Why I Love The Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card is well my favourite bank card, and the one I like to recommend most frequently to fellow journey lovers. And that’s saying one thing, contemplating I write about bank cards for a dwelling.

Ever because it was introduced again in 2021, I knew the Enterprise X would grow to be a game-changer. Lastly, right here was a card that will permit extra frequent vacationers to get into the premium journey card area. Apart from beneficiant rewards, the Enterprise X gives simple-to-use advantages that make journey extra snug, in addition to annual credit that may simply offset the $395 annual payment. And whereas the payment remains to be excessive, it’s greater than $150 decrease in comparison with different common playing cards within the premium journey class.

Right here’s extra on what I like concerning the Enterprise X — and why I hold recommending it to different vacationers.

Beneficiant sign-up bonus

The Enterprise X is a beneficiant journey card — beginning with the intro bonus. At present, you may get 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening, which is the same as $750 in journey.

Once I was making use of, the issuer had a special supply, which allowed me to earn 100,000 miles (value $1,000 when redeemed for journey). I used these rewards on a ticket to Rome I booked with Lufthansa — a visit I sadly needed to cancel. Fortunately, the airline promptly refunded me, and the cash returned to my account. To make myself really feel higher, I spent it on Black Friday purchasing and a PlayStation 5. Not fairly as thrilling as a trip in Europe, however who else will get to say they managed to make use of their journey card to get a console with out shedding on the rewards worth?

Saves me cash

I at all times needed a premium journey bank card with perks that make journey extra snug. Nonetheless, being budget-minded, I discover common luxurious playing cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (with a $550 annual payment) and The Platinum Card® from American Specific (with a $695 annual payment) to be too costly for me for the time being.

Though their worth justifies their price for a lot of cardholders (notably those that do a number of touring), such a excessive single cost would imply I’d need to considerably lower my bills for the month when the annual payment is due. As compared, the Capital One Enterprise X has an annual payment of $395, and it has a few of the similar perks because the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum.

Moreover, the Enterprise X greater than pays for itself due to its as much as $300 in annual assertion credit for Capital One Journey purchases. It additionally gives 10,000 bonus miles in your account anniversary (redeemable by Capital One for journey at a 1-cent-per-mile worth). Final yr, I spent all of it, plus a few of my miles, touring from Seattle to Orlando, Fla., and Austin, Texas, for a bachelorette get together weekend and a marriage. With how excessive airfare costs get, I have a tendency to make use of each the annual credit score and anniversary bonus to cowl a single flight.

Plus, the Capital One Journey portal has some glorious money-saving options, together with value prediction, value drop safety, value match assure and others. That is way more than what different issuer portals are presently providing.

Easy redemptions

There’s a couple of kind of bank card nerd. Some are all about monitoring rewards values. They transfer their factors and miles between packages — generally a number of instances for one reserving — to squeeze each final tenth of a cent out of their rewards. That’s why they fly to the Maldives in first-class and do different good issues.

I’ve realized I’m not that kind. I’m the cardboard nerd who seeks the utmost worth on the minimal effort. With the Enterprise X, my miles are value 1 cent apiece, whether or not I exploit them to guide journey by the issuer’s portal or to cowl journey purchases I’ve already made. And perhaps I’ve solely flown first-class as soon as, I additionally keep away from the maths and different frustrations that shifting rewards to switch companions can carry.

And if I ever flip into the primary, good kind of card nerd, Capital One has switch companions, too.

Extra snug journey experiences

I like touring, however airports will be the stuff of nightmares. I can inform you horror tales about 18-hour flights with two layovers each methods. Nonetheless, it’s not all unhealthy with premium bank card perks that make journey extra snug, like entry to airport lounges and expedited airport safety.

With the Enterprise X, cardholders will obtain limitless complimentary entry for the cardholder and two friends to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide — together with Capital One Lounges and taking part Precedence Move lounges. That’s certainly one of my favourite issues concerning the card. SeaTac (SEA), my dwelling airport, has two lounges within the Precedence Move community, and I cease by nearly each time I fly. It’s exhausting to say no to free snacks and cozy seats to calm down in with my Kindle. Who’d select sitting by the gate when you’ll be able to have that?

The Enterprise X additionally comes with as much as a $100 credit score each 4 years to cowl the price of World Entry or TSA PreCheck software charges. World Entry is a program designed to supply expedited entry by American customs for many who ceaselessly journey exterior of the U.S. TSA PreCheck gives expedited safety screening while you journey domestically. In case you join World Entry, you get each — which I did.

I accomplished my World Entry interview when coming back from a visit to Mexico in 2022. Sadly, I haven’t traveled internationally since then. Then again, TSA PreCheck has been a traveler’s blessing. I don’t suppose I’ve spent greater than 10 minutes in an airport safety line since I signed up.

The journey perks on the Enterprise X aren’t as quite a few and elaborate as on different playing cards of its caliber — however they’re straightforward to make use of and might considerably enhance your airport expertise. For this reason this card is normally the primary one I like to recommend to frequent flyers who wish to journey in consolation. Simply a few months earlier than writing this text, I recommended it to my buddy who was initially contemplating the Amex Platinum for related advantages. She determined a $395 annual payment was way more preferable to the Platinum’s $695.

— Ana StaplesLead Credit score Playing cards Author

The underside line

I’ve had the Capital One Enterprise X card for over two years now. Its simplicity, glorious journey perks and a relatively reasonably priced annual payment have made it my favourite. It’s now the cardboard I construct my total card technique round. At present, I’m planning to make use of it to get me to Germany in fall with out spending a single precise greenback. Let’s hope that journey doesn’t get canceled — I actually wish to use that World Entry perk in spite of everything this time.