The Capital One Venture X: An All-Time High Bonus!
Hey friends, what's up? Phillip here with Points of Phillip, and today's a big day because it's official – I've opened another card! For a long time, my strategy has been primarily American Express-first, but I'm excited to share how this new addition, the Capital One Venture X, is blending into my points game.
The Venture X is Capital One's top-tier travel card, and right now, it boasts an incredible all-time high signup bonus of 100,000 Capital One miles! To earn this bonus, you'll need to spend $10,000 over the course of six months. While that's a substantial amount, the extended timeframe makes it more achievable for many personal cardholders. (There's also a Venture X Business card with an even higher bonus and spend requirement, but for my wife and me, the personal card hit the sweet spot).
Beyond the generous signup bonus, let's explore why this card is truly a fantastic addition.
Annual Fee? Not Really!
The Venture X comes with a $395 annual fee. However, as the saying goes, Capital One essentially pays you $5 to keep the card each year. Here's how:
$300 Annual Travel Credit: You receive a $300 credit each card member year for travel booked through the Capital One travel portal. Simply make a qualifying travel purchase, and the credit applies. A recent change means you won't earn points on the portion covered by this $300 credit.
10,000 Anniversary Bonus Miles: At the end of your first card member year (and every year thereafter), you'll receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles. Valued at 1 cent per point, that's another $100.
Subtracting the $300 credit and $100 in anniversary miles from the $395 annual fee, you're effectively ahead by $5 each year!
Earning Miles: A Powerhouse for Everyday Spend and Travel
The Venture X offers a robust earning structure:
2X Miles on Every Purchase: This is unlimited, making it a fantastic catch-all card. Unlike some business cards (like the Amex Blue Business Plus) that cap 2% earnings at $50,000 annually, the Venture X has no such limit, allowing it to grow with your spending.
10X Miles on Hotels & Rental Cars: Booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
5X Miles on Flights & Vacation Rentals: Booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
As a Visa Infinite card, it also comes with benefits like being accepted at Costco, meaning you'll earn 2X miles on unlimited Costco purchases – a huge perk for my wife and I as we enter the final stages of our adoption process and anticipate many more trips for diapers and supplies!
Premium Benefits & Perks
Lounge Access: The Venture X grants you and two guests unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges. While Capital One Lounges are still growing (current locations include Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington D.C., with Newark and JFK coming soon, plus a unique Capital One Landing restaurant in DCA), it's a valuable perk. For authorized users, new rules in 2026 will require a $125 annual fee for individual lounge access, but if traveling with the primary cardholder, guests (including AUs) can still enter free.
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit: Get up to $100 statement credit every four years for your application fee. This is great for family and friends if you already have it!
Exclusive Memberships: The card also includes a "Prior" membership (special perks) and "Cultivist" membership, offering access to various art museums worldwide – a fantastic benefit for culture-loving travelers.
Why the Venture X Fits My Strategy
My points strategy has always focused on diversification, and the Venture X solidifies this approach in several key ways:
Common Transfer Partners: Capital One shares many valuable airline transfer partners with American Express, Chase, and Citi, such as Air Canada, Air France/KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. This synergy allows me to combine points from different ecosystems into one program for larger, more aspirational redemptions.
Cathay Pacific Advantage: With American Express devaluing transfers to Cathay Pacific next spring, Capital One's partnership becomes even more crucial. This is key for booking British Airways Club World Suites to London Heathrow with fewer points and significantly lower taxes/fees ($200 USD via Cathay Pacific vs. potentially $1000 directly with British Airways).
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Essential for my international travel, ensuring I save money on every overseas purchase.
Personal Card Protections: As a personal card, it offers enhanced travel, purchase, and fraud protections that can be more robust than those on some business cards.
While Capital One isn't the strongest for direct hotel redemptions compared to Amex (Hilton 1:2) or Citi (Wyndham 1:4, Choice 1:2), it does have Accor Live Limitless at a 2:1 ratio. For domestic flights, you can leverage partners like Air Canada for United flights, Avios for American Airlines, and Air France/Virgin Atlantic for Delta. This versatility means Capital One miles are great for both domestic and international travel, though I'd look elsewhere for primary hotel redemptions.
The Future of Capital One: Exciting Possibilities
There's even more to be excited about with Capital One:
Potential Savor X Card: Rumors suggest a future "Savor X" card with higher multipliers on dining and entertainment. If this comes to fruition, Capital One could become an all-encompassing powerhouse for everyday spend.
Discover Acquisition: With Capital One's acquisition of Discover, there's potential for Discover It's 5% rotating categories to transfer to Venture Miles. This could create a powerful 5X rotating category option, filling any current gaps in Capital One's earning structure compared to Chase or Citi.
My wife and I are dedicated to international travel, and with a new "player three" entering the game, we'll need all the points we can get! The Venture X is a strategic addition that enhances our ability to earn, diversify, and redeem points efficiently for our travel goals.
So, what do you think about the Capital One Venture X? Are you considering getting it? Let me know in the comments section below!
Thanks so much for watching, and I'll see you guys later. Have a great day!