Capital One Venture X Card Might Not Be For Tampa Travelers
The highly-rated and popular Capital One Venture X credit card is good if you live in Miami or Orlando, but it might not be for you if you fly out of Tampa International Airport.
The Capital One Venture X is a Visa card has an annual fee of almost $400. That’s a lot. Why would you get a credit card that costs so much when there are so many free ones? The credit card’s perks get you that money back and then some. I’ve never paid an annual credit card fee until this year. No regrets except one. The biggest perk doesn’t work in Tampa. After 6 months with the card though, I’d still recommend it if you fly at least twice a year. Let’s dive in.
The Good Stuff…
For that $395 fee every year with the Capital One Venture X, you get $400 in travel credit. So right there, the card is pretty much free if you travel at least twice a year. Beyond that though, there are a lot of other valuable benefits. You get 2% back on all purchases not just one category. Those visits to Publix, coffee at Starbucks, Rays game tickets, filling up at Circle K, buying stuff for the house at Target… they all add up fast for free flights. Use your points that way. Using cash back only gets you 1%.
Do you hate lines at airport security? Skip them. Capital One will give you Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. I have both (PreCheck is included with Global Entry) and I can’t tell you how much I regret not getting them sooner. It’s AWESOME bypassing long security lines. And if you fly out of the country even once, wait til you see how much time it saves you when you come back to the U.S.
Capital One Venture X users also get extra rewards when renting a car (10% back) or booking a hotel stay. Warrantees on stuff you buy with the card are extended. And this is the one that really sold me: They will give you up to $800 if your cell phone is lost or stolen as long as you pay your monthly bill with the card.
If you travel internationally, you don’t have to pay any fees when you make a purchase with this card. The ATM fees when you’re out of the country are no joke. So when you’re traveling outside the U.S., just pay for your meals, tours or Uber rides with your Venture X card and you’ll save a lot of money.
So what’s the downside specifically for Tampa area residents like us?
Probably the most attractive Capital One Venture X perk is one that we can’t use. The Capital One Venture X gets you access to a bunch of those fancy airport lounges you see in airports around the world. Before a flight, you can relax in a comfortable recliner, sip on free wine or beer, and nibble on a snack or two. Some airport lounges even have massages and sleeping areas. Sounds great right? It is… but Tampa International Airport doesn’t have any that are accessible to Priority Pass, which is the partner program for the Capital One Venture X. TPA does have some airline lounges. But none are a part of Priority Pass … at least yet.
The good news…
The airports you’re flying to most likely DO have an airport lounge that’s available to you as a member. I even found a lounge at a TINY airport in Bogota, Colombia on my last visit. The international airport lounges are generally WAY nicer than American ones. But when you’re leaving Tampa, you’re going to be stuck waiting for your flight with all the other commoners. (Sorry, this card has turned me into a snob.)
Is the card still worth getting?
Even without any airport lounges at Tampa International, if you fly two or more times a year, getting the Capital One Venture X is kind of a no-brainer. I didn’t even get into the other perks. For example, you get Hertz Elite status right away. That gets you top priority when there are only a couple cars left, free upgrades and no waiting in line. Also for those who rent cars, even if it’s not Hertz, you get free PRIMARY insurance for your auto rental. Very few cards offer that. That saves you a TON on those daily insurance rates they try to push on you at the rental counter.
One thing to note about the Capital One Venture X besides the fee… it’s not easy to get one. You have to have a really good credit score to get approved. Hit me up if you have any questions. I’ve had it for about 6 months now. I really regret all those years only considering credit cards with no annual fee. Free is not always better. See more about the perks, which lounges are included and other stuff here. Just realized I forgot what is probably the biggest perk… they give you a big bonus when you sign up. Right now, it’s 75,000 points (which is basically $750 in travel).
REVIEW: My first time flying Breeze Airways Out of Tampa
The good: cheap direct flights to smaller airports. The bad… 2 things.
