Capital One has some of the best cards out there where you can earn 2 miles per dollar spent with their Venture X, and Venture X Business card. Another great benefit of these cards is the lounge access they get you. Well it looks like that is now changing and it for the worse.

Capital One Devalues Lounge Access February 2026

On February 1st, 2026 negative changes will be implemented for Capital One Venture X and Venture X business cards for access to the Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings and Priority Pass lounges. From a cardmember perspective this is going to be a big loss but hopefully it will alleviate overcrowding in these lounges which has become a big issue.

The two major changes coming relate to lounge access for authorized users and the ability to bring guests into lounges.

Current Benefits:

Capital One Venture X

The primary cardholder and 4 authorized users all get lounge access for no cost
Cardmembers get access to the Capital One Lounges and can bring 2 Guests. They also can access the Capital One Landings and bring 1 Guest
Cardmembers get a Priority Pass membership and can bring 2 guests

Capital One Venture X Business

The primary cardholder receives lounge access but not authorized users
Cardmembers get access to the Capital One Lounges and can bring 2 Guests. They also can access the Capital One Landings and bring 1 Guest
Cardmembers get a Priority Pass membership and can bring 2 guests

Changes for February 1st, 2026

On February 1st, 2026 authorized users on the Capital One Venture X will no longer received complimentary lounge access. If the cardmember wants their authorized user to receive lounge access, they will have to pay $125 a year for each authorized user up to 4 authorized users.

While the business version never offered complimentary lounge access to their authorized users, they will be able to add it also for a $125 charge per user.

This isn’t just for Capital One Lounges and Landings but also for Priority Pass memberships as well. $125 per authorized user is a pretty big change and would cost $500 a year for 4 authorized users.

You will have to go in and add this option to your authorized users as the default will be for them not to have access and continue to not pay a fee for up to four authorized users.

$75,000 Spending Will Unlock Lounge Access For Guests

If you want to continue bringing guests into the lounges, you will need to spend $75,000 per year to do so. If you don’t, only the primary cardholder will get lounge access. As a reminder, you currently can bring two guests into Capital One Lounges and one guest into Capital One Landings.

The $75,000 requirement starts in 2025 if you want to continue bringing guests in 2026. It is per calendar year also.

The ability to bring guests into these lounges also applies to authorized users as well. So if your authorized users want to bring guest, you will need to spend at least $75,000 a year on the card as well as pay $125 per authorized user.

You can still bring guests into the lounges but it will cost $45 per adult and $25 for children per visit. Children under 2 won’t be charged.

Priority Pass Guest Changes

Also starting February 1st, those with the Venture X will no longer be allowed to bring complimentary guests into Priority Pass lounges. Those with the Venture X Business will continue to be able to bring up to two guests however.

If you have the personal version of the Venture X, you will need to pay $35 per guest for them to enter the lounge with you. The only complimentary guests you’ll be able to bring into a lounge is at the Capital One Lounges or Landings where you get 2 and 1 respectively if you meet the $75,000 spending requirement.

*The Club at CLT a Priority Pass Lounge*

My Take on These Changes

Look, these changes are inherently negative without a doubt. When this card first came out five years ago, the authorized user benefits were almost too good to be true. The card has a $395 annual fee which is offset by a $300 annual travel credit as well as a 10,000 mile anniversary bonus. Between the two of those, the card is essentially free. Tack on the lounge access and double miles on all purchases, this card is phenomenal.

The value proposition on this card while decreasing, doesn’t change.

I’m sure there will be many people that are angry at these changes. I’ve even seen someone on Reddit post about how he’s filed a complaint with Capital One, is threatening to cancel his card as well as trying to get others to “revolt” (good luck).

The flip side to this is that airport lounges are incredibly overcrowded and giving all these cardholders free access for themselves, authorized users, and guests just makes these lounges even more crowded. Notably, American Express Centurion Lounges are extremely overcrowded. Even after they added guesting restrictions I haven’t really noticed much of a change. Granted, I think way more people have an American Express Platinum than the Venture X but hopefully people start realizing that the Venture X is a way better card for literally every purchase than airfare.

I guess only time will tell how this impacts the overcrowding issue at these lounges.

Wrapping Up

Capital One will now charge $125 per authorized user on the Venture X and Venture X Business card for lounge access. Additionally, if you want to continue bringing guests into the lounges for free, you’ll have to spend at least $75,000 a year. While this is definitely a negative change, hopefully it will help with the lounge overcrowding issue.

Major Changes to Capital One Lounge Access