Your pockets does not must be overflowing with credit cards for a maximized award journey strategy.
Actually, you possibly can pair two of my favorite cards for a bevy of advantages, rewards and assertion credit: the American Express® Gold Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
These two playing cards mix for a easy but robust setup, from collecting points and miles to redeeming your rewards.
Whether or not you are in the marketplace for a card duo to raise your dream trip or have considered one of these playing cards already, listed here are 4 causes I consider the Amex Gold and Enterprise X are merely higher collectively.
Mix the Amex Gold’s bonus classes with the Enterprise X’s flat-rate rewards
The Amex Gold and Venture X are each standout earners, however the way in which you accumulate rewards with every is kind of totally different.
The Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards points at an exceptionally excessive price throughout a number of well-liked bonus classes — particularly in the event you spend some huge cash on dining and groceries (like I do). You may earn:
- 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide* and purchases at U.S. supermarkets**
- 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with the airline or via amextravel.com
- 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts and different eligible purchases booked via amextravel.com
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases
*On as much as $50,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback spent
**On as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback spent
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The Enterprise X enhances this construction properly, incomes Capital One miles at a fixed rate throughout most purchases.
If you happen to’re already a Enterprise X cardholder, you already know the cardboard gives 2 miles per greenback spent on nearly all of your spending. You may additionally earn 10 miles per greenback spent on resorts and rental automobiles booked via Capital One Journey and 5 miles per greenback spent on flights and trip leases booked via Capital One Journey.
I really like retaining this card in my pockets as a catch-all for everyday purchases exterior of bonus classes.
If you mix the ability of those two playing cards, you will at all times earn greater than 1 level or mile per greenback spent.
Associated: How credit card issuers classify travel and dining purchases
Maximize the Enterprise X’s journey advantages and the Amex Gold’s eating perks
The Amex Gold and Venture X maintain distinct locations within the rewards card market. You will not discover a number of overlapping advantages right here.
As a substitute, pairing these two playing cards gives a well-rounded slate of advantages that can be utilized in a number of sides of journey and on a regular basis life.
For one, the Amex Gold focuses its statement credits on eating purchases and some travel-related perks in alternate for its $325 annual price (see rates and fees). These embody:
- As much as $120 in annual dining credit per calendar yr: Earn as much as $10 in month-to-month assertion credit once you pay with the Amex Gold at collaborating eating companions.
- As much as $120 in annual Uber Cash per calendar yr: Earn as much as $10 in Uber Money month-to-month for Uber Eats and Uber rides within the U.S. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the Amex Gold as a fee technique and redeem with any Amex card.
- As much as $100 in annual Resy credit score per calendar yr: Earn as much as $100 in Resy assertion credit each calendar yr. This credit score is damaged down into two up-to-$50 assertion credit semiannually. To make use of the credit score, all you need to do is dine at a collaborating U.S. Resy restaurant (or make different eligible Resy purchases) and pay with the Amex Gold. No reservation is required.
- As much as $100 in hotel credits per calendar yr: Cardmembers who use their card to e book a keep of two nights or extra via Amex’s The Resort Assortment obtain an up-to-$100 on-site credit score for qualifying actions. Relying on the property, this might embody eating, spa therapies or different actions.
Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
A lot of the Amex Gold’s advantages are centered on meals, although month-to-month Uber Money and the Resort Assortment assertion credit score present some perks for journey.
As a frequent traveler, I recognize how the Amex Gold’s advantages will help save on purchases that come up whereas I am on the go. Nonetheless, I might nonetheless need extra out of my card setup, particularly in terms of journey perks akin to airport lounge access.
That is the place the Enterprise X is available in. To start with, two of the cardboard’s travel benefits primarily offset its $395 annual price.
The $300 annual Capital One Travel credit can be utilized on any journey reserving within the issuer’s portal and lowers the Enterprise X’s efficient annual price to $95.
The cardboard’s 10,000-mile bonus is obtained every account anniversary; TPG’s January 2026 valuations place the worth of those miles at $185.
If you mix these two perks, you will obtain $485 in annual journey advantages — a can’t-miss worth that gives the travel-related advantages the Amex Gold is lacking.
I’ve beforehand used the Enterprise X’s journey portal credit score to save lots of $300 on a three-night keep on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World. The room would’ve value me almost $1,000 if I hadn’t utilized the credit score.
Lastly, the Enterprise X gives airport lounge entry for main cardholders and as much as two company to 5 Capital One Lounges and one Capital One Touchdown. The first cardholder additionally receives a Priority Pass membership that unlocks entry to 1,300-plus lounges worldwide. (Capital One’s lounge entry guidelines will become stricter beginning Feb. 1, 2026.)
The Amex Gold does not present lounge privileges, so this profit is one other complementary perk that provides extra worth to your setup.
Associated: Why I’m happily holding on to my Capital One Venture X Rewards card for a third year
Earn a pair of beneficial welcome bonuses
If you have not added both the Amex Gold or Venture X but, there are two fantastic welcome offers on the desk so that you can accumulate a swath of factors and miles.
New Amex Gold cardmembers can discover out their provide and see if they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents differ, and also you is probably not eligible for a proposal.
This bonus might be price as much as $2,000 once you think about TPG’s January 2026 valuations.
In the meantime, the Enterprise X is offering a proposal proper now for wew candidates can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That is the cardboard’s highest public offer in 4 years.
In line with TPG’s valuations, this provide is price $1,388 once you leverage Capital One’s switch companions. If you happen to determine to redeem these miles at a set worth, the bonus is price as much as $750.
If you happen to’re focused for the very best Amex Gold provide and maximize your Capital One miles to get the total worth of TPG’s valuations, these two presents mix for as much as $3,388 in worth.
Associated: The best credit card welcome bonuses this month
Unlock extra redemption choices with 2 units of switch companions
Extra alternative is at all times a greater factor. When you will have excessive balances of Membership Rewards factors out of your Amex Gold and Capital One miles from the Venture X, you will have a lot extra redemption choices thanks to every issuer’s distinctive set of transfer partners.
For example, Capital One miles can solely be transferred to 1 U.S. airline loyalty program (JetBlue TrueBlue), however Membership Rewards factors can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles.
In the meantime, you possibly can’t transfer Membership Rewards factors to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, however you possibly can switch Capital One miles into that loyalty program.
There are a number of overlapping companions between the 2, akin to Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. I really like utilizing Flying Blue to e book SkyTeam award seats with companions like Delta Air Strains.
For instance, I transferred 15,000 Capital One miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to e book two one-way home Delta flights to journey to a marriage.
Lastly, when you will have each currencies, you are capable of leverage transfer bonuses as they arrive up, which provides the power to get extra worth in your hard-earned rewards.
Associated: Why you should master a few credit card transfer partners, and (most likely) leave the rest behind
Backside line
The Amex Gold and Venture X workforce as much as create a unbelievable card duo that mixes high-powered incomes with versatile rewards and a swath of advantages to take pleasure in.
There is a stable rewards technique to be unlocked by holding each of those playing cards, making this pairing a easy and efficient choice for a lot of kinds of vacationers.
To be taught extra, learn our full opinions of the Amex Gold and the Venture X.
Apply right here: American Express Gold Card
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on here.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a number of the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and will differ by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
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