro as well for exclusivity |
| hotel room upgrades when available | $395 annual fee only worth it when you use the travel credit + perks |
| early check-in / late check-out when available | |
| no foreign transaction fee | |
| Hertz President’s Circle Status skip lines & get better cars |
lounge access
Sadly, I haven’t had the chance to visit the Capital One Lounge yet — NYC airports (JFK & LGA) are still in the “coming soon” phase.
I’ll update this post as soon as I visit their lounge(s)! 🥲
BUT! With your Venture X card, you also get a complimentary Priority Pass membership. This gives you access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, even if you’re flying economy. Priority Pass can be a real blessing, especially if you arrive early at the airport and can relax in a lounge before your flight. Keep in mind that not all lounges that accept Priority Pass are equally good, so it's a good idea to check which ones are available at your nearest gate and choose the best option for your needs.
FAQ
Q: Is it hard to get Capital One Venture X?
A: Yes — you’ll need to have excellent credit (740+). If you’re not quite there yet, check your pre-approval status or consider alternatives like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Q: Is Venture X worth it for travelers?
A: If you fly 3 – 4x a year or more (especially internationally), 100%. The travel perks alone can outweigh the annual fee.
Q: What’s the current sign-up bonus?
A: Spend $4,000 in the first 3 months and earn 75,000 miles (worth about $750 in travel).
Q: Can I use miles for more than just flights?
A: Yes! Use them on hotels, Amazon, and cash back (though I recommend the best value of using your miles is through travel bookings).
final thoughts
Great for frequent travelers (especially if you fly 3 – 4x/year domestically or internationally)
Ideal for luxury-on-a-budget folks who value perks like lounge access + hotel upgrades
Solid choice for travel-heavy spenders looking to rack up miles fast
Now for the real talk…
Personally, I still go back and forth about the $395 annual fee. Yes, you get a $300 annual travel credit, but it kind of feels like you’re paying $395 to get your own $300 back… so the math doesn’t math unless you’re maximizing all the other perks…?
That said — I do love:
The free Priority Pass membership
Lounge access (even with the new guest fee changes)
Room upgrades + early check-ins (like we scored at The Secret, Con Dao!)
Hertz President’s Circle (I’ll probably dive in this more in either this post deeper later)
✨ ON EXCLUSIVITY
Needing an excellent credit score (740+) makes this card feel like Capital One’s way of competing with Amex. It gives off premium vibes, but honestly? The perks don’t fully match that level yet. It still feels like Capital One is building the Venture X brand to eventually get there.
💺 ABOUT THE RECENT LOUNGE GUEST FEES
This used to be one of the best perks — free guest access.
But the card got too popular, and now starting on 2/1/2026, additional guests cost $45 (Capital One lounges) or $35 (Priority Pass) per person. If the cardholder spends over $75k a year, they can bring up to 2 guests for free.
I get why they changed it — overcrowding was a real issue, and they probably needed to scale it back to maintain quality. Luckily, my partner and I have the card, so lounge access hasn’t been a problem. Lounges for us aren’t a priority either; we basically use this card as our everyday credit card to rack up miles (“points”) for travel.
What are your thoughts on Capital One Venture X? Do you care about the recent changes being made, or are you also like me, unbothered and just like the miles?
check out my recent travel vlog!
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Considering the Capital One Venture X card?
Here’s my honest take as a real user. From lounge access to $300 travel credits, I break down the perks, drawbacks, and whether it’s worth applying — especially if you travel often and want premium benefits without the confusion.