Capital One’s Premier Collection Offers Luxury Hotel Perks

Capital One’s Premier Collection Offers Luxury Hotel Perks

Capital One made waves in the premium credit card space with the introduction of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and is working hard to keep the momentum going.One year after its launch, the Capital One Travel portal is adding a new feature, specifically for premium cardholders: the Premier Collection. Rivaling similar programs offered by American Express and Chase, the Premier Collection will offer cardholders an elevated experience and money-saving perks when staying at luxury hotels and resorts. Capital One says that its goal is ultimately to provide cardholders with a more authentic, local experience when traveling.Below, Select details everything that you need to know about Capital One’s Premier Collection and who will have access to this feature.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Travel Premier CollectionThe Premier Collection will provide premium Capital One cardholders a suite of exclusive, elite-like benefits when staying at hundreds of luxury hotels around the globe from brands like Small Luxury Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World, Six Senses, 1 Hotels, Montage Hotels and Resorts and Proper Hotels.Some participating properties include The Ned NoMad in New York City, the Montage Laguna Beach in California, the 1 Hotel South Beach in Florida, the La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa in Paris and more.BenefitsCustomers will enjoy the following benefits when booking through the Premier Collection:

  • A $100 USD experience credit (or the local equivalent) to use on dining, spa, and other activities during their stay
  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Additional premium benefits when available, including early check-in, late checkout and a room upgrade

EligibilityWhile no exact date has been announced, the Premier Collection is set to launch in 2022 and will be accessible through the Capital One Travel portal.It will be available exclusively to those with the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Spark Travel Elite, which is a business credit card currently only available through Capital One Relationship Managers. Authorized users will also have access.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardInformation about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights when booked via Capital One Travel; unlimited 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR19.99% – 26.99% variable APR
  • Balance transfer fee3% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

PricingPremier Collection room rates should be in line with the best publicly available rate. Capital One told Select that if a customer finds a better price for the same hotel within 24 hours of booking, it will refund the difference per its Price Match Guarantee terms and conditions. There’s also no minimum stay requirement so customers can still enjoy the $100 property credit and other perks on one-night stays.As with other Capital One Travel hotel bookings, Venture X cardholders will earn a generous 10X miles on Premier Collection bookings and can choose to either redeem their miles or up to $300 annual Capital One Travel credit toward their stays. Better yet, Capital One has confirmed that Premier Collection benefits can be stacked with hotel loyalty program benefits, meaning you can still earn hotel points and get elite benefits, when applicable.Alternatives to the Premier CollectionCapital One is going head-to-head with American Express and Chase with the launch of the Premier Collection. Both of the other issuers already offer similar programs which offer extra benefits when booking luxury hotels.Premium American Express cardholders, such as those who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express, have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers the following benefits, based on availability:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary room upgrades and Wi-Fi
  • 12 p.m. check-in and guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out
  • A $100 credit to use toward on-property activities, dining or other perks like airport transfers, depending on your hotel

The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

Meanwhile, those with higher-end Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, receive special benefits through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, such as:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary room upgrades and Wi-Fi
  • Early check-in and late check-out
  • A special benefit worth up to $100

The main difference is that both of these cards carry significantly higher annual fees than the Venture X.Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • RewardsEarn 5X total points on air travel 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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Bottom lineCapital One continues to add value to its travel credit card lineup. In the past year, the issuer has launched a new travel portal, opened its first airport lounge and rolled out exclusive dining and entertainment platforms. It also just announced Capital One Landing, a culinary-focused alternative to the traditional airport lounge.The addition of the Premier Collection makes the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card even more compelling and its $395 annual fee easier to justify. Between the money-saving benefits available through the travel portal, airport lounge access, and now hotel perks, cardholders can expect a smoother travel experience from booking to check-out.If you don’t already have a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and want to sign up, you can currently earn a large welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

