Amanda Adler
After years of seeing Capital One's catchy "What's in your wallet?" commercials, I finally looked into its credit cards.
As a frequent flyer, I found its Venture X card to be the most appealing option due to its variety of travel perks, but I hesitated to apply for it because of its fairly high annual fee of $395.
I finally gave it a shot when I realized it comes with a complimentary Priority Pass membership, which usually costs a few hundred dollars.
At the time of writing, I've had this card for just over a month and have used it for two vacations, with more scheduled in the weeks to come.
Here are my initial reactions to the benefits — particularly the Priority Pass membership, which felt so desirable it convinced me to get the card in the first place.
Amanda Adler
By signing up for the Capital One Venture X card, I immediately got a lot of perks, including a $300 annual travel credit and a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit.
These benefits alone help defray the $395 annual fee, and the card also comes with:
I also got an initial bonus of 75,000 miles after I spent $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of owning the card.
For my family, the card's biggest draw is the aforementioned complimentary Priority Pass membership, which provides unlimited access for me and two guests to select airport lounges worldwide.
My family of three spends a lot of time in airports, and waiting in a lounge is far more appealing than vying for crowded seating close to the gate.
Amanda Adler
Once I got my Priority Pass membership, I used its easy-to-navigate app to see which lounges I could access.
I was delighted to find my pass got me into lounges in all three terminals at my home airport, Orlando International Airport (MCO).
However, I learned most airline-specific lounges, such as the Delta Sky Club, don't accept Priority Pass.
I was also surprised by the lack of Priority Pass lounge options in some larger cities with major international travel hubs — I found no lounge options when I had layovers at Salt Lake City International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Los Angeles International Airport doesn't have lounges guests can access with Priority Pass, either.
Amanda Adler
I also realized that even if lounges are available, they may not be close enough to my flight to be worth visiting.
For example, while I was flying out of Montréal, the only lounge I could use was in a terminal quite far from the one my plane was departing from.
Still, over 1,700 lounges around the globe do accept Priority Pass. I'm hopeful I'll be able to take advantage of my membership as I visit more airports.
On my recent trips, I've struggled to find available lounges outside of my home airport. However, I still think Priority Pass is great for my family.
Having access to airport lounges in Orlando, our home base, is a great perk on its own, as I've previously paid as much as $50 per person per visit for this benefit. Now, we all get into the lounge for free.
I enjoy having comfortable seating, ample charge ports, and a quiet place to relax before boarding a plane. My son loves stocking up on the complimentary lounge snacks, which saves me from having to buy him pricey — and generally mediocre — airport food.
Knowing there's a comfy airport lounge waiting for me at MCO the next time I travel helps make my journey feel almost as fun as the destination.
Plus, with my Capital One Venture X card, I also earn travel rewards for every dollar I spend. Although I've only had my card for a few weeks, I've already racked up miles I can redeem for future flights.
