If you’ve been waiting for the right time to get the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, this is it. Capital One just dropped its highest welcome bonus in 4 years, and it ends January 5, 2026.
100,000 Capital One miles after spending $10,000 in the first 6 months. That’s 25,000 more miles than the standard offer. And according to our valuations, those 100,000 miles are worth $1,450 in travel.
But here’s the catch: you only have a few days left to apply.
Let me break down why this card is worth it, who should get it, and how to maximize the bonus before the deadline.
THE OFFER (ENDING JANUARY 5TH):
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Capital One miles after $10,000 spend in first 6 months
Annual Fee: $395
Value: $1,450 (based on our 1.45 cents per mile valuation)
This is only the second time the Capital One Venture X has had an elevated offer since it launched in November 2021. The last time we saw 100,000 miles? November 2021 – March 2022.
Since then, it’s been stuck at 75,000 miles for nearly 4 years. If you miss this, we have no idea when (or if) it’ll come back.
IS THE $10,000 MINIMUM SPEND WORTH IT?
Let’s be honest: $10,000 in 6 months is not easy for everyone. That’s about $1,667/month in spending.
But here’s the thing:
You earn 2x miles on every dollar you spend.
So that $10,000 in spending actually earns you:
- 100,000 welcome bonus miles
- 20,000 miles from the 2x earning
Total: 120,000 Capital One miles
That’s 12x miles per dollar on your minimum spend. At 1.45 cents per mile, that’s $1,740 in travel value.
Is it worth it?
If you can comfortably hit $10,000 in 6 months without manufactured spending, yes. If you’d have to strain your budget or pay fees to hit it, probably not.
Alternative strategy: If you can’t hit $10,000, consider waiting to see if Capital One brings back the 75,000-mile offer with lower spend ($4,000 in 3 months). But there’s no guarantee that offer will return.
WHY THE CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X ONE OF MY FAVORITE PREMIUM CARDS:
I call the Capital One Venture X an entry-level premium card because it gives you premium perks without the premium headaches.
Annual Perks That Offset the $395 Fee:
$300 Annual Travel Credit
- Automatically applied when you book through Capital One Travel
- No hoops to jump through, no monthly limits
- Use it for flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation rentals
10,000 Anniversary Bonus Miles (starting year 1)
- Worth $145 in travel value
- Automatically credited on your account anniversary
Just these two perks equals $445 in value
That more than covers the $395 annual fee before you even use the other benefits.
Premium Travel Perks:
Airport Lounge Access
- Capital One Lounges (luxury lounges in major airports)
- Priority Pass membership (1,300+ lounges worldwide)
- Important update: Starting February 1, 2026, guests will no longer be free (you’ll pay per guest). Authorized users will cost $125/year to retain lounge access.
Up to $120 Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Hertz President’s Circle Status (when you enroll through Capital One)
Premium Hotel Benefits
- Capital One Premier Collection (free breakfast, room upgrades at luxury hotels)
- Capital One Lifestyle Collection (perks at mid-tier hotels)
Free Authorized Users (until February 1, 2026, then $125/year per AU)
Premium Travel Protections
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Primary rental car coverage
- No foreign transaction fees
HOW YOU EARN CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X MILES:
The Capital One Venture X keeps earning simple:
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on everything else
HOW TO REDEEM CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X MILES (3 WAYS):
Capital One miles are some of the most flexible points in the game.
Option 1: Book Through Capital One Travel Portal
- Redeem at 1 cent per mile
- Your $300 annual credit applies automatically
- Example: 100,000 miles equal $1,000 toward travel
Option 2: Cover Travel Purchases
- Charge any travel purchase to your card
- Use miles to erase the charge at 1 cent per mile
- Works for flights, hotels, trains, theme parks, Airbnb, etc.
Option 3: Transfer to Airline & Hotel Partners (This is where miles get valuable)
- Transfer at 1:1 ratio to 15+ partners
- Unlock premium cabins and high-value redemptions
Capital One’s Transfer Partners Include:
- Airlines: Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
- Hotels: Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards
Sweet Spot Examples:
- 21,000 miles to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (business) to London (worth $3,200+)
- 38,000 miles to ANA business class to Japan (worth $4,000+)
- 15,000 miles to Flying Blue flights to Europe (worth $800+)
- 7,500 miles to Wyndham vacation rental for a week
When you transfer strategically, you can easily get 2-3 cents per mile (or more).
