Capital One is introducing new restrictions on guest access to its network of airport lounges, effective February 1. Cardholders who want to bring a guest must spend at least $75,000 in a year or pay an annual fee of $125 per additional cardholder. For adult guests, the cost will be $45 per visit, while children under 17 will be charged $25 per visit.
The move aims to combat overcrowding at airport lounges, which have become increasingly popular. American Express and other companies have implemented similar measures in recent years. Capital One’s lounge access will no longer be automatic for primary cardholders, who can bring up to two complimentary guests to certain lounges, but only if they spend $75,000 or more per year.
The changes follow a trend of airlines and credit card companies expanding their airport lounge networks, leading to increased demand. To address this, airlines have raised prices to access lounges and built larger ones to accommodate more customers. Delta Air Lines has introduced annual caps on lounge visits, while American Airlines and United Airlines have expanded their top-tier lounges.
Capital One’s Venture X and Venture X Business cards will be affected by the new restrictions, which aim to maintain an exclusive experience for customers while keeping premium travel cards accessible. The changes mark a shift towards more controlled access to airport lounges, similar to those implemented by American Express and other companies.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/07/capital-one-airport-lounges.html