Capital One Slashes Free Guests at Lounges

We knew it was only a matter of time before something had to give, but this news still hurts: Starting Feb. 1, 2026, cardholders with either the *capone venture x* and *venture x business* can no longer bring free guests into Capital One Lounges. And it gets worse. 

For years, Venture X cardholders have easily shared lounge access with friends and family members by adding them as an authorized user for free. But starting next February, authorized users will no longer receive complimentary lounge access as a benefit. Instead, they’ll have to pay an extra $125 a year for each additional cardholder to maintain lounge access. 

To bring guests inside Capital One Lounges starting next February, Capital One Venture X cardholders will have to pay $45 apiece or a discounted rate of $25 for children 17 and under. Kids under 2 years old will remain free. Cardholders can retain complimentary guest access by charging a whopping $75,000 to their card in a calendar year – a carbon copy of the policy American Express adopted at Centurion Lounges a few years ago. 

To top it all off, even Venture X cardholder’s Priority Pass lounge access is also taking a hit, as cardholders will have to pay an additional $35 per guest. Venture X Business cardholders, however, can continue bringing two free guests into Priority pass lounges.

Capital One said the cutbacks were critical to keeping their airport lounge experience top notch.

“As airport lounges continue to grow in popularity across the industry, we’ve seen our customers increasingly encounter wait times to enter them,” the bank said in a statement. “It is important to us that we maintain a great airport lounge experience for our Venture X and Venture X Business customers, while continuing to deliver best-in-class premium travel cards at an accessible price point.”

Capital One Lounges have rapidly become a fan-favorite among many travelers – and a key reason to grab a Venture X Card – since the first location opened in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) in late 2021. There are now four locations and counting with outposts in Denver (DEN), Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), and Las Vegas (LAS) – plus a novel restaurant concept called “Capital One Landings” in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA). Another lounge is expected to open in New York City (JFK) sometime this year. 

But these spaces become popular to a fault, with long lines to get in the door – even with a new digital waitlist. That’s due in part to due in part to Capital One’s generous access policies. 

Not only can Venture X (and Venture X Business) cardholders currently get in with two guests for free, but authorized users can get the same complimentary lounge access, too … and adding up to four of those additional users is completely free! That’s a recipe for some crowded lounges.

That all changes Feb. 1, 2026, as Capital One eliminates complimentary guests and starts charging addition cardholders with either card another $125 apiece annually to continue using lounges.

On the plus side, we’ve found Capital One does a much better job with capacity controls than its competitors (here’s looking at you, Amex) – ensuring the experience is still enjoyable once you step inside. 

With fees for both giving authorized users lounge access and an additional surcharge for bringing any guests inside, these changes should drastically limit just how many travelers are lining up to get into Capital One’s lounges.

This might be the biggest cutback Capital One has made at its lounges … but it’s not the first. To kick off 2025, the bank cut the two annual complimentary lounge passes it previously granted to cardholders with both the *capital one venture card* and the small business *CapOne Spark Miles*.

Bottom Line

There’s no way to spin this as good news.

We’ve long considered the Venture X to be the best card for traveling families … or anyone, really. And being able to bring a friend into the lounge with you for free set the Venture X apart from the competition. 

While Capital One no doubt believes this should limit the long lines outside its lounges, it still hurts.