Capital One is set to implement significant changes to the lounge access policy for its Venture X and Venture X Business credit card holders, effective February 1, 2026. The current policy, which allows primary cardholders and authorized users to enjoy complimentary access to Capital One lounges and other Priority Pass lounges, will face restrictions that will impact additional cardholders significantly.
Under the new guidelines, authorized users will no longer receive complimentary lounge access. Instead, primary cardholders will have the option to add lounge access for additional users at a cost of $125 per card. This change acknowledges the growing popularity of airport lounges and aims to improve the overall experience for cardholders, according to Capital One’s statements.
Currently, owners of the Venture X card, paying an annual fee of $395, can bring in two guests into Capital One lounges for free and access Priority Pass lounges with no cost for guests. However, once the new policy goes into effect, the guest fees will be $45 per adult and $25 for children aged 17 and under. Additionally, the benefits for Venture X Business cardholders hold some promise; although they will face similar fee changes, there is potential for unlimited access to lounges for additional cardholders by paying the aforementioned fee.
Capital One noted that changes were carefully considered, focusing on maintaining a high-quality lounge experience for primary cardholders in light of increased visitor numbers. This adjustment aligns the Venture X card with practices already established by competitors like American Express and Chase, which have charged for guest access on their premium cards for some time.
Overall, while the expected changes introduce new fees that could be perceived negatively by current and prospective cardholders, they also continue to position the Venture X offerings competitively among premium travel cards. Cardholders still benefit from direct access to over 1,300 lounges globally, making them advantageous within the current credit card market.
With ongoing advancements in credit card perks, cardholders might find it worthwhile to evaluate their options and anticipate how the shifting landscape will affect their travel experiences in the future.