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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
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Selecting the appropriate travel rewards card can be a daunting task, especially when you’re first starting out. It’s a natural inclination to simply choose a card with an earning structure you understand, a few benefits you might use, and redemption options that are easy to execute.
On the flip side, a traveler might want to jump in with both feet and select a premium travel rewards card with all the bells and whistles.
Today we’re going to talk about 2 such very different rewards cards. One is a card you might consider if you were just starting out, mostly because of its simplicity but also because of its familiarity due to its advertising exposure.
The other card has a high annual fee, bonus earning categories, various flexible redemption options, and a long list of travel benefits.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are both respectable travel rewards cards, each offering value when matched with the right type of traveler.
So, is it better to keep things simple or go for the card with all the premium offerings?
We’re about to take on that conundrum and dive deep into our 2 featured cards to assist you in determining which is the better fit for you.
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card — Overview
Before we dive into all the details, let’s look at a side-by-side overview of the Capital One Venture card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card for a glance at the overall value of each card as it could relate to your situation.
Please note that the information for the Capital One Venture Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and has not been provided by the card issuer. Some of these benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See your respective guide to benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Feature or Benefit
Capital One Venture Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Annual Fee
$95
$550
Earnings
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
10x pointson hotels, car rentals, and Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards and Lyft rides (through March 2025)
5x points on air travel
3x points on other travel and dining worldwide
1x points on all other purchases
Top Redemption Options
Transfer to airline and hotel partners
Purchase travel through Capital One Travel at 1 cent per mile
Redeem for previous travel at the rate of 1 cent per mile (within 90 days)
Redeem for cash at the rate of 0.5 cents per mile
Transfer to airline and hotel partners
Purchase travel through the Ultimate Rewards for 1.5 cents per point
Redeem for a statement credit or cash at 1 cent per point
Reimbursements/Statement Credits
Up to $100 reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee
Up to $300 statement credit for travel purchases
Up to $100 reimbursement for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck fee
Travel Benefits/Protections
Secondary car rental insurance; lost luggage reimbursement
2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
Primary car rental insurance
Priority Pass Select membership
Trip cancellation/interruption; delayed and lost luggage reimbursement; emergency medical, dental, and evacuation
Shopping Benefits/Protections
Purchase protection, extended warranty
DoorDash DoorPass subscription and monthly credit (activate by December 2024)
Instacart+ membership and monthly credit (activate by July 2024)
Purchase protection, extended warranty
Welcome Offers
Welcome bonuses offer an opportunity to quickly build a bank of redeemable rewards. You’ll earn this bonus on either of our featured cards after meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval.
Here’s how these cards stack up with regard to these initial bonuses.
Capital One Venture Card
Welcome offers for the Capital One Venture card may vary, but you can expect to receive a reasonable bonus. Miles may be worth potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
20.99% - 28.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)
As a frequent traveler with excellent credit, you’re always on the lookout for a credit card that comes with all the bells and whistles. And the easier it is to understand, the better!
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardis one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great sign-up bonus, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Pros
5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Capital One transfer partners
Cons
$95 annual fee
Limited elite benefits
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from our Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
The welcome bonus offered on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is worth 1.5x more when redeemed through the Chase travel portal or transferred to the Chase airline and hotel partners for potentially even greater end value.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Excellent (740-850)
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Bottom Line: If you want simplicity, you won’t find a better earning structure than the Capital One Venture card with a minimum of 2 miles per dollar earned on every purchase. If you’re a frequent traveler and have a lot of associated spending, however, you’ll find greater upside earning opportunities and travel benefits with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Redeeming Rewards
Both Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to airline frequent flyer programs to book award flights. Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 first class. Image Credit: Greg Stone
Capital One miles earned on the Capital One Venture card are not the same as frequent flyer miles — the miles function as redeemable miles similar to the Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
When you’re ready to redeem your rewards on either card, you’ll find several options, although values vary depending on the redemption option you select.
Purchase travel through Capital One Travel at 1 cent per mile
Purchase travel through the Ultimate Rewards for 1.5 cents per point
Statement Credit/Cash-back
Redeem for previous travel at the rate of 1 cent per mile (within 90 days)
Redeem for cash at the rate of 0.5 cents per mile
Redeem for a statement credit or cash at 1 cent per point
Other Redemption Options
Gift cards, Amazon
Gift cards, Amazon, Apple, experiences
While redemption options on each card are similar, the rewards currencies can differ significantly in the value received. The sweet spot for Capital One miles is transferring the miles to travel partners for the best potential value.
Ultimate Rewards points can also be transferred to travel partners for potentially more value, plus you have the option to redeem the points for 1.5 cents each on the Chase travel portal. When redeeming Capital One miles for travel with Capital One Travel, miles are only worth 1 cent.
Ultimate Rewards points are much more valuable overall, however, as points could also be redeemed for cash at 1 cent each versus Capital One miles at 0.5 cents each.
Bottom Line: Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card are more valuable than Capital One miles as the Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for 1.5 cents each towards travel or 1 cent per point for statement credits or cash-back.
Annual Fees, Authorized Users, and Transfers
The Capital One Venture card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card are in different leagues regarding earning rewards, redeeming rewards, and benefits offered. The same differences hold true regarding annual fees, adding authorized users, and transfers between accounts.
Annual Fees
The Capital One Venture card currently charges an annual fee of $95. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has an annual fee of $550.
Authorized Users
The Capital One Venture card does not charge a fee to add an additional user to your card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card charges $75 to add an authorized user. Authorized users do, however, receive worldwide lounge access via Priority Pass Select membership and some travel/shopping benefits and protections.
Transfers Between Accounts
The Capital One Venture card allows free transfers of Capital One miles to any account that is eligible to earn miles. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card allows no-fee transfers to family members’ accounts in the same household.
