Capital One Trimmed Venture X Lounge Access—Here’s How You Can Still Come Out Ahead

The Venture X used to offer one of the most generous lounge access policies among travel rewards cards; arguably too generous. But starting February 1, 2026, that story changes.

Capital One has announced new restrictions for both guests and authorized users accessing its lounges. The changes aren’t immediate (you’ve got until early 2026), but they could be significant depending on how you use the card.

Rather than going through all the fine print (we already covered changes like guesting privileges at Priority Pass and the removal of Plaza Premium lounge access in our breakdown of the 2025 lounge access changes), we’re focusing on the real-world question:

Who actually needs to care—and who doesn’t?

Who Does This Really Affect

Families & Couples Who Traveled Together

If you relied on the Venture X to get your partner or kids into Capital One Lounges or Priority Pass lounges, this is a major downgrade. You’ll now need to either:

• Spend $75,000 per calendar year to unlock guesting privileges
• Or pay $35 per guest for Priority Pass, and $45 per guest for Capital One Lounges (kids under 17 get a discount)

For frequent family travelers, this could add up to hundreds of dollars in fees per trip.

Authorized Users

Previously, you could add authorized users to your Venture X account for free, and they’d get their own lounge access—no questions asked. Now? If you want them to keep that benefit, it’ll cost $125 per AU per year, and they still don’t get guesting perks unless the account hits the $75K spend level.

That’s a steep climb for what used to be free.

“The biggest blow is the loss of free lounge access for authorized users, which was a huge part of the value proposition.” – Frequent Miler

For couples like my wife and I, this change reinforces a strategy we’ve already been using: we each have our own Venture X account. That way, we both get full lounge access without worrying about authorized user rules or guesting limitations. Since each account also comes with a $300 annual travel credit and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, it’s relatively easy to recoup the annual fee. And now that Capital One has effectively priced lounge access at $125 per year for AUs, getting a second card actually makes even more sense.

Who Probably Doesn’t Need to Worry

Solo Travelers

If you fly alone and use lounges for yourself, you’re safe—for now. The primary cardholder continues to receive complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Landings, and Priority Pass lounges.

That includes the still-excellent Capital One Lounge at DFW, which remains one of the best domestic lounges around.

Cardholders Who Never Used Lounge Access Anyway

If you signed up for Venture X mainly for the $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, those still remain intact. The card is still a good value if you don’t care about lounges.

“Capital One has gone from offering the most generous lounge access for a $395 card to arguably the most restrictive.” – View From the Wing

Alternatives If You Were In It For the Lounges

If lounge access was the main reason you got the Venture X, it might be time to reconsider. Here are a few alternatives worth exploring:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase’s premium card gives cardholders:

• Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, including standout locations like JFK and the stunning lounge at PHL (which we said was one of the nicest domestic lounges we’ve seen)
• Priority Pass lounge access, but no more Priority Pass restaurants since 2024 (here’s what happened)
• Complimentary guesting privileges (for now), which makes it more traveler-friendly than Venture X post-2026

The Platinum Card® from American Express

If lounge access is your top priority, it’s hard to beat the sheer number of options available through the AMEX Platinum:

• Access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass lounges, Escape Lounges, and more
• Guesting rules vary, and Centurion Lounges now require $75K in annual spend to bring guests for free
• We’ve listed every lounge you can access with the Platinum Card in this guide
• Authorized users receive lounge access, but now it costs $195 per year, so families will need to weigh the costs carefully.

Capital One Venture X Business

The business version of Venture X currently offers a similar lounge access structure, but with key differences:

• Capital One Lounges and Landings: Complimentary guest access is available only if you spend $75,000 per calendar year, which unlocks access for two guests at Lounges and one at Landings.
• Priority Pass: Includes two complimentary guests per visit; additional guests are $35 each.
• Authorized Users: Requires a $125 fee for lounge access and includes two complimentary guests per visit at Priority Pass lounges, but none for Capital One Lounges without meeting $75K in annual spend.

Final Thought

Capital One isn’t the first issuer to tighten the reins on lounge access, and it certainly won’t be the last. However, this shift—tying guesting to spending and charging for what used to be free—represents a significant pivot in how Venture X markets itself.

For solo travelers, this is a minor bump. But for families or those who enjoyed the freedom of adding lounge-eligible AUs, this could be the moment to reevaluate whether the Venture X still earns its place in your wallet.

“It’s still worth keeping for many, but it’s no longer the slam dunk it once was.” – Monkey Miles

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