Everyone Said Amex Owned Travel, Until the Capital One Venture X Stole the Crown

For years, the American Express Platinum Card® was the status symbol of travel. Lounge access, hotel upgrades, and that satisfying metal click at the counter all defined what luxury looked like.

But lately, something's changed. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) quietly built a travel experience that's simpler and, in many ways, better.

A simpler path to luxury

Where Amex spreads its perks across dozens of credits and fine print, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card keeps it clean. You pay a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) and get:

• $300 in annual travel credits for bookings through Capital One Travel
• 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel)
• Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass™ lounges

It's straightforward value you don't have to chase. For most travelers, that clarity alone is worth the switch.

A recent trip is all it takes to see the difference. Book a $600 flight through Capital One Travel, get $300 credited back instantly, and earn 5X miles on the rest. Add free lounge access while you wait at the gate, and you've practically made up the card's annual fee in one booking.

That doesn't even include the limited-time offer: Earn 100,000 Miles when you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening. Worth $1,000 toward travel, this is one of the most lucrative limited-time offers you'll find.

Why the Capital One Venture X Card wins travelers over

The difference shows up once you start using it. Capital One's app makes it easy to book and redeem rewards in minutes. Miles post quickly, transfers are smooth, and you can share or gift miles without hassle.

There's no guessing which perk applies where. Every dollar you spend earns miles that can go toward real travel, not just airline fees or niche merchants.

You still get premium treatment with lounges, elite hotel status, and travel protections, but without managing a spreadsheet of credits. It's really no surprise why the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card just won our 2026 award for Best Travel Credit Card.

Value that compounds

Between the annual travel credit and bonus miles, most cardholders could offset the $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) before they even travel. Add in 2X miles on every purchase and the math gets hard to ignore. Read our more in-depth review to see if you want to apply today.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card turns everyday spending into flight upgrades and hotel nights without needing to learn a new system. It's the rare premium card that feels designed for actual travelers, not points hobbyists.