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Capital One operates some of my favorite lounges in the United States. Its Capital One Landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is perhaps the best place to spend time at an airport (the Delta One® Lounges might tie this spot). The lounges and restaurant have become extremely popular and like American Express, Chase, and just about every airline, something has to give to alleviate overcrowding.
It entered the lounge game in 2021 and currently has five locations open (and one restaurant) with more promised for the future. Capital One Lounges started the grab-and-go food and beverage concept in US lounges and are some of my favorite non-airline spaces at airports. The credit card issuer is making some changes to who can access its lounges for free and I think it’s a great idea.
Access to Capital One Lounges is currently granted to the following customers at complimentary and discounted rates:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (and any authorized users) enjoy unlimited complimentary access, plus complimentary entry for two guests (entry costs $45 for each additional guest). Capital One Landing access allows for one guest.
- Capital One Venture X Business primary cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access, plus complimentary entry for two guests (entry costs $45 for each additional guest). Capital One Landing access allows for one guest.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business cardholders can purchase entries for $45 per visit.
- All other Capital One cardholders and non-cardholders can pay $90 per visit.
- Kids under the age of two, accompanied by eligible cardholders, receive complimentary entrance. Children 17 and under cost $25 each.
- A boarding pass for a departing or connecting, same-day flight, up to three hours before their departure time is required for entry.
Starting in February 2026, Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Venture X Business cardholders will need to spend $75,000 annually to gain free guest access. If this threshold is not met, the above rates apply per guest. Authorized users can gain access for an additional $125 annual fee.
Capital One is also making changes to the Priority Pass membership that comes with its premium cards. Cardmembers who want to bring guests into a Priority Pass lounge will need to pay $35 per guest. This is not impacted by spending $75,000 annually on the card.
Anthony’s Take: I commend Capital One for these changes. When lounges feel like crowded bus stations they’re unenjoyable. This will hopefully keep the spaces manageable.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
3 comments
I find these changes to be draconian. I completely understand not allowing multiple authorized users to have access for themselves plus two others but not even permitting a single free guest for the primary cardholder goes way too far. I say this as my perspective even though it’s not the way that would benefit my household the most.
Looks like I’ll be canceling my venture X card since I won’t be able to take my spouse into a lounge without paying a fee. Lounge access is the only reason I carry this card. Can someone remind me of the benefits of the $395 annual fee?
Between the $300 annual credit and the 10,000 Cap1 points worth $100 these cards hit break even a lot easier than other premium cards like the Amex Platinum/Business Platinum but this pretty much wipes out the disproportionate value on C1 lounges which really made these cards keepers.