The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers plenty of potential value, but knowing where to start can be a challenge.
From the sign-up bonus to the travel credits, this card offers a few ways to start earning back the $395 annual fee. But you’ll need to know how to qualify and activate many of the card’s best perks to take full advantage.
- Earn the sign-up bonus
- Start booking your travel through Capital One
- Apply for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
- Find the best airport lounge near you
- Protect your cell phone
1. Earn the sign-up bonus
The best way to maximize the value of your new Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is by earning the sign-up bonus. Currently, the card offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases during your first 3 months of card ownership.
Those points are worth $750 when redeemed for travel through Capital One Travel. Plus, you might be able to get an even better value if you move your bonus points to one of Capital One’s transfer partners. Just make sure to do research on your options and check rewards program point values before transferring.
2. Start booking your travel through Capital One
Capital One rewards you for booking your trips and accommodations through their dedicated travel portal.
That value starts with the card’s $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel. Depending on your booking, that credit might be enough to cover a flight or hotel stay. But keep in mind that you won’t earn rewards on bookings that use any part of the credit.
Even once you’ve earned the full credit, booking trips through Capital One Travel is one of the best ways to grow your reward balance. Purchases made through the portal earn you:
- 10 miles for every $1 on hotels and rental cars
- 5 miles for every $1 on flights and vacation rentals
Plus, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 you get from all other purchases made with the card.
When it’s time to redeem your points for travel, you might be able to maximize your value by transferring your points to one of Capital One’s transfer partners. For purchases, though, Capital One Travel is likely your best option.
3. Apply for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, two programs that can help you get through airport security faster.
Picking the right option for you is simple — PreCheck helps you get through TSA checks at U.S. airports, but Global Entry does that and helps speed up the security check at U.S. Customs upon entry into the country.
If you don’t already have membership in one of these programs, keep in mind that you’ll need to go through the full application process before you can use these benefits. Your credit card only covers the application fee with a statement credit — it won’t get you through the application any faster.
4. Find the best airport lounge when you fly
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card features quality airport lounge access, but you’ll want to do your research before finding the best option for your travels.
It’s smart to start your search with the flagship Capital One Lounges, which are open in airports around New York City, Washington, D.C., Dallas and elsewhere. Your card provides complimentary access, but you may want to sign to secure access via the Capital One app before your arrival.
If you’re not at an airport with a Capital One Lounge, you’ll also have access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide through Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. With these lounges, you’ll also be able to bring two complimentary guests per visit — but you must at the Priority Pass website for access to those lounges.
5. Protect your cell phone
Paying your cell phone bill with your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can provide extra peace of mind.
When you pay that monthly bill with your card, you could be reimbursed up to $800 if your phone is stolen or damaged.
You might not ever need to use this coverage, but getting in the habit of paying your cell phone bill with your new card could end up being a big benefit in the future.
Next steps
Your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with other benefits, like a $100 experience credit at certain hotels booked through Capital One Travel. But the perks we’ve called out above are most likely to help you find value early in your card membership.
Once you start using your card more often, you might find it has some gaps you’d like to fill. For instance, if you’re looking to maximize your rewards balance for redemptions, you may want to add another Capital One card to improve on any non-travel rewards rates you get from this card.