Best Credit Cards for Exclusive Events and Experiences

Best Credit Cards for Exclusive Events and Experiences

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.Credit cards can offer a wide range of benefits, from cell phone protection to airport lounge access. Although less talked-about, some even provide access to exclusive events and experiences. This can range from presale tickets for sports games and concerts to exclusive dinners and cardholder-only lounges, and nearly every major card issuer offers such benefits.While these perks went largely unused during the pandemic lockdowns, issuers are now doubling down on these lifestyle and other non-travel benefits. Your credit card may be able to help you get special access at the U.S. Open in New York City, iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas, Sundance Film Festival in Park City and beyond.Here are the credit card issuers that offer cardholders access to exclusive events and entertainment experiences, and how you can use these perks.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Best credit cards for exclusive events and experiencesUsing credit cards to access events and experiencesEvery credit card issuer handles access to exclusive events and experiences differently.Issuers like American Express may require you to have a specific card, or an invitation, to participate in an event. Others may only require you to be an active cardholder of any of their cards.So if you’re looking to squeeze more value out of your credit card, consider the main credit card issuers below and their offers for cardholders to experience premium events.American ExpressAmerican Express has a large array of events you can attend as a cardholder, but the more premium events are invitation-only. However, even without an invitation, there are many events you can grab tickets to including Broadway shows like Hamilton in New York and concerts like Katy Perry in Las Vegas. A number of major venues, such as Barclays Center and the Crypto.com Arena, also offer exclusive entrances for American Express cardholders.The “By Invitation Only” experiences include access to The Centurion Suite at the U.S. Open, cardmember-exclusive fashion shows and tickets to the Palm Springs Film Awards. Some of these experiences are free while others are paid.You can check out the various experiences here. But to access the more premium events and experiences, you’ll need to have a higher-end card like one of these below:The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Also, earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
  • Welcome bonusEarn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

American Express® Gold CardOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Capital OneThe Capital One Entertainment portal is filled with exclusive events and experiences for cardholders. The benefits for cardholders include early access to tickets, special on-site perks at specific venues and the ability to upgrade experiences at certain events using Capital One miles.Some of the events include cardholder-only dinners at Michelin-star restaurants, presale tickets to sporting events like the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, VIP packages at music festivals like the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas and more. Through a partnership with The Cultivist, Capital One credit cardholders are also eligible for a six-month complimentary “The Enthusiast” membership, which offers free access to top museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, and the Louvre in Paris.You can visit the Capital One Entertainment portal to see what events are being offered. While you don’t need to have any specific Capital One card to access these benefits, here are some of our favorite credit cards from the issuer:Read more: Here are the best Capital One credit cardsChaseChase offers its Chase Experiences to all cardholders. They include access to exclusive events and Chase Dining experiences, along with additional benefits at events like the U.S. Open and Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and at venues like the Chase Field, Chase Center and Madison Square Garden. Special benefits can range from priority entry and preferred seating to access to VIP lounges with free refreshments. You can also choose to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for many of these experiences.There’s also Chase Dining, which give cardholders exclusive access to reservations at upscale restaurants through Tock. Additionally, if you’re looking for tickets for an upcoming sporting event or concert, Chase Experiences comes with access to presales and preferred seating from Ticketmaster. Those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® get even more benefits, including access to the Sapphire Dining series.So if you’re interested in scoring additional experiences for being a Chase credit card holder, you may consider signing up for one of the cards below:Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Rewards$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR17.49% – 24.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
  • Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • RewardsEarn 5X total points on air travel 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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

CitiThe Citi Entertainment portal offers Citi cardholders early access to ticket presales for concerts, sports and cultural events. At the time of writing, the platform appears to be geared mostly toward concerts.Many tickets are considered ‘Citi Preferred Tickets’ where you will need a qualifying Citi credit card to purchase the tickets. The kicker of this program is that you’ll have a chance to get tickets or VIP packages before non-Citi cardholders for specific events.So if you see an event on the Citi Entertainment platform you’re interested in, it may be beneficial to have a Citi credit card in your wallet to grab your tickets.Citi Premier® Card

  • Rewards3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on hotels and air travel, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Citi® Double Cash Card

  • Rewards2% cash back: 1% on all eligible purchases and an additional 1% after you pay your credit card bill
  • Welcome bonusFor a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer feeFor balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Bottom lineFor rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

How to Access Capital One’s Newest Airport Lounges

How to Access Capital One’s Newest Airport Lounges

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Capital One, along with other major card issuers such as Chase and American Express, are doubling down on their presence at major airports across the country. And as the travel industry continues to rebound, credit card issuers are aiming to meet their customers’ current needs, especially during a summer defined by record-high flight cancellations and other travel-related woes.One thing travelers can look forward to is more Capital One Lounges, known for their high-speed Wi-Fi, relaxation rooms, showers, locally sourced and curated food, craft cocktails and other luxe amenities. The first Capital One Lounge opened at Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (DFW) in Nov. 2021, while two additional locations in Denver International (DEN) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) are scheduled to open in 2023.Below, Select details what it takes to access the different Capital One Lounges and which credit cards are best if you want to visit them — or any partner lounges worldwide.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Lounge locationsCapital One currently has one lounge open, with two more planned to open in 2023.

