I’ve had the Capital One Venture X for a while, and when it launched, it completely reshaped how people thought about premium travel cards. But I already had or have picked up other cards with overlapping perks — the Amex Platinum, Ritz-Carlton, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Bilt Mastercard.
Through them, I have other ways of getting lounge access, travel credits, and insurance protections. So the natural question to ask is:
Do I still need the Venture X? What would I actually lose if I got rid of it?
What I Actually Use
$300 Annual Travel Credit
This is the easiest way to break even with the card. The $300 annual travel credit applies to bookings through Capital One Travel, and I’ve used it on flights with Spirit and Frontier without paying more than the direct prices.
I’ve already used most of my credit this year, leaving around $45, which is easy to burn with a small car rental or hotel deposit. It’s straightforward to use, but it’s worth setting a reminder before your anniversary date to make sure you use the entire credit every year.
10,000-Mile Anniversary Bonus
Every cardmember year, you get 10,000 bonus miles worth at least $100 toward travel — or potentially more if you transfer to the right partner program. This is automatic and doesn’t require any effort.
Between the travel credit and anniversary miles, the Venture X already covers its $395 annual fee before you even think about lounge access or other perks.
Cell Phone Protection
I pay my cell phone bill with the Venture X because the coverage is slightly better than what I get from my other cards. It provides up to $800 per claim, with a $50 deductible and two claims per year.
I could get cell phone protection elsewhere, but this version offers a higher payout cap and fewer restrictions — and it’s an easy, set-and-forget benefit that saves about $180 per year compared to paying for carrier insurance.
Lounge Access
Between the cards my wife and I hold, lounge coverage is comprehensive:
- Amex Platinum → Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, and others
- Ritz-Carlton → Priority Pass + Chase Sapphire Lounge access with unlimited guests
- Venture X → Capital One Lounges + Priority Pass (with no guests when 2026 rule changes take effect)
Because of that mix, Capital One Lounges are the only added benefit, and they’re more of a “nice-to-have” than a must-have. The network is still small — currently just JFK, LAS, DEN, DFW and IAD, with more on the way — but the lounges themselves are excellent.
The DFW lounge is one of our favorites and usually our first choice when connecting there. But with Centurion, Sky Club, Sapphire, and Priority Pass lounges already covered, Capital One Lounges serve as a great backup option when other clubs are crowded or unavailable.
Summary: We already have extensive lounge coverage across multiple networks, so Venture X mainly adds convenience and flexibility rather than unique value.
Rental Car Coverage
The Venture X includes primary rental car coverage, which protects against theft or collision for rentals up to 15 days in the U.S. and 31 days worldwide. That’s solid — but since I already have protection from the Ritz-Carlton, Sapphire Preferred, and Bilt cards, it’s a redundant benefit rather than a deciding factor.
Still, it’s handy when I book rental cars through Capital One Travel, where I earn 10× miles and can use the travel credit.
Transfer Partners
Capital One doesn’t have many exclusive transfer partners, but it fills a few useful gaps.
- Finnair Plus (Avios) is mostly unique to Capital One, though since Finnair uses Avios, you can move points in from British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or Qatar Airways.
- Japan Airlines Mileage Bank was recently added, but transfers at a less favorable 2:1.5 ratio. It’s still noteworthy since JAL rarely partners with U.S. issuers.
- Other partners — like Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Etihad, and Avianca — match what you’ll find with Amex, Citi, or Chase.
Overall, it’s a solid but not groundbreaking lineup. It’s nice to have, especially if you value flexibility or want to spread points across ecosystems.
Other Perks & Experiences
- Hertz President’s Circle® – Complimentary top-tier status that includes upgrades and faster check-in.
- Flight Disruption Insurance – Additional coverage, which, for a small fee, will help rebook or refund your airfare if your flight is delayed by 3+ hours, canceled, or if you’re at risk of missing a connection due to a delay.
- Capital One Entertainment – Access to exclusive concert and event presales (including the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, which, let’s just say, didn’t go perfectly).
- Capital One Dining – Reservation access at hard-to-book restaurants and curated dining experiences.
- PRIOR Subscription – Complimentary access to the high-end travel-planning service.
- The Cultivist Membership – Six-month membership granting free admission to 60 museums worldwide for you and a guest.
None of these are “must-have” perks, but they’re pleasant extras that fit the card’s luxury-lite positioning.
Premium Card Overlap
The Venture X doesn’t necessarily add anything new that my other premium cards don’t already cover. Still, it pluses up a few categories — like Capital One Lounges and slightly better cell phone protection.
Between my Amex Platinum, Ritz-Carlton, Sapphire Preferred, and Bilt, I’m already well covered for travel perks and protections. But since the Venture X effectively pays for itself with the travel credit and anniversary miles, it doesn’t really cost me anything to keep — and it adds a little extra flexibility when traveling. I do like the option of purchasing the flight disruption insurance for flights where I really need to be somewhere.
Final Verdict
Breaking even with the Venture X is easy — one travel booking basically covers the annual fee. While it overlaps heavily with other premium cards, it still earns its place in my wallet.
You won’t find the same level of exclusivity or volume of benefits that come with an Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve, but you also won’t pay their steep annual fees. At $395, the Venture X offers premium-card value at a mid-tier price.
It’s not packed with gimmicky statement credits or “coupon book” perks. Instead, it’s straightforward — you get what you expect and not much more. I do like to bring this card when we travel because it’s from a different bank than Amex or Chase. That way, if our accounts get frozen by one bank, we have another option.
For travelers who already hold other high-end cards, the Venture X is a keeper if you value simplicity, reliable core benefits, and a low-effort breakeven point.
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