Capital One Travel’s Lackluster Premier Collection is Live

Capital One launched its Premier Collection to go head to head with American Express and Chase in offering extra benefits for booking luxury hotels through its travel portal. These bookings offer a host of benefits and are working to drive reservations from its Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card members, but the portfolio is extremely limited and has popular cities with no options at all.

American Express has been offering its Fine Hotels + Resorts® program for several years. With it, hotels booked through American Express Travel offer an early check-in (subject to availability), late checkout, a room upgrade (subject to availability), complimentary breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, and an on-property credit (usually $100), which can be used for dining, the spa, etc. (terms vary based on the property). This has been available to people holding The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Centurion Card.

Chase created its own version of this offering with the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. Booking these hotels through Chase (as a Sapphire Reserve® or United Explorer cardholder) grants similar benefits to American Express’ offering with daily breakfast for two, a special benefit worth up to $100 (this is also unique to each property, but often includes a dining, spa, golf green fee waiver, welcome gift, or airport transfer), complimentary Wi-Fi, a room upgrade (subject to availability), as well as early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability).

Premier Collection Overview:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card members will earn 10x points and they’ll still be able to earn stays and points where applicable when booking Premier Collection properties. Benefits include:

• A $100 USD experience credit to use on dining, spa, or other activities (this varies by hotel)
• Daily breakfast for two
• Free Wi-Fi
• Early check-in, late checkout, and a room upgrade (all subject to availability)

Some of the Hotels Included:

• The Ned NoMad (NYC)
• Pendry (Chicago)
• The Langham (Pasadena)
• Dupont Circle Hotel (Washington D.C.)
• Pendry (Washington D.C.)
• Montage (Laguna Beach)
• 1 Hotel (South Beach)
• COMO (Castello Del Nero)
• Le Pavillon de la Reine (Paris)
• Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort (St. Lucia)
• The Standard Hotel (London)
• Flemings Mayfair (London)
• The Langham (London)
• Euphoria Retreat (Greece)
• Hotel Cafe Royal (London)
• Majestic Hotel (Barcelona)
• The Carlin Hotel (New Zealand)
• The Plettenberg (South Africa)
• Hotel Lutetia (Paris)
• Hotel San Regis (Paris)
• Virgin Hotel (Nashville)
• 1Hotel (Nashville)

Where this program is definitely lacking is in properties from the brands within the Marriott, Hyatt, MGM Resorts, Four Seasons, and Hilton portfolios. I did some random searches and was not able to find any. This is a huge deficit compared to both American Express and Chase’s offerings.

Some cities are also entirely without hotels. I searched Las Vegas, for example, and got no results. It’s disappointing to see that even a popular destination like Las Vegas has no options.

Anthony’s Take: Some might find value in the added benefits and 10x points earned through Capital One’s Premier Collection, but the lack of properties in certain cities and access to brands where I hold status make it something that I will likely not be using in the future.

Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: I love the lounges that the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card allows me to access. I’ve been using this card more and more this year. While it does have an annual fee of $395, it provides many travel benefits like a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel as well as 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Learn more. Rates & Fees. Terms apply.

(Image Credits: Capital One.)