Travel Benefits and Protections
If airport lounge access is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card may be an appropriate card choice. GOL Premium Lounge at Rio de Janeiro International Airport Domestic Terminal 2. Image Credit: Chris Hassan
Both of these featured cards offer benefits and protections that can save you money and provide assistance during your travels.
Here are some common travel benefits and protections found on our featured cards:
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Reimbursement — Use your card to pay for the fee and receive up to $100 in reimbursement for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
No Foreign Transaction Fees — You can take either of these cards with you when you travel as neither charges fees on foreign purchases.
Lost Luggage — You could receive up to $3,000 per trip for lost or stolen luggage.
Capital One Venture Card
In addition to the previously mentioned benefits, the Capital One Venture card comes with these useful and money-saving features:
Auto Rental Insurance – Use your card to rent an eligible vehicle and you may be covered for physical damage and theft of the vehicle. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details
Roadside Dispatch Service — Get help if your vehicle breaks down and pay just 1 discounted flat fee for roadside assistance.
Gravity Haus Benefits— Cardholders receive a $300 discount toward a membership. This entitles you to discounted hotel stays near top ski resorts, exclusive events, and discounts on your ski or snowboarding gear. This partnership will last through January 19, 2024.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is packed with additional valuable travel benefits and protections.
NEXUS Reimbursement — In addition to TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you can also use your card to pay for the NEXUS enrollment fee and receive up to $100 in reimbursement.
Car Rental Collision Damage Waiver — Pay for the entire car rental with your card, decline the CDW/LDW coverage offered by the rental car company and receive primary car rental coverage for damage and theft.
Trip Cancellation, Interruption, and Delay — Coverage of up to $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per occurrence, a maximum of $40,000 per 12-month period for trip disruption, and up to $500 for a trip delay of more than 6 hours.
Up to $300 Travel Statement Credit — Receive a statement credit for your first $300 in travel purchases each card anniversary year.
Emergency Medical, Dental, and Evacuation — Receive up to $2,500 for emergency medical or dental, and $100,000 for emergency evacuation.
Roadside Assistance — Receive up to 4 free service calls each year, a maximum of $50 coverage for each occurrence.
Car Rental Privileges — Enjoy cardholder discounts and other perks with Avis, National, and Audi on demand.
Delayed Baggage — If your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 a day for 5 days.
Emergency Travel Assistance — Receive access to a dedicated phone line to assist you with medical or legal referrals, emergency transportation, help with replacing a lost passport, and much more.
This list of benefits and protections is not all-inclusive, and descriptions have been abbreviated. You’ll want to access the specific card’s guide to benefits for the full descriptions, terms, and conditions.
Bottom Line: While both cards come with several travel benefits and protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is by far the winner for the frequent traveler. The card comes with a high annual fee, however, so you’ll want the card only if you can optimize the offered benefits.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
While you might not select a travel rewards card for its shopping benefits and protections, these perks could influence your decision.
Here are the shopping-related benefits/protections that come with each card.
Benefit/Protection
Capital One Venture Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Extended Warranty
For items with manufacturers’ warranties of 3 years or less, the warranty will be doubled, up to 1 additional year
Manufacturers’ warranties of 3 years or less will have 1 additional year added
Purchase Protection
90 days of protection from purchase date for damage and theft on eligible items
120 days of protection from purchase date for damage and theft of eligible items, up to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per year
Free delivery on orders over $35, 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders, and a lower service fee for 1 year
$15 per month statement credit
Must activate by July 31, 2024
Return Protection
N/A
Up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year if the merchant will not accept a return within 90 days of purchase
If you use DoorDash or Instacart, having complimentary subscriptions for those purchases is a big positive for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting out and trying to decide on a travel rewards card, the Capital One Venture card does make the process simple — you spend on the card and earn 2x rewards. Even with several redemption options, that process is also simple.
If you’re a frequent traveler, however, you could receive better value from a travel rewards card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. With 3x earnings on travel and dining, worldwide lounge access, up to $300 in travel credits, and a long list of travel benefits, the card offers a package that matches most traveling profiles. It does have a hefty annual fee, but if you can use even a couple of its benefits, such as lounge access and the travel credit, you could receive value far beyond that fee.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
The best card for your situation will depend on how the card’s earnings match up with your spending, whether the redemption options align with your travel goals, and if you’ll use the benefits on the card.
If you’re looking for simplicity and don’t want to pay a high annual fee, the Capital One Venture card could be the better choice.
If you’re a frequent traveler and find value in premium travel benefits such as worldwide lounge access, travel statement credits, travel benefits and protections, and top redemption values, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, even with its higher annual fee, could be a fit.
Capital One miles are flexible, redeemable miles. You earn a set number of miles for every dollar you spend on your Capital One credit card.
The miles earned are deposited in your account after each statement period closes and then subsequently available for redemption.
You can redeem your miles for travel, transfer the miles to travel partners to purchase award tickets or hotel rooms, redeem for statement credits against prior travel purchases, shop at Amazon, redeem for gift cards, or for cash.
Capital One miles do not expire as long as you have an active miles-earning card.
Ultimate Rewards points are earned on every purchase you make with your eligible Chase credit card. There are also bonus categories that earn multiple points per dollar spent.
These points are deposited into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account each statement period and are then ready for redemption.
You can redeem your points via the Chase travel portal, transfer your points to airline and hotel partners, shop at Amazon and Apple, and redeem for cash, experiences, gift cards, and more.
Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as you have an active Ultimate Rewards-earning card account.
Capital One miles can be transferred to any other Capital One account at no charge. The only requirement is that the Capital One account you’re transferring to is also a miles-earning account.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
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