Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review

holding Capital One Venture X travel credit card

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Iโ€™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.

Iโ€™ve been using this card since 2024, and now that Iโ€™ve had some solid experience, Iโ€™m ready to share the good, the bad, and the swipe-worthy.

๐Ÿ’ธ Ready to apply?  
Use my referral link to sign up for Capital One Venture X



benefits vs drawbacks

PROSCONS
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 โ€” credit doesnโ€™t roll over!
glitchy mobile app
booking via phone can be buggy โ€” use desktop
10,000 anniversary mileshigher 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 Presidentโ€™s Circle Status
skip lines & get better cars

lounge access

Sadly, I havenโ€™t had the chance to visit the Capital One Lounge yet โ€” NYC airports (JFK & LGA) are still in the โ€œcoming soonโ€ phase.

Iโ€™ll update this post as soon as I visit their lounge(s)! ๐Ÿฅฒ

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 youโ€™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 a Capital One Venture X?

A: Yes โ€” youโ€™ll need to have excellent credit (740+). If youโ€™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 โ€“ 4x a year or more (especially internationally), 100%. The travel perks alone can outweigh the annual fee.

Q: Whatโ€™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 โ€“ 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 talkโ€ฆ

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 youโ€™re paying $395 to get your own $300 backโ€ฆ so the math doesnโ€™t math unless youโ€™re maximizing all the other perksโ€ฆ?

That said โ€” 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 Presidentโ€™s Circle (Iโ€™ll probably dive in this more in either this post deeper later)

โœจ ON EXCLUSIVITY

Needing an excellent credit score (740+) makes this card feel like Capital Oneโ€™s way of competing with Amex. It gives off premium vibes, but honestly? The perks donโ€™t fully match that level yet. It still feels like Capital One is building the Venture X brand to eventually get there.

๐Ÿ’บ ABOUT THE RECENT LOUNGE GUEST FEES

This used to be one of the best perks โ€” 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 โ€” 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 hasnโ€™t been a problem. Lounges for us arenโ€™t a priority either; we basically use this card as our everyday credit card to rack up miles (โ€œpointsโ€) 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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Last Updated: 11.10.2025

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