Essential Highlights
With a moderate annual fee set at $95, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out as a solid mid-range travel card. It dishes out a straightforward 2X miles on every single purchase, alongside a handful of enticing extras.
Among its standout features, travelers appreciate the statement credits offered for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, plus round-the-clock travel support that always has your back.
An In-Depth Look at the Capital One Venture Rewards Card
The Venture card truly shines thanks to its rewarding miles structure:
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked directly through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other spending
What truly sets this card apart is the freedom it offers: no pesky blackout dates hold you back, miles never expire, and when booking via Capital One Travel, your miles convert at a reliable 1 cent per point. Delving further, transferring your miles to airline and hotel partners can unlock even more lucrative redemption opportunities.
Quick Fact
According to recent data, Capital One Venture miles typically hold a redemption value hovering around 1.7 cents each when used with top-tier transfer partners, making them competitive in the travel rewards sphere.
Travel-Centric Advantages of the Venture Card
As expected, most of the card’s juicy benefits gravitate toward wanderlust-fueled cardholders. The Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit grabs attention, but the perks don’t stop there.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Capital One generously covers up to $120 for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee — a perk many other cards simply don’t offer.
This feature even swayed Bankrate’s senior editor, Nouri Zarrugh, to snag the card himself.
“Being my first mid-tier travel card, the TSA PreCheck credit was a major factor in my choice. I sought a simple travel rewards card without a steep annual fee, and this benefit combined with the welcome offer made it a no-brainer.”
— Nouri Zarrugh, Senior Editor at Bankrate
Capital One’s Transfer Partners: Unlocking More Value
Much like familiar rewards giants American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One’s miles can be transferred to a roster of airline and hotel partners—boosting your overall value.
Airline Partners & Transfer Ratios
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 |
| Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 1:1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 |
| British Airways | 1:1 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 |
| Finnair Plus | 1:1 |
| Flying Blue (Air France & KLM) | 1:1 |
| Infinity MileageLands (EVA Air) | 2:1.5 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 |
| TAP Miles&Go | 1:1 |
| Turkish Airlines | 1:1 |
| Virgin Red | 1:1 |
Hotel Partners & Transfer Ratios
| Accor Live Limitless (ALL) | 2:1 |
| Choice Privileges | 1:1 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 |
Smart transfers often translate into doubling your redemption value — a nugget of wisdom shared by Bankrate’s Ryan Flanigan, who relishes traveling luxuriously without the luxury price tag.
“I crave luxe travel, but paying full price isn’t realistic. With well-planned points use and transferring to partners, I score first-class flights and top-tier hotel stays, saving thousands along the way.”
— Ryan Flanigan, Certified Credit Counselor and Bankrate Contributor
Elevate Your Stays with the Lifestyle Collection
The Venture card rolls out the red carpet with insider upgrades at Lifestyle Collection hotels. Imagine snagging a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, plus the perks of early check-in or late check-out—availability permitting—across over 100 worldwide locations.
Though this benefit is less cut-and-dried than Chase Sapphire Preferred’s annual $50 hotel statement credit, it still packs a punch as a compelling bonus.
“If the cash is going out regardless, why not squeeze the most juice from your spending?”
— Ryan Flanigan
He highlights the Venture cards as stellar performers in delivering value for their annual fees.
Travel Protections That Have You Covered
The Capital One Venture card automatically includes several vital travel safeguards:
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Covers up to the actual cash value of most rental cars in case of theft or damage*
- 24/7 Travel Assistance: Emergency card replacement and cash advances if your card goes missing*
- Travel Accident Insurance: Protection for covered losses when you pay your common carrier fare with this card*
Beyond Travel: Extra Perks of the Venture Card
Capital One Entertainment and Dining Experiences
Enjoy priority access to presale tickets and exclusive events spanning sports, concerts, and gourmet dining through Capital One Entertainment. Plus, rack up 5X miles on eligible purchases made within the program.
Capital One Dining further opens doors to unique culinary adventures, letting cardholders enjoy special dining experiences worldwide.
Robust Consumer Protections
The handy Capital One Mobile app grants you tools such as instant card lock, zero fraud liability, real-time alerts, and emergency card replacement. When shopping online, feel secure using “virtual cards” for added protection.
Eno Assistant & Virtual Credit Card Numbers
Security buffs will find Eno’s virtual card numbers a welcome shield, even though this feature isn’t as prevalent as before. Best of all, it’s included with your card at no extra charge.
Via the CreditWise app, track your VantageScore anytime, simulate potential financial moves, get notified of any changes in your TransUnion credit report, and scan the dark web for your Social Security number, keeping identity theft risks in check.
Capital One Shopping: Your Secret Savings Sidekick
This unobtrusive browser extension tirelessly hunts down better deals and coupon codes across over 30,000 retailers, helping you trim expenses effortlessly. Plus, you earn Capital One Shopping Credits redeemable for gift cards from popular stores like Walmart and eBay.
While it mirrors other rebate tools, Capital One Shopping remains a free, low-profile gem for snagging occasional discounts.
How to Squeeze Every Drop of Value from Your Venture Card
Thanks to its flat rewards framework, wringing out the card’s benefits requires minimal extra legwork.
Here’s your action plan to milk this card for all it’s worth:
- Compare prices through Capital One Travel before booking. Since reserving hotels, vacation homes, and rental cars here nets you 5X miles (versus only 2X elsewhere), always check the portal’s rates first. When prices align or better, booking inside the portal is the savvy move.
- Pay your full balance every billing cycle. Carrying a balance means paying steep interest that can outstrip your rewards. To truly benefit, commit to settling your charges on time.
- Take advantage of the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. Apply this credit not only for yourself but for others too — it covers the membership fee as long as you use your Venture card for payment.
- Use your Venture card for everyday spending and bills. Boost yearly rewards by charging routine expenses—gas, groceries, utilities, school supplies, kids’ activities, and more.
Final Thoughts
If simplicity and solid travel rewards appeal to you, the Capital One Venture is a contender worth considering. Flexible redemption methods and a suite of noteworthy benefits can help you save cash, enjoy travel luxuries, and score exclusive event access.
Still, shopping around is wise—compare this card with others on the market, including those from Capital One itself, like their no-annual-fee options.
*For Capital One products referenced here, some benefits may be provided via Visa or Mastercard and can differ by card. Refer to the respective Guide to Benefits for full terms and exclusions.