My Favorite Capital One Venture X Card Perk: Adding Free Authorized Users

Most parents claim they love all their children equally but secretly have a favorite. That is what it’s like when it comes to one of my favorite credit cards — the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One..

This travel credit card earns 2x miles on all purchases, with added bonuses like 10x miles on hotels booked through Capital One Travel. You can use miles to cover travel charges, book flights and hotels (complete with a $300 annual credit), or transfer to airline and hotel partners. Plus, you get 10,000 bonus miles every year. What’s not to love?

But my favorite benefit of the Capital One Venture X card is one of the reasons I have no plans on canceling the card anytime soon — and it might surprise you. It has nothing to do with bonus categories or earning or redeeming miles. Instead, it’s the ability to add up to 4 authorized users for free (rates & fees). Those users get some of the card’s main perks, including a special one: access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges.

Capital One Venture X Card Authorized User Benefits

Let’s be clear: the Capital One Venture X card isn’t the only premium travel card on the market. That said, many of its competitors, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, charges $75 per authorized user.

This makes adding authorized users to your Capital One Venture X card a fantastic deal, especially if you have friends or family who aren’t as invested in loyalty programs but would appreciate lounge access (looking at you, Dad).

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

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.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

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 cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

In my case, this perk allows me to give lounge access for free — well, included in the $395 annual fee (rates & fees) — to my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my son when he’s older. It’s true that Capital One doesn’t have an age requirement for adding authorized users, but in order to have your own Priority Pass membership, you need to be 18, so I plan to wait a while on that, as my son is only 4.

Why Adding Authorized Users Is Worth It

Because the Capital One Venture X card offers so many benefits, the $395 annual fee more than pays for itself (rates & fees), especially when you consider that a Priority Pass membership that gives you unlimited lounge access is currently $469 — and you’d still have to pay for guests.

If I have 4 authorized users added, each with their own Priority Pass, I’m getting thousands in value. And that’s just thinking about lounge access and not any of the other card perks.

However, in my case, this benefit is only worth it because I frequently enter airport lounges, as do my authorized users. If we didn’t travel much, it wouldn’t be as useful.

I still remember how lovely my most recent trip to the Capital One Lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) was when I encountered a massive flight delay en route to Tucson (TUS). My son fell asleep on one of the cozy chairs while I munched on delicious snacks, planespotted, and watched Netflix on my phone until the lounge closed. We were so exhausted after our long-haul flight to Dallas, and I was thrilled to relax in this inviting and comfortable space. That’s the feeling of peace inside the airport is what I hope to give and share with the authorized users of my card.

Lounge Access Is the Best Gift

There’s no better gift than my father telling me that the “nut dispenser machine in the Capital One Lounge in Dallas made my entire trip” or knowing I saved my uncle $20 on lunch since he was able to eat a decent meal (“and a Mahou beer”) preflight in Madrid (MAD) at the Sala VIP.

Furthermore, since my home airport is in Madrid, I love the Priority Pass program. The airport lounges operated by Spanish airport agency AENA (there’s at least one in all of Spain’s major airports), known as the Sala VIPs, are all part of Priority Pass.

Many other airports around Europe have lounges that participate in the program. Because I frequently route through Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to head back to the West Coast, I’m able to visit the Capital One Lounge, as are my authorized users when they come to visit me.

Final Thoughts

The Capital One Venture X card is one of my favorite credit cards. I’m able to get major value from its miles, which I frequently transfer to British Airways Avios and then move to Iberia Avios. I love the 10,000-mile cardmember anniversary perk, and I frequently take advantage of Capital One offers (you can now earn miles instead of cash-back!).

But what makes this card most valuable is the ability to offer Capital One and Priority Pass Lounge access to the people I love most, especially those who aren’t that interested in getting their own rewards credit cards just yet.