How to Turn Business Expenses Into a First-Class Flight

Running a business is no joke. On top of everything else, you’re also racking up big expenses every month (payroll, ads, supplies, you name it). But what if you could turn those same expenses into a seat in first class?

You see where I’m going, right? 😄

With the Capital One Venture X Business, that’s extremely possible.

Its generous welcome offer and access to flexible transfer partners open the door to premium cabins, luxury hotels, and more. Let’s break down how just one month of business spend could help you lock down your dream trip (or a few).

Earning the Miles

The Venture X Business currently has one of the most generous welcome offers on the market: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

That may sound steep, but for many business owners, this is just one billing cycle of ad spend or inventory. And unlike cards that only give you bonus miles in specific categories, this card earns 2x miles on every purchase, which is freaking awesome.

Not to mention, if you have several employees, the no-cost employee cards really come in handy. Instead of reimbursing employees for your business expenses, you would earn the points on your spend, which is just the cherry on top!

Plus, you’re also getting:

• 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

• 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

• You’ll also get a sweet 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year starting on your first anniversary (yay!)

Best Options for Premium Seats

The Venture X Business plays well with others. Instead of being stuck with one airline, you can transfer your miles to tons of programs at a 1:1 ratio, and score some serious value in business and first-class seats.

Now, let’s say your business spends $30,000 on ads in one month. Here’s how that plays out with the Venture X Business:

• You hit the $30,000 minimum spend and earn the 150,000-mile welcome offer.

• You also earn 60,000 miles from your regular 2x on every purchase.

• Your total haul is looking like 210,000 Capital One miles.

Let’s Put Those Miles to Work

• Option 1: Paris in Business Class — Transfer around 60,000 miles to Air France/KLM Flying Blue (during a Promo Reward sale) and book a one-way business-class flight from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG). With 210,000 miles, you’ve got enough for nearly four one-way business-class seats, which is perfect for a family trip or multiple solo trips.

• Option 2: Istanbul via Turkish Airlines — Transfer around 45,000 miles to Turkish Miles&Smiles and book business class from the U.S. to Istanbul (IST). Your 210,000 miles could cover four to five one-ways or two round-trips.

• Option 3: Singapore Suites — Transfer upwards of 130,000 miles to Singapore KrisFlyer for a one-way first-class seat from the U.S. to Asia. Or, you could fly from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) for around 100,000 miles, which is another well-loved sweet spot.

Even if you only take one of these redemptions, the value you’re getting back is several thousand dollars, and all from the same spend you’d be making anyway

How to Book with Your Miles

With that 150,000‑mile welcome offer alone, you’re often able to secure at least one business‑class trip, if not two round-trip tickets (depending on the season, route, and availability).

If you’re wondering how to actually make this happen, here’s a simple breakdown:

1. Pick a partner — Decide which airline program has the best route or sweet spot for your trip

2. Search award space first — Go to the partner airline’s website (or a tool like Daily Drop Pro 😎) and make sure the seat you want is available

3. Transfer your Capital One miles — In your Capital One account, choose “Transfer Miles,” select the airline program, and move the exact number you need (and again, transfers to most partners are instant)

4. Book immediately — Once the miles show up, complete the booking on the airline’s site before the space disappears

Capital One miles move instantly to most partners, so you won’t be stuck waiting days for your transfer to post. We love some instant gratification! And just a reminder —always confirm award space before transferring your Capital One miles since transfers are one-way and can’t be reversed.

Using the Leftover Miles

Odds are you’ll still have some spare miles after booking that flight. With Capital One, those extras can be fun:

• Hotels: Transfer to programs like Wyndham or Choice, or use miles to book directly at one cent per mile.

• Premier Collection stays: Use miles for upscale hotels booked through Capital One’s Premier Collection, which come with perks like breakfast, property credits, and upgrades.

• Other travel purchases: You can offset things like train tickets, Airbnbs, and more (even right off your statement).

The flexibility here makes the Venture X Business stand out since you’re not forced into a single redemption path.

Comparable Cards

The Venture X Business is a fan fave on its own, but here’s how it stacks up against a couple of other popular picks:

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – with a $95 annual fee, this card earns 3x on categories like travel, shipping, and online ads

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – known for nicer perks like Centurion Lounge access and statement credits, this card is ideal for high-spend businesses, and the credits help offset it if you use them

• American Express® Business Gold Card – flexible earner that gives you solid points on your top categories each month, which makes it good for variable spenders who want simplicity and great transfer partners

If your goal is premium travel like stretching out in a lie-flat seat, the Venture X Business comes out ahead thanks to its flat 2x earnings, easy redemption flow, and great airline access. Still, pairing it with a complementary card can give you even more flexibility.

Bottom Line

One big month of business spend can place you in a lie-flat bed over the Atlantic or a boujee hotel room. The Venture X Business earns double the miles and opens up options that make your business expenses work for you in the most exciting way possible (with travel… duh!).

This card is hands down one of the best tools out there for turning everyday spend into sweet (often luxury) travel.