  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D near Gate D22; Open daily from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Denver International Airport, Concourse A on the Mezzanine Level (opening in 2023)
  • Dulles International Airport, in the Main Terminal directly after TSA PreCheck (opening in 2023)

The Dallas lounge provides amenities like complimentary premium food and beverages (including alcohol), access to shower suites, a yoga room, relaxation rooms with nap pods and even Peloton bikes. The new Capital One lounges are expected to have similar features.How to access Capital One LoungesThere are a few ways to access Capital One Lounges, and you don’t necessarily need to be a Capital One cardholder to get in.Note that all visitors must present a boarding pass for a same-day departing or connecting flight, meaning you can’t access the lounge upon arrival at your final destination. Additionally, lounge access is based on availability — you’re not allowed to make reservations in advance. All children ages two and under get in free with an adult.Free or discounted accessTravelers with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, as well as their authorized users and account managers, receive unlimited access and two complimentary guest entries per visit, while additional guests will run you $45 each.Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles cardholders get two free visits per year, which can also be used by their authorized users, account managers or any guests who are traveling with the cardholder. For more visits, you’ll have to pay $45 each.Paid accessAnyone else with a boarding pass for a same-day departing or connecting flight can still visit Capital One Lounges regardless of which credit card they have. However, they will have to pay a steep $65 entry fee per person per visit.Best Capital One credit cards with lounge accessBottom lineCapital One has made concerted efforts to connect with its cardholders and the general public, whether through its new Capital One Lounges or range of Capital One Cafés, which offer more opportunities to maximize the value of your card on a regular basis.Before applying for a new credit card, be sure to calculate how often you’ll be able to use its associated benefits so you can see if the annual fee is worth paying. It’s also a good idea to check your credit score since most Capital One credit cards require it to be good to excellent to apply.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.Information about the Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture, Capital One Spark 2X Miles and Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

7 Credit Cards With Airport Lounge and Expedited Security Access

7 Credit Cards With Airport Lounge and Expedited Security Access

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.It’s been a rough year for domestic and international travelers. Marred by issues related to understaffing, many airlines have found themselves in a precarious position — in this case, not having enough planes and crew members to accommodate so many travelers — leading to lots and lots of flights cancellations.So far this year, 88,161 flights have been canceled. For reference, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, from 2013 to 2021 — with the exception of 2020 — the number of flight cancellations never exceeded 80,000. At this rate, that number could end up reaching the record 263,941 number of flights that were canceled in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.Needless to say, it’s been a very stressful time for those who have had to fly. And as demand for travel remains strong, it’s predicted that this will be a long-standing issue.Thankfully, there are a few ways to make your next trip to the airport a little bit easier, especially if you happen to have the right credit card.Whether you’re a frequent flyer or you simply want to make your upcoming flight less of a headache, these six credit cards are worth considering, as they each include complimentary lounge access and statement credits toward expedited airport security to make your next travel experience less stressful.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Best credit cards for lounge access and expedited securityStatement credits for expedited airport securityBefore you hit the airport lounge, you’ll need to get through a potentially long security line. While wait times are completely out of your control, there are a few expedited security clearance programs you can enroll in to hopefully shorten your time in line.

  • TSA PreCheck®: Issued by the Transportation Security Administration, this is the cheapest option if you want to get through security lines at U.S. airports faster. $85 gets you five years of membership.
  • Global Entry: Issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, I find Global Entry to be the most sensible option for most travelers, especially as it comes with all the same TSA PreCheck benefits built in. With Global Entry, you can also clear customs much quicker when arriving back to the U.S.. It costs $100 for five years of membership.
  • CLEAR: As its own standalone product, CLEAR provides a quicker clearance through security thanks to technology. By simply scanning your boarding pass and either using your eyes or fingerprints as your method of personal identification, you will be escorted to the front of the general security line, or to the front of the TSA PreCheck line if you’re also enrolled in the program. CLEAR membership costs $189 per year.

