Amex Green Card versus Capital One Venture X Card: An In-Depth Analysis
The American Express Green Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are two popular travel credit cards, each offering unique benefits and rewards. Let's take a closer look at these cards, focusing on their welcome bonuses, earning rates, and additional perks.
**Welcome Bonuses**
The American Express Green Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first six months of card membership. This bonus is valued at approximately $800 based on a 2 cents per point valuation.
In comparison, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months. These miles are valued at about 1.8 cents each, amounting to approximately $1,350 in travel value.
**Earning Rates**
The Amex Green card earns 3x points at restaurants, on transit, and on travel. The Capital One Venture X card, on the other hand, earns 10x miles for hotel and rental car bookings via Capital One Travel, 5x miles for flights booked via Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases.
**Additional Perks**
The Amex Green card offers up to $209 annual CLEAR Plus credit. It also provides secondary rental car insurance, return protection, and purchase protection benefits. However, it does not offer an annual travel credit, airport lounge access, primary rental car insurance, baggage protection, trip delay reimbursement, or cell phone protection.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, on the other hand, has an annual fee of $395. It offers Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle elite status, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit. It also provides primary rental car insurance, baggage protection, and trip delay reimbursement benefits, as well as cell phone protection, return protection, and purchase protection benefits.
**Transferring Points**
Our favorite way to redeem Capital One miles is through the Capital One transfer partners for travel experiences. For instance, you could transfer your miles to the Air Canada Aeroplan program and book a one-way business class flight between New York and Los Angeles in United Polaris business class for 25,000 miles.
Transferring Amex points to ANA Mileage Club can get you round-trip business class awards between the U.S. and Europe on Star Alliance carriers like United, Lufthansa, and Swiss for just 88,000 Amex points.
**Authorized Users and Travel Credit**
The Capital One Venture X card allows adding authorized users for no additional fee. It also offers an annual travel credit of $300 that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal.
In conclusion, while the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a significantly higher welcome bonus value than the American Express Green Card, it comes with a higher spend requirement and likely a higher annual fee as well. The Amex Green card's earning rates are more focused, while the Venture X card offers a wider range of earning opportunities and additional perks. The best choice depends on your spending habits, travel preferences, and the value you place on each card's unique benefits.
**Summary Table of Welcome Bonuses**
| Credit Card | Bonus Points/Miles | Spend Requirement | Approximate Value | |--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------| | American Express Green Card | 40,000 Membership Rewards | $3,000 in 6 months | $800 | | Capital One Venture X Rewards | 75,000 miles | $4,000 in 3 months | $1,350 |
- The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers benefits beyond travel and rewards, providing access to entertainment, such as Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges.
- For individuals interested in lifestyle and finance, the Amex Green Card's secondary rental car insurance, return protection, and purchase protection benefits might prove valuable additions to their financial planning.
- Keeping up with the latest news on business and finance, investors might find the transferability of Amex Membership Rewards points to partner programs like ANA Mileage Club beneficial for securing premium travel seats.
- When planning a holiday getaway, the Capital One Venture X card's annual travel credit of $300 can be utilized for booking flights, hotels, or rental cars, ensuring a budget-friendly travel experience.
