The current best welcome offer for the Capital One Venture X card is 75,000 points, when you spend $10,000 in the first six months after opening the card.
Once you hit that spending requirement, the miles usually show up within two billing cycles.
If you’ve had this card before and already earned a welcome bonus in the past 48 months, you won’t qualify again.
You can access the offer by using this referral link.
The referral offer and the public offer are the same. There is no extra bonus for applying through a referral link compared to applying directly. If you choose to use my link, you will have my eternal gratitude for supporting the site. If you have a friend or family member with the Venture X, you can also check whether they have a referral link you can use.
What to Know About Capital One Before You Apply
Capital One is a great program, but it works a little differently than other banks. A few things are helpful to know up front.
- Capital One approvals can be unpredictable. They tend to be stricter than Amex or Chase, and they frequently pull all three credit bureaus. Even people with excellent credit sometimes get denied.
- Capital One is sensitive to unusual payment activity. If you make several large payments a month or pay your card bill from a bank account that is not in your name, they may temporarily lock the account until they verify ownership.
- Identity verification can be more involved. Some applicants are asked to upload their driver’s license, complete a face scan, or verify details by phone before the card is fully usable. This is normal for Capital One.
My Experience With the Venture X Card
I signed up for the Capital One Venture X card when it first launched in late 2021, and my spouse did the same. It quickly became our primary card for non-bonus category spending, and we have kept both cards ever since.
Over the years I have cycled through plenty of other premium cards, including the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Venture X is the one that has consistently stayed in my wallet.
With the annual credits and the ongoing benefits, it has been an easy card for me to keep every year.
The biggest day-to-day benefit for us is the 2X transferable miles on all purchases. For a family of five, that steady earning rate adds up quickly.
The travel perks have also been valuable. When we fly as a family, the Priority Pass access covers both of us plus two guests each, which allows our entire family into the lounge. The lounge access alone has saved us many stressful airport meals.
I also use the card to pay taxes when needed, which effectively lets me buy miles for just under one cent each.
Capital One miles can be transferred to any cardholder who earns Capital One miles. There is no online tool for this, so you have to call in to complete the transfer, but every time I have done it the process has been quick and smooth.
If you are comparing the Venture X to the many 2% and 3% cash back cards, the main advantage is what you get on top of the 2X earning rate.
When you combine the welcome bonus, the travel credit, the anniversary miles, and the lounge access, the overall value is much higher if you plan to use the miles for travel.
You can redeem the miles for a simple travel statement credit, but the best value comes from transferring them to airline and hotel partners.
Best Uses of Capital One Miles
Over the years I have used Capital One miles for a wide range of trips, and the value has been consistently strong. Here are a few of the best redemptions I have personally made and why they worked well.
A Kauai Family Trip (Vacasa via Wyndham)
One of my favorite redemptions ever was using roughly 400,000 Capital One miles for a family trip to Kauai. At the time, I transferred the miles to Wyndham and booked a Vacasa rental. The Vacasa partnership has since ended, but it was an incredible example of the type of value you can get when Capital One has a strong transfer partner.
Short-Haul Domestic Flights via British Airways
We have family in Florida, so I frequently book short domestic flights on American Airlines through British Airways. British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, which makes short nonstop flights a great deal. Leaving from O’Hare, there is usually solid availability if you plan far enough in advance. We have even booked spring break travel this way when planning early.
Flying Blue for Trips to Europe
I have used Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue program many times because they tend to release good award space from the U.S. to Europe. They also run monthly Promo Rewards, which can reduce the number of miles required for certain routes. If you are flexible, it is one of the easier ways to book business class to Europe.
Aeroplan for United Flights from Chicago
Living in Chicago, Aeroplan has been especially useful because of the United hub at O’Hare.
I have booked several trips through Aeroplan, including flights to Costa Rica during winter break.
One advantage of Aeroplan is that United often releases award seats very early or at the very last minute. In a few cases I booked a refundable point fare far in advance, that required a layover, then switched to a direct booking when space opened within a couple of weeks of departure. I use PointsYeah to set alerts for this.
When a Simple Statement Credit Makes Sense
While transferring miles usually gives you the highest value, sometimes convenience wins. I have used miles for simple travel statement credits when I want to knock out small expenses like airport parking, rides to the airport, or other travel odds and ends.
It’s never the most valuable redemption, but it is an easy way to use miles you already have and make travel smoother.
Capital One Venture X Benefits and Perks
The Venture X offers a solid set of benefits that make the $395 annual fee well worth it in my opinion.
- 2X miles on all purchases. This excellent uncapped earning rate has made Venture X my go-to card for non-bonus spending. The flexible 2X miles really add up.
- $300 annual travel credit. Helps offset the annual fee. I use my credit towards rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Airport lounge access. Get complimentary access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide for yourself and 2 guests when traveling. The Venture X also grants unlimited access to Capital One’s own growing network of premium airport lounges.
- 10,000-point anniversary bonus. Receive 10,000 bonus miles every cardmember anniversary, starting on your first anniversary.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Get reimbursed up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years. Makes getting through airport security a breeze.
- No foreign transaction fees. The Venture X charges no extra foreign transaction fees, so it’s a great card to use internationally.
The Venture X really shines when it comes to travel perks and protections. Between the lounge access, credits and insurance, it offers exceptional value for travelers.
Capital One Offers: An Underrated Way To Earn A Lot More Miles
One perk that often gets overlooked with the Venture X is Capital One Offers. This is different from Capital One Shopping, which anyone can use.
Capital One Offers is only for cardholders and lets you earn extra miles when you shop with select merchants.
The earning rates can be very high. As I’m writing this (during the holiday season, when offers tend to be elevated), Viator is showing 30 times miles. I’ve also seen strong bonuses for travel, retail, and food delivery throughout the year.
If you redeem your miles for travel at one cent each, these offers are already solid. But if you plan to transfer Capital One miles to airline partners where you can reasonably get one and a half cents or more per mile, the value can be even better. A 30 times offer can end up returning close to 45% of your purchase back in travel value.
It’s an easy way to build your points balance faster, and it’s one of the benefits that makes the Venture X more valuable than a simple 2% cash back card.
Bottom Line
The Venture X card has become a staple in our household. Between the flexible 2X earning rate, annual credits, lounge access, and travel perks like primary rental coverage, it provides exceptional ongoing value.
I recently opened this card and I’ve enjoyed the perks already. Just used the $300 for a flight to Japan. The card is worth it!
Agree Stephanie! And thank you for sharing your link. I’ve put it in a database and will display it live whenever current link reaches maximum.
I have a 90K link as well if you are looking for one =)
Awesome. Feel free to email me at rj@thewaystowealth.com, and I’ll toss it in a spreadsheet I keep.