With each of the credit cards mentioned below, you can enroll in one or more of these expedited security programs, then receive statement credits to cover your membership with either TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, CLEAR or a combination of them, depending on the card.Using credit cards to score airport lounge accessAirport lounges aren’t only for travelers who fly in business or first class. There are many travel rewards credit cards offering airport lounge access just for being a cardmember.Lounges provide a number of benefits to travelers, and they’re especially worthwhile for those who hope to avoid large crowds in the airport terminal while waiting to board their flight. Many lounges also offer complimentary food and beverages to their guests, so visiting one is an easy way to save money instead of having to purchase expensive airport food. Some even offer unique amenities like cycling rooms, showers and complimentary massages.Another good thing is nearly all major airports have at least one lounge, if not more. Throughout my own travels, I’ve found airport lounges to be an excellent way to escape noisy and crowded airport terminals.Without further ado, here’s a look at six credit cards that include airport lounge access as well as statement credits toward membership with the aforementioned expedited security programs.The Platinum Card® from American ExpressThe Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

With The Platinum Card® from American Express, cardmembers and two guests can enjoy access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges across 148 countries, as well as American Express Centurion℠ lounges in the U.S. and abroad, Delta Sky Club® lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Air Space lounges. It’s worth noting that in order to enter a Delta Sky Club® lounge, you must be flying with Delta or one of its airline partners. For more information, visit the American Express Global Lounge Collection℠ website.As for expedited security, cardholders can receive up to $189 each year in statement credits by using The Platinum Card from American Express to pay for their CLEAR annual membership, as well as an up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSAPreCheck. The card also comes with an up to $200 annual airline fee credit that you can use toward incidentals like checked baggage fees, seat selection fees, change fees and more.Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a solid choice for those seeking lounge access, especially if you fly with Delta Airlines regularly. You’ll receive access to American Express Centurion℠ lounges when you book Delta flights with your Reserve card, as well as entry to Delta Sky Club® lounges and two one-time guest passes each year if you’re traveling with friends or family members.The card also provides a statement credit of up to $100 every four years to cover Global Entry enrollment or a credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years for those wishing to enroll in TSA PreCheck®. Note that if you’re approved for Global Entry, you’ll receive instant access to TSA PreCheck® perks.Other air travel-related perks include a first checked bag free, priority boarding and complimentary seat upgrades when you fly Delta.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardThe Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another great card option for travelers looking to escape the airport terminal. When you have the card, you’ll have access to Capital One Lounges — one location in Dallas (DFW) is currently open, while two more are expected to open later this year in Denver (DEN) and Washington, D.C. (IAD)— as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide. When visiting any of those lounges, you’ll also receive two complimentary guest passes per visit (extra guests at Capital One Lounges will cost $45 each).The card also provides a statement credit of up to $100 every four years when you use it to pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.Capital One Ventures Rewards Credit CardThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card allows two complimentary lounge visits each year, either to Capital One Lounges or more than 100 additional lounges via its Plaza Premium Lounge and Priority Pass partners, making it a great option for those who aren’t exactly frequent flyers.Cardmembers can also receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years by using the card to enroll in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.United Club℠ Infinite CardUnited Club℠ Infinite Card

