I’ve a confession to make: I was a hater of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
I do know, I do know — it was fairly a controversial opinion amongst my TPG colleagues for the longest time. I would all the time been a Chase girlie (the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card was my first journey bank card, and it nonetheless holds a prime spot in my pockets), and the Enterprise all the time appeared overrated by comparability.
Nevertheless, regardless of my misgivings, I utilized for the cardboard a few years again when Capital One was providing as much as 100,000 miles as a welcome supply. Since including the cardboard to my pockets, it is really change into a mainstay favourite that I am unable to think about eliminating.
This is how the Capital One Enterprise Rewards modified my thoughts and have become a favourite card of mine to suggest.
Double miles
As somebody who additionally has the Chase Freedom Limitless (which earns at the very least 1.5% money again per greenback spent), I initially neglected the advantage of incomes at the very least 2 miles per greenback spent on purchases. However that additional 0.5 miles does add up over time and makes an enormous distinction in how briskly I rack up rewards.
In 2020, I spent virtually $21,000 on my Enterprise, which ended up incomes round 42,000 miles. With my Freedom Limitless, I’d have solely earned 31,500 Final Rewards factors on that non-bonus spending. That is $777 in worth earned with the Enterprise versus $630 earned with the Chase Freedom Limitless (since I even have the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked, my Freedom Limitless factors get the complete worth of Final Rewards factors), primarily based on TPG valuations.
Capital One switch companions
Whereas my Chase and American Specific playing cards additionally permit me to switch my rewards to lodge and airline companions, Capital One does supply a few distinctive choices that my different playing cards don’t, together with Accor.
Plus, the power to funnel rewards from a number of playing cards into one account (reminiscent of British Airways or Virgin Purple — that are switch companions of all three bank card issuers) helps me maximize incomes classes throughout playing cards whereas nonetheless with the ability to mix rewards for bigger redemptions.
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World Entry/TSA PreCheck payment credit score
The Capital One Enterprise card is one in all few mid-tier journey rewards playing cards that supply a World Entry/TSA PreCheck utility payment credit score. Within the first 12 months, this profit alone made the $95 annual payment (see charges and costs) for the cardboard successfully $0.
Associated: Do you have to get World Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Capital One Lounge passes
Lounge entry is normally a perk reserved for top-tier bank card holders and people with elite standing. The Capital One Enterprise Rewards provides me a style of the motion with two Capital One Lounge passes annually.
Now, you are most likely considering, “Why are you enthusiastic about two measly lounge visits over the course of a whole 12 months?” Capital One remains to be increasing its lounge presence in America, and it solely has two lounges you possibly can go to on the time of writing — one at Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) and one at Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD). I normally fly via DFW at the very least twice a 12 months once I go to household again in Arkansas.
Having two Capital One Lounge passes to spend once I fly again house is a candy spot profit that I do know I will use annually. May I pay tons of of {dollars} extra for playing cards with “limitless” lounge entry? Certain. However I am OK with the trade-off of a a lot decrease annual payment.
Low annual payment
The advantages listed above are nice, however what solidifies this card’s worth is the low annual payment. I get a number of perks with this card that almost all different journey playing cards in that sub-$100 annual payment vary do not supply. As a lot as I like my Chase Sapphire Most well-liked, it does not give me entry to a pleasant lounge once I go to residence, nor does it save me time on the airport by masking my World Entry/TSA PreCheck utility payment.
Some playing cards supply much more advantages — wider-reaching lounge entry, journey credit, larger spending charges for sure classes and extra. However additionally they include a lot larger annual charges. At this level in my life, I am unable to justify spending hundreds of {dollars} annually on the annual charges for a number of playing cards, such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Specific. Fortunately, some nice mid-tier playing cards on the market make touring way more handy with out breaking the financial institution — together with the Capital One Enterprise.
With solely a $95 annual payment, it is simple to justify protecting this card in my pockets for the lengthy haul.
Backside line
I can admit once I’m fallacious, and I undoubtedly misjudged the Capital One Enterprise Rewards for a extremely very long time earlier than I noticed how a lot worth it may add to my pockets. Now, it is one in all my most advisable playing cards for newbies to the factors and miles house searching for a card that is straightforward to make use of and maximize.
The Capital One Enterprise is a superb first journey bank card with a low annual payment, easy-to-use rewards and stable advantages you do not get with different mid-tier playing cards. For factors execs, it affords a good way to diversify your switch accomplice choices throughout playing cards and earn rewards on non-bonus purchases that different playing cards could not cowl — all with out including tons of of {dollars} in annual charges.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Capital One Enterprise card.
Official utility hyperlink: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
