Why I Determined to Maintain the Capital One Enterprise X

Not too long ago, I made a decision to change from journey rewards to money again. After almost a decade of going all in on factors and miles and premium journey perks, I canceled almost a dozen journey bank cards, together with a handful of premium playing cards.
Among the many few playing cards I selected to carry onto is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Whereas the cardboard has a steep annual payment, it stays one in every of my favorites. Right here’s why the Enterprise X is price it for me.

The cardboard’s annual payment is straightforward to offset

As a bank card author and rewards fanatic, I’ve opened and closed scores of bank cards. For a number of years, I had 5 totally different premium bank cards. Along with the Enterprise X, I additionally had the next:

I used to be paying over $2,000 in annual charges on the playing cards, however as a result of I used to be touring a few times a month, I used to be getting greater than sufficient worth to cowl these prices. 

When my journey habits modified, although, I discovered it more and more troublesome to justify the annual charges on many of the playing cards. Rigid and incremental assertion credit, overlapping perks like airport lounge entry, and unused elite standing advantages made it a no brainer to cancel most of them.

With the Capital One Enterprise X, nevertheless, it’s simple to offset the cardboard’s $395 annual payment. Annually, I get 10,000 bonus miles price $100 in journey, which began on my first anniversary, and $300 again yearly for bookings made via Capital One Journey. Even an informal traveler who takes one or two journeys a 12 months can take advantage of these perks and successfully get their cash’s price. 

Simplicity trumps worth for me now

After years of chasing the most effective redemption charges, I’ve misplaced curiosity within the hours of tedious analysis and sophisticated transfers and maneuvers the method typically requires.

Whereas I focus most of my spending on cash-back bank cards now, I really like Capital One’s dedication to maintaining its rewards construction so simple as doable. 

The cardboard does provide 10x miles on lodges and rental automobiles booked via Capital One Journey, 5x miles on flights booked via Capital One Journey, and 2x miles on on a regular basis purchases. 

Capital One Miles are additionally arguably essentially the most versatile journey rewards obtainable. Though the cardboard issuer provides transfers to companion airline and lodge loyalty packages for individuals who wish to maximize their worth, I favor the simplicity of utilizing my card to e-book journey and requesting a press release credit score. I even get 90 days after the transaction date to redeem, so if I don’t have sufficient miles to cowl a full buy, I can preserve requesting partial assertion credit as I earn extra rewards till that deadline.

If I’m reserving one thing via Capital One Journey that prices greater than the $300 assertion credit score, I may also use my miles to cowl the remaining stability.

I can’t let go of airport lounge entry

The final premium bank card I canceled was the Platinum Card, with my principal hesitation being its unparalleled airport lounge access. A number of bank cards provide entry to Precedence Move lounges, which are sometimes crowded and, in accordance with some, decrease high quality. 

However with the Platinum Card, I additionally received entry to a number of lounge networks, together with Amex’s famed Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Membership lounges after I flew Delta. At my residence airport, Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide, Delta Sky Membership is the one lounge choice.

However because it turned clear that I wasn’t getting sufficient worth from the cardboard’s different perks, I couldn’t justify the cardboard’s $695 annual payment, even with the lounge entry.

On the identical time, I didn’t wish to lose that entry altogether. Along with the Precedence Move community, the Enterprise X additionally lets me go to Plaza Premium lounges and Capital One Lounges. I’ve particularly loved my few visits to Capital One Lounges, which supply a broad vary of foods and drinks choices. There’s additionally a sturdy set of takeaway choices after I’m in a rush—one thing that’s missing with different airport lounges. 

Once more, these choices aren’t obtainable to me in my residence airport, however I typically have layovers in close by Denver and Dallas, the place there are many decisions, together with Capital One Lounges.

To view charges and charges of the ‘The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, see this page

What I miss

Simplifying my bank card rewards portfolio made sense for my altering scenario, however that isn’t a knock on the playing cards I canceled. Listed here are just some of the advantages I miss getting access to:

• Lodge elite standing: With the Hilton Aspire Card, I had diamond elite standing, which is the Hilton Honors program’s highest elite tier. I additionally had platinum elite standing with the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible. Though I nonetheless get some elite perks with the mid-tier lodge playing cards I’ve held onto, I’m not getting the identical VIP expertise.
• Free lodge nights: I nonetheless get free night time rewards from the mid-tier lodge bank cards I’ve stored, however they’re not almost as useful because the awards I obtained from the Hilton Honors Aspire, which can be utilized at most Hilton properties worldwide, and the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible, which is well worth the equal of 85,000 factors.
• Eating credit: I like to contemplate myself a foodie, and I used to be in a position to constantly maximize the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible’s annual $300 eating assertion credit score (as much as $25 monthly) as I attempted new locations. As a busy single dad, I additionally loved the $200 in Uber Money I obtained from the Platinum Card annually.
• Way of life perks: Whereas I don’t essentially love Amex’s strategy to perks, a lot of which supply worth in month-to-month or semi-annual increments, I do miss the Platinum Card’s $20 in month-to-month digital leisure credit, which I used for streaming companies and newspaper subscriptions, and the Walmart+ month-to-month membership credit score.
• Versatile journey credit: I’ve no downside maximizing the Enterprise X’s $300 annual Capital One Journey credit score, however I usually favor to e-book instantly with journey suppliers reasonably than via card issuer portals. For that, I miss the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual journey credit score, which provides rather more flexibility.

The takeaway

Journey bank cards, notably premium playing cards, can provide a whole lot of worth, particularly when you’re a frequent traveler. However when deciding which playing cards to use for—and which of them to maintain—it’s vital to contemplate your spending habits, journey habits, and basic preferences. 

For folks like me who journey extra casually, the Enterprise X provides a whole lot of worth with out requiring a whole lot of effort to make it worthwhile. However when you journey repeatedly and need an elevated expertise all through every journey, evaluate it to different premium bank cards that provide different advantages that may very well be a greater match for you.

Please be aware that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to alter at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of. 

Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Circumstances, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/advantages information for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.