  • Rewards4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining (including eligible delivery services) and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Those who fly with United Airlines will enjoy complimentary United Club membership, worth a value of $650 per year, as a perk of having the United Club℠ Infinite Card. This gives you and up to two guests access to United Club and affiliated Star Alliance lounges worldwide when traveling with the airline or one of its partners. or a partner airline.The card also provides a statement credit of up to $100 every four years to cover your membership with Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS, an expedited security program for those traveling between the U.S. and Canada.Other perks include complimentary first and second checked bags when you fly with United, 25% back on in-flight purchases and priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling.Chase Sapphire Reserve®Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • RewardsEarn 5X total points on air travel 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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders will have access to more than 1,300 airport lounges across 148 countries once they enroll for free through Priority Pass. You can bring up to two guests for free.The Chase Sapphire Reserve also provides a statement credit of up to $100 every four years to reimburse you for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® enrollment fee.Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MastercardCiti® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®Information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.  1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases. 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
  • Welcome bonusEarn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is ideal for American Airlines flyers as it comes with a full Admirals Club membership, worth a value of $650 per year. You’re allowed to bring up to two guests for free but you can add up to ten authorized users to the card for free and they each get their own memberships as well.The card also provides a statement credit of up to $100 every five years to cover your membership with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.When flying American Airlines, you’ll also enjoy a first checked bag free, priority check-in, early boarding and 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.Bottom lineAmericans are eager to get back on the road after the pandemic-related restrictions, but it’s not coming without several issues. However, with one of these cards listed above, you can not only earn a solid welcome bonus to earn rewards for traveling — but also avoid the pains of long security lines and noisy airports with the benefits of each card above.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.Information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.If you’re in the market for a new premium travel rewards credit card that really packs a punch, look no further than the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is currently offering an impressive 100,000-Mile welcome bonus. That’s enough to cover $1,000 worth of travel when booking flights and hotels through one of its 17 transfer partners or through Capital One Travel. Earning Capital One Miles is easier than ever with the Capital One Venture X card. Not only can you pick up 100,000 Capital One Miles after spending $10,000 within the first six months of opening your account, you’ll earn 2X Miles on all purchases, plus 5X Miles on flight and 10X Miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel. Cardholders also receive an annual up to $300 travel credit, 10,000 bonus Miles on each account anniversary, a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years and the chance to visit more than 1,300 Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges worldwide.While the $395 annual fee may seem intimidating, remember that you’ll get $300 back in travel credits when booking through Capital One Travel and for a limited time, an extra $200 back via statement credits when booking vacation rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa, or TurnKey. The annual fee really does pay for itself if you use all your perks properly, making the Capital One Venture X a top-tier premium travel rewards credit card.Below, Select breaks down the best ways to maximize 100,000 Capital One Miles.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights when booked via Capital One Travel; unlimited 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.99-23.99% variable APR
  • Balance transfer feeEither $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Transfer Capital One Miles to airline partnersCapital One Rewards is connected to 14 airline partner rewards programs, which extends your redemption options across all three airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Nearly all of them transfer at a 1:1 ratio — EVA Air converts at a 2:1.5 ratio — so you’ll be getting the best value by booking flights through the following carriers and their alliance partners:

  • Aeromexico (Club Premier)
  • Air Canada (Aeroplan)
  • Air France KLM (Flying Blue)
  • Avianca (LifeMiles)
  • British Airways (Avios)
  • Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)
  • Emirates (Emirates Skywards)
  • Etihad (Etihad Guest)
  • EVA Air (Infinity MileageLands) — transfer ratio is 2:1.5, not 1:1
  • Finnair (Finnair Plus)
  • Qantas (Qantas Frequent Flyer)
  • Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer)
  • TAP Air Portugal (TAP Miles & Go)
  • Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles)

While there aren’t any domestic carriers listed as airline partners, that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible to fly them for free. Thanks to airline alliances, you can convert Capital One Miles to British Airways Avios, then use those to book domestic U.S. flights on American Airlines, its Oneworld alliance partner. You could also transfer Capital One Miles to Turkish Airlines or Avianca, then use those to book flights on Star Alliance partner United Airlines.Redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at hotelsCapital One Rewards has three hotel transfer partners — Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, and Accor Live Limitless (AccorHotels) — letting cardholders cash in Capital One Miles for free nights at hotels worldwide.Capital One Miles can be transferred to Choice Privileges points at a 1:1 ratio, allowing you to book free nights at more than 7,000 properties in over 40 countries at brands including Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, and Surburban Extended Stay Hotel, Cambria Hotels and The Ascend Hotel Collection. Thanks to connections with Penn National Gaming, Inc., Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Nordic Choice Hotels, and AMResorts (all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean by brands like Dreams and Secrets) you can also redeem for stays at casino hotels and independent boutiques.Here’s an idea of what you can redeem through Choice Privileges for 100,000 Capital One Miles:

  • Four nights at the Comfort Inn Manhattan – Midtown West in New York City (25,000 points a night)
  • Five nights at Avenue Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, in Los Angeles (20,000 points a night)
  • Eight nights at Comfort Hotel Nation Pere Lachaise Paris 11 in France (12,000 points a night)

Wyndham Rewards also lets you transfer Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio, giving you access to free nights at over 9,000 hotels in more than 80 countries at brands including Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Garden, Registry Collection Hotels, AmericInn, Tryp, Dazzler, Esplendor, Wingate, Trademark Collection, Dolce Hotels and Resorts, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Ramada, Baymont, Microtel, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Hawthorn Suites.With redemptions from 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night, here’s what transferring 100,000 Capital One Miles could yield:

  • Three nights at Wyndham Grand Athens in Greece (30,000 points a night)
  • Six night at Ramada by Wyndham Queenstown Central in New Zealand (15,000 points a night)
  • 13 nights at Ramada by Wyndham Princess Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (7,500 points a night)