That makes this 100,000-mile bonus worth $2,000-$3,000 in premium travel.
WHO SHOULD GET THE CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X CREDIT CARD?
This card is perfect for:
- Travelers who want a simple, no-fuss premium card
- People who can hit $10,000 spend in 6 months comfortably
- Anyone who values lounge access and travel credits
- Travelers who want flexible points (portal OR transfers)
- People looking for their first premium travel card
This card might NOT be for you if:
- You can’t hit $10,000 in 6 months without straining
- You already have the Venture X and earned the bonus in the last 48 months
- You don’t travel enough to use the perks
- You prefer airline-specific cards
CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X APPLICATION RULES (IMPORTANT):
Before you apply, know these restrictions:
48-Month Rule:
- You’re not eligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve received a bonus on the same card in the last 48 months
- This applies to the Capital One Venture X specifically (not other Venture cards)
Venture Family Rule:
- If you’ve opened the Venture Rewards card in the last 6 months, you’re not eligible for the Capital One Venture X
- If you’ve opened the Capital One Venture X in the last 48 months, you’re not eligible for the Venture Rewards
Velocity Limits:
- Capital One traditionally approves one card every 6 months
- Some people get approved faster, but YMMV
Credit Bureaus:
- Capital One often pulls all 3 credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)
CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X vs OTHER PREMIUM CARDS
How does this stack up against competitors?
| Card | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee | Annual Credits | Lounge Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venture X | 100K miles ($1,450) | $395 | $300 travel credit + 10K miles | Yes (Capital One + Priority Pass) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 60K UR ($900) | $550 | $300 travel credit | Yes (Priority Pass) |
| Amex Platinum | 125K MR ($2,250) | $695 | Multiple credits (~$1,400) | Yes (Centurion + Priority Pass) |
| Citi Strata Elite | 100K TYP ($1,450) | $595 | $200 Splurge + $300 Hotel | No |
My take:
The Venture X is the easiest premium card to justify keeping long-term.
The Amex Platinum has more credits, but they’re complicated to use.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher fee with similar benefits.
The Citi Strata Elite is great for American Airlines transfers, but no lounge access.
HOW TO MAXIMIZE THIS BONUS:
Step 1: Apply before January 5, 2026
Step 2: Plan your $10,000 spend
- Spread it over 6 months (~$1,667/month)
- Use for regular bills, shopping, travel
- Don’t manufacture spend or pay fees just to hit the bonus
Step 3: Use your $300 travel credit in year 1
- Book a flight or hotel through Capital One Travel
- Credit applies automatically
Step 4: Decide how to redeem your 100,000 miles
- Portal booking (1 cent per mile equals $1,000)
- Transfer to partners (2-3 cents per mile means $2,000-$3,000)
Step 5: Maximize year 2 perks
- Use another $300 travel credit
- Earn your 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
- Decide if you want to keep the card long-term
Conclusion
The Capital One Venture X 100K offer is the best we’ve seen in 4 years. If you can comfortably hit the $10,000 minimum spend, this is an excellent deal.
Between the welcome bonus, annual credits, lounge access, and flexible redemption options, it’s one of the few premium cards that truly pays for itself.
But you only have until January 5, 2026 to apply. After that, we don’t know when (or if) this offer will return.
If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time.
Apply for Capital One Venture X →
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I get this if I already have the Venture Rewards card? A: Yes, as long as you didn’t open the Venture Rewards in the last 6 months.
Q: Can I product change from Venture to Capital One Venture X? A: Yes, but you won’t get the 100,000-mile bonus.
Q: Is the $10,000 minimum spend too high? A: It depends on your natural spending. If you’d strain to hit it, wait for a lower offer.
Q: When do the 100,000 miles post? A: After you meet the minimum spend (within 6 months), usually within 1-2 billing cycles.
Q: Can I downgrade after year 1? A: Yes, you can downgrade to the Capital One Venture or Venture One to avoid the second annual fee.
Disclaimer: This site is supported by affiliate links. When you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our content!
1 Comment