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Capital One is stepping up its game. Last year, the issuer unveiled the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, a luxury travel card that’s jam-packed with premium perks.
One of these benefits is airport lounge access, with unlimited entry for the primary cardholder and up to two guests. Coupled with the launch of the Venture X Credit Card, Capital One has also unveiled its flagship airport lounge in Dallas that comes with state-of-the-art amenities and chef-curated dishes, raising the bar for airport lounges.
While the issuer plans to add more locations across the country (with Denver and Washington-Dulles set to open this year!), the footprint of these lounges will be admittedly limited while Capital One builds out these new lounges. Luckily, Venture X cardholders can also enter Priority Pass lounges with 1,300-plus locations worldwide -- so there are airport lounges no matter where you turn.
Capital One Adds 100-Plus Lounges into its Network
Now it gets even better: Capital One is further expanding its network, which is great news for Venture X cardholders. Starting June 14, cardholders can get access to even more lounges -- and to the tune of more than 100 locations worldwide. Here’s a sampling of the new lounges travelers can enter (and be sure to check out the full list here):
- All domestic Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, located in BOS, IAD, JFK, LAX, SFO
- The Air France Lounge in YUL
- MERA Business Lounges in CUN
For example, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses are a welcome addition as they are recognized as some of the best airport lounges in the country. They’re located in some of the busiest airports in the nation where travelers are likely to connect out of or are currently based.
At the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, travelers can expect an à la carte menu and complimentary cocktails, offering an upgraded, sit-down restaurant feel rather than a typical lounge experience elsewhere. This announcement of these new 100-plus lounges also means that Venture X cardholders have access to the most airport lounges worldwide of any premium travel credit card out there.
Best of all, the Capital One Venture X Credit Card undercuts its premium card competitors at a lower cost of $395 per year. There are other key benefits worth considering on the card to make this annual fee seem much more approachable, like an annual $300 travel statement credit and an impressive earning rate to boot:
- 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through the Capital One travel portal
- 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Frequent travelers can see some great utility out of the Venture X. If they can take advantage of the card’s benefits to its full potential, the $395 annual fee pales in comparison.
Alternatives to the Capital One Venture X
If you don’t carry the Venture X and are looking for lounge access, Capital One offers some cheaper alternatives for $95 per year.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the sister card that still comes with a solid rewards rate, offering 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
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Sign Up Bonus
75,000Capital One Rewards Miles
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Capital One Rewards Miles * 0.018 base)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to both beginner and expert travelers. The upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making the card a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines is with the flexibility of the redemption process, though. You can redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Overview
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to beginner and expert travelers alike. The card’s big upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making it a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines, though, is with the redemption process. When it comes to travel credit cards, it can be really challenging to find a way to use your rewards in the way you want.
With hotel and airline credit cards, for instance, you’re basically stuck redeeming your points or miles with the co-branded hotel or airline partner. And with some general rewards programs, you might get less value if you use your points or miles to book a flight versus a rental car or hotel.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, though, you’ll get a lot of flexibility. Here are some of the top redemption options that are available: redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Perks
- Receive an application fee credit for TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to premier culinary events, must-see music events and major sporting events
Pros
- Simple rewards and earning structure
- Ability to earn transferable points to use with travel partners
- Relatively modest $95 annual fee
- Application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
Cons
- Other travel cards offer higher rewards rates on certain spending categories
For business owners, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business Credit Card comes with a solid 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. Both Venture and Spark Miles for Business cardholders also get two lounge passes per year, which could previously only be used at the Capital One lounges before. Fortunately, these visits can be redeemed at these new 100-plus lounges. In general, a lounge visit can cost anywhere from $25 to $50 out of pocket, so this benefit is also a big win for these travel cardholders.
Bottom Line
If airport lounge access is top of mind, the Capital One Venture X offers access to a breadth of locations around the globe. These 100 new lounges are an exciting enhancement to the Capital One travel network, as it gives cardholders more options to experience rest and relaxation away from the busy terminal.
Featured photo courtesy of Virgin Atlantic.
Marielle Lee
Marielle Lee is a digital nomad, working as a freelance writer in personal finance and travel rewards. Her first job was as a tour guide in France for several years, specializing in the country's great wine regions. After that, Marielle continued on to travel to more than 40 countries, all made possible by leveraging the 10-plus credit cards in her wallet.