Thanks to a nifty partnership with Vacasa, you can also redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at more than 15,000 hotels, vacation clubs and home rentals, while a separate connection allows for redemptions at Caesars Rewards casino hotels around the U.S. Wyndham Rewards is also linked with Margarita Vacation Club, Club Wyndham, Cottages.com, Shell Vacations Club, Worldmark and Landal Greenparks so you can opt to redeem for vacation rental brands around the world.Another hotel transfer partner of Capital One is ALL Accor Live Limitless, which offers hotel redemption options at a ratio of 2:1 and works a little differently from the last two programs. For starters, you’ll need to have at least 2,000 ALL Rewards in your account, which means you’d need to transfer over 4,000 Capital One Miles, and redeem them in increments of 2,000 ALL Rewards points — 2,000 points gets you 40 euros (about $45) off your stay, while 4,000 translates to 80 euros (about $90) and so forth. While you likely won’t get the best value for your points this way, the ALL Accor Live Limitless program can still be beneficial depending on your travel plans and style, as award options through it include more than 5,100 hotels in over 100 countries at brands like Fairmont, Raffles, Faena, Delano, Sofitel, SLS, Museum Hotel, Mondrian, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Mantra, Novotel and Ibis, among others. While there are just 100 hotels in North America, Accor brands are seemingly omnipresent throughout Europe, Asia and Oceania, so this is still a valuable points-transfer option.Book flights, hotels and car rentals through Capital One TravelIf you enjoy having the flexibility to book flights, hotels, and rental cars without having to worry about award availability or blackout dates, consider making your reservations through Capital One Travel, a new travel portal that offers added benefits like cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance (for a small fee), a freeze-your-price feature that helps you lock in lower rates, price drop protection (if you find a lower price, Capital One will refund you the difference), and a nifty price match guarantee (if you happen to find a better price within 24 hours of booking, you could get a refund). While this also allows you to book travel at a fixed redemption rate of 1 cent per mile, it’s always worth comparing redemption rates — in other words, seeing how many points and miles are needed for an award redemption directly through the carrier or hotel versus booking through the Capital One travel portal.Depending on your points and miles status goals, you may also want to consider booking travel directly to maintain elite status or double-dipping by reserving tickets or rooms through another third-party website, then simply “erasing” the travel purchase (more on that below).Use Capital One Miles to “erase” recent travel purchasesOne of the most valuable perks of the Capital One Venture X card is the ability to “erase” or redeem Capital One Miles to cover travel purchases made within the last 90 days. Simply use the card to book fights, hotels, car rentals or make other travel-related expenses (like Uber rides or Airbnb stays) then click on “Redeem Travel Purchases” to select which ones you’d like to cover or put your Capital One Miles toward — partial credit is fine, too, as long as you redeem more than 2,500 Miles.Capital One Miles are worth 1 cent per mile when choosing this redemption option, meaning 100,000 miles could erase $1,000 in travel purchases.Redeem miles for gift cards and online shoppingIf you know you won’t be traveling for a while, there’s always retail therapy. With the Capital One Venture X card, you’ll be able to redeem Capital One Miles at a rate of 1 cent per point for gift cards to all your favorite restaurants and retail shops like Apple, Bath & Body Works and Starbucks.Note that if you’re redeeming Capital One Miles for Amazon gift cards — or using Capital One Miles to shop online via Amazon or PayPal — the redemption rate drops to 0.8 cents per point (you’d get $0.80 cents in value per 100 Miles) so it won’t be the best value among all your other options.Cash back is a low-value redemptionWhile this is the least valuable redemption option for your newly earned Capital One Miles, you can still opt to exchange them at a rate of 0.5 cents per mile for cash in the form of an account credit or a check.Other cards with large welcome bonusesIf you’re interested in other cards with large welcome bonuses, consider the following. The value and utility of the rewards from each card varies, but you’ll still be able to get plenty of “free” travel with their hefty welcome bonuses.The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (starting January 1, 2021, this applies on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of account opening. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

  • Rewards5 Avios for every $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and LEVEL within your first 18 months from account opening, thereafter 3 Avios; 3 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations when booked directly with the hotel within your first 18 months, thereafter 2 Avios; 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 bonus Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn a Travel Together Ticket after you spend $30,000 on purchases every calendar year, and 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® CardInformation about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards12X points per dollar for eligible purchases on your card made directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6X points for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3X points for other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.74% to 24.74% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass card, click here.Information about the Capital One Venture X card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .