I have a confession to make: I used to be a hater of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees).

I know, I know — it was quite a controversial opinion among my TPG colleagues for the longest time. I’d unchangingly been a Chase girlie (the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card was my first travel credit card, and it still holds a top spot in my wallet), and the Venture unchangingly seemed overrated by comparison.

However, despite my misgivings, I unromantic for the vellum a couple of years when when Capital One was offering up to 100,000 miles as a welcome offer. Since subtracting the vellum to my wallet, it’s unquestionably wilt a mainstay favorite that I can’t imagine getting rid of.

Here’s how the Capital One Venture Rewards reverted my mind and became a favorite vellum of mine to recommend.

Double miles

As someone who moreover has the Chase Freedom Unlimited (which earns at least 1.5% mazuma when per dollar spent), I initially overlooked the goody of earning at least 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases. But that uneaten 0.5 miles does add up over time and makes a big difference in how fast I rack up rewards.

A hand holds a credit card

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

In 2020, I spent scrutinizingly $21,000 on my Venture, which ended up earning virtually 42,000 miles. With my Freedom Unlimited, I would have only earned 31,500 Ultimate Rewards points on that non-bonus spending. That’s $777 in value earned with the Venture versus $630 earned with the Chase Freedom Unlimited (since I moreover have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, my Freedom Unlimited points get the full value of Ultimate Rewards points), based on TPG valuations.

Capital One transfer partners

Transferable points are a game changer for anyone who wants to save money on travel through points and miles. Capital One has really upped its game since first subtracting the worthiness to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners in 2018. Currently, Capital One has 18 transfer partners, most of which offer a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Capital One has some transfer partners I can’t wangle via my other cards, such as Accor. ACCOR

While my Chase and American Express cards moreover indulge me to transfer my rewards to hotel and airline partners, Capital One does offer a couple of unique options that my other cards do not, including Accor.

Plus, the worthiness to funnel rewards from multiple cards into one worth (such as British Airways or Virgin Red — which are transfer partners of all three credit vellum issuers) helps me maximize earning categories wideness cards while still stuff worldly-wise to combine rewards for larger redemptions.

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit

I didn’t have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck surpassing I got this card, and it has been such a game changer for me. If you’ve been in an airport this year at all, you know that security and surcharge lines are no joke. I’ve saved hours with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck so far in 2023 alone, and I cannot imagine traveling without them at this point.

ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

The Capital One Venture card is one of few mid-tier travel rewards cards that offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck using fee credit. In the first year, this goody vacated made the $95 yearly fee (see rates and fees) for the vellum powerfully $0.

Capital One Lounge passes

Lounge wangle is usually a perk reserved for top-tier credit vellum holders and those with peerage status. The Capital One Venture Rewards gives me a taste of the whoopee with two Capital One Lounge passes each year.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “Why are you excited well-nigh two measly lounge visits over the undertow of an unshortened year?” Capital One is still expanding its lounge presence in America, and it only has two lounges you can visit at the time of writing — one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and one at Dulles International Airport (IAD). I usually fly through DFW at least twice a year when I visit family when in Arkansas.

DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY

Having two Capital One Lounge passes to spend when I fly when home is a sweet spot goody that I know I’ll use each year. Could I pay hundreds of dollars increasingly for cards with “unlimited” lounge access? Sure. But I’m OK with the trade-off of a much lower yearly fee.

Low yearly fee

The benefits listed whilom are great, but what solidifies this card’s value is the low yearly fee. I get multiple perks with this vellum that most other travel cards in that sub-$100 yearly fee range don’t offer. As much as I venerate my Chase Sapphire Preferred, it doesn’t requite me wangle to a nice lounge when I visit home, nor does it save me time at the airport by tent my Global Entry/TSA PreCheck using fee.

Some cards offer plane increasingly benefits — wider-reaching lounge access, travel credits, higher spending rates for unrepealable categories and more. But they moreover come with much higher yearly fees. At this point in my life, I can’t justify spending thousands of dollars each year on the yearly fees for multiple cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Thankfully, some unconfined mid-tier cards out there make traveling much increasingly user-friendly without breaking the wall — including the Capital One Venture.

With only a $95 yearly fee, it’s easy to justify keeping this vellum in my wallet for the long haul.

Bottom line

I can shoehorn when I’m wrong, and I definitely misjudged the Capital One Venture Rewards for a really long time surpassing I realized how much value it could add to my wallet. Now, it’s one of my most recommended cards for newbies to the points and miles space looking for a vellum that’s easy to use and maximize.