Capital One has announced two big positive changes for transferring their flexible points/miles (Venture/Spark).
- They have added four new transfer partners (2:1.5 unless otherwise stated):
- British Airways Executive Club (added later in 2021)
- Choice Privileges (1:1) (added April 20, 2021)
- TAP Portugal Miles&Go (1:1) (added April 20, 2021)
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (added later in 2021)
- They have improved the transfer rate of the following programs from 2:1.5 to 1:1
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Asia Miles
- Avianca LifeMiles
- Choice Privileges
- Etihad Guest
- Finnair Plus
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- TAP Portugal Miles&Go
- Wyndham Rewards
Capital One first launched the ability to transfer points in 2018, with Wyndham and Jetblue added in early 2020. It’s nice to see Capital One continue to improve the value proposition here, but I do wish all partners transferred at a rate of 1:1 or better. Capital One also announced they would be opening two airline lounges.
Its about time they make Transfer partners 1:1
Wonder if BA and TK will also be changed to a 1:1 transfer? Until then Citi Double Cash, with it’s 2x earn rate, still holds an advantage for non-category spend.
No, they’re both 2:1.5.
For US spend, that’s true.
For non-US spend, the Venture and Spark Miles cards offer a lack of foreign transaction fees – the effective earn rate is higher for the Capital One offerings than it is for Citi’s Double Cash for such spend.
Yes, this card is now definitively the card to have if you reside abroad most of the time (until now, the defunct Barclays Arrival Premier was the one to have). The only negative is no chip+pin support (unlike the Barclays, which admittedly has saved my arse a number of times at unmanned ticket kiosks and gas stations…)
Optimist: thanks for the value improvement, Capital One!
Pessimist: thanks for identifying the next programs to devalue their currencies, Capital One!