Horrible Capital One Venture Card Changes

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UPDATE: Capital One has slightly backtracked and made a positive change to that new policy: Travelers who have previously earned a bonus on the Capital One Venture (or VentureOne) can still earn a bonus on the Venture X within that same 48-month span.

Capital One has really pissed off a lot of us travel hackers this week. Effective immediately, they have tightened up their signup bonus eligibility for the Venture Rewards and Venture X cards. They have added a new “family” restriction for Venture cards by stating- If you have or have had a Capital One Venture or Venture X card and earned its welcome bonus within the past 48 months, you will not be able to get approved for a different Venture Card for another four years.

So the glory days of getting a Venture Rewards or Venture X card, waiting 6 months, and then applying for the other, is Gone. Immediately vanished. So, consider yourself fortunate if you have recently done just that- like both my husband and I have done this year!

Capital One is already difficult to get approved for, so this will definitely bum a lot of travel hackers out there. Other than the 6-month waiting period between any Capital One cards, their other dumb policy states that you can only hold two personal credit cards simultaneously- though there are data points that some have gotten around this.

Ironically, American Express has just rescinded their own “once per lifetime” aka 7 years policy between re-earning the same card’s signup bonus just last week. Now their system might allow you to re-earn the same card’s signup bonus sooner- if they like you! There is no rhyme or reason to their algorithm, so either Amex loves you, or you have to fight to continue getting approval for more cards!

So, what other ways can you earn Capital One miles? My favorite way is using Capital One offers when shopping online. They are the only one that offers points, typically 3x, with Walmart. You also receive those points just 8 days after placing your online order through their portal.
Other ways to earn points? Capital One does have several other business cards, though all but the Spark Cash Plus (or the Venture X Business) do count against your Chase’s 5/24 status. You could also get the Venture One card, though the signup bonus is super low and, in my opinion, not worth it at 20,000 points.

So if you had to get one card- which one should you get?
If you need lounge access for just yourself with a low annual fee- go for the Venture X. You get 75,000 miles for a $395 annual fee. But with an annual $300 credit to use in their travel portal, your annual fee is really like $95. For again, getting Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access. Amazing.
If you don’t need lounge access, you definitely want the $95 annual fee Venture Rewards card. You earn 75,000 points, plus right now there’s a $300 travel portal credit available via referral link only.
Capital One cards are favorites for redeeming as statement credits for Disney or Airbnbs, or really anything that codes as travel, and is especially good for transferring your points to airlines for European travel or to Wyndham for Vacasa home rentals at only 15,000 points per night.

If you’re ready to open your own Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards card too, I would be ever so grateful if you would apply using my referral link, which is linked in every video’s description, to show your support. Thanks for watching and please, like and subscribe to keep learning on how to travel for free with Leen on Travel!