There’s lots of reasons for me to be loyal to Capital One, but really high up there is how much I love the Capital One lounges. I’ve now graced Dulles, Denver, and Dallas lounges. Each of these is markedly better than the mediocre Priority Pass quality, or the good but not amazing American Express lounges. The food is genuinely good. The seats are comfortable and generally enjoyable sights of the airport. The cocktails (and mocktails!) are remarkably fun. There’s even a grab-and-go that’s stellar for extended travel.
The change (full policy information here)
Guests of Venture X cardholders no longer automatically receive complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings and participating Priority Pass lounges. Venture X cardholders now have the following options to bring guests into airport lounges: [1) $75k in spend, 2) $125 annual lounge fee, 3) $45 per visit]
My take
The past few years, have seen meaningful waits to be able to enjoy this benefit. There’s nothing worse than expecting to be comfortable, and instead being stuck in the misery of a long and not always transparent queue. This change is the latest in a series of reduce-access steps to cull the appropriately high demand for the product. Previously they removed access from Venture for free. This newest change helps continue the trend of restrictions to free up space and, hopefully, improve the experience.
The challenge is I typically travel with my wife, and she does not have a Venture X card, so we’ll need to figure how to take advantage while minimizing cost.
In lieu of a gif, here are a few of the lounge shots I captured at a recent(ish) visit!
