Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card promises to make travel more rewarding and hassle-free. But does it live up to the hype?
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out for its straightforward approach to earning and redeeming miles. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone looking to make the most of occasional trips, this card aims to cater to your needs.
Key Features of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with an annual fee of $95. While this might seem steep to some, the card offers enough benefits to justify the cost, especially for frequent travelers.
Sign-Up Bonus
New cardholders can enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This bonus is equivalent to $750 in travel, making it a lucrative offer for those planning significant expenses.
Earning Rewards
- 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases.
There are no limits on the miles you can earn, and your miles never expire as long as your account remains open.
Transfer Partners
Capital One has partnerships with more than 15 airline and hotel programs, including Air Canada, Emirates, and Wyndham. Typically, you can transfer your miles to these partners at a 1:1 ratio.
Additional Benefits
- Up to $100 credit for the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry once every four years.
- Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges.
- No foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel.
How to Redeem Rewards with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Versatile Redemption Options
Your Venture miles are versatile. You can:
- Pay for travel directly with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and then receive a statement credit for the purchase.
- Book travel directly through the Capital One travel portal.
In both cases, miles are worth 1 cent each. This simplicity is a major selling point for the card.
Transfer Miles
You can transfer miles to a partner airline and book a flight. The exact value per mile will vary but could potentially be higher than a penny each.
Redemption Without Minimums
There’s no minimum redemption amount if you’re booking travel through Capital One or using your miles for a statement credit against an expense. This flexibility allows you to redeem even a few dollars’ worth of miles, which can help offset the cost of a pricey trip.
Aim for High-Value Redemptions
While straightforward redemptions give a solid 1-cent-per-mile value, transferring miles to partners can unlock much higher value, especially if you learn to navigate award charts of some foreign airline carriers.
Less Valuable Redemptions to Avoid
- Gift cards: Generally, you’ll get between 0.8 cents and 1 cent per mile.
- Shopping with rewards: Points are worth only 0.8 cents each when used with Amazon.
- Cash back: Miles are worth only 0.5 cents each.
Comparing the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with Other Cards
VentureOne Rewards vs. Venture Rewards vs. Venture X Rewards
| Feature | VentureOne Rewards | Venture Rewards | Venture X Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-Up Bonus | 20,000 miles | 75,000 miles | 75,000 miles |
| Earning Rates | 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase | 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles on all other purchases |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 | $395 |
| Travel Benefits | None | TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, Lounge access | TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, Premium Lounge access, Priority Pass membership |
| APR | 0% intro APR for 15 months; 19.99%-29.99% variable | 19.99%-29.99% variable | 19.99%-29.99% variable |
| Annual Benefits | None | None | $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, 10,000 miles anniversary bonus |
Summary Table of Key Benefits
| Benefit | Venture Rewards Card |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 75,000 miles (after $4,000 in purchases in first 3 months) |
| Earning Rate | 5 miles per $1 on hotels/car rentals (Capital One Travel), 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases |
| Travel Benefits | TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, Lounge access |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
FAQs
What does 50,000 miles get you at Capital One?
In most cases, your Capital One Venture miles will be worth 1 cent each. That means 50,000 miles are worth $500 in travel when you pay for your qualifying travel expense directly with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and then use your miles to receive statement credit for the purchase. Alternatively, you can book travel directly through the Capital One travel portal. You can also choose to transfer miles to a partner airline and book a flight, potentially increasing the value of each mile.
What airlines can you use with Capital One Venture?
You can transfer your Capital One Venture miles to the following airline programs:
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Alitalia MilleMiglia
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Avios
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- Finnair Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
You can also book a ticket directly on any airline and use your Capital One Venture miles to cover the charge with a statement credit.
Do Capital One miles expire?
Capital One miles never expire as long as your card remains open. If you close your account, you will lose any unused miles. There’s no limit to the amount of miles you can earn on the card.
Can I transfer my Venture miles to someone else?
Yes. Capital One allows you to transfer your miles to a family member or even a friend, as long as they have a Capital One miles-earning account, like a Venture or Spark card. There’s no cost to pool your miles. Other major travel rewards programs may have stricter restrictions if they allow sharing at all.
Is it worth using Capital One miles on Amazon?
You can choose to use your Capital One Venture miles to shop with Amazon, but they’ll be worth 0.8 cents each when you do so. If you choose to use them for travel instead, they’ll be worth 1 cent each.
The Bottom Line
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out in the crowded field of travel rewards cards thanks to its straightforward rewards system and flexible redemption options. The combination of earning 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, along with 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases, makes it a compelling choice for frequent travelers and casual spenders alike.
The $95 annual fee is offset by a generous sign-up bonus and valuable travel benefits such as TSA Precheck/Global Entry fee credits and lounge access. Whether you’re looking to simplify your travel rewards experience or maximize the value of your miles, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a well-rounded package worth considering.
