Travelers who’ve come to rely on Capital One’s generous airport lounge access perks are in for a letdown. In a move that’s left many cardholders fuming, Capital One recently announced a significant cut to its lounge benefits—specifically impacting Venture X and Venture Rewards cardholders.
What’s Changing With Capital One’s Lounge Access?
Until now, Capital One’s Venture X card was a solid contender in the premium travel card space, largely because of its airport lounge access. Cardholders enjoyed unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges worldwide.
But as of January 1, 2025, that’s no longer the case for Venture and VentureOne cardholders. Only Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will retain complimentary access to Capital One’s airport lounges. Everyone else will be required to pay for entry.
To make things worse, even Venture X cardholders will see limitations. The previously free guest access is being scaled back. Starting in 2025, guests will either have to pay a fee or will be limited to a specific number of complimentary visits per year.
Why Are Capital One Users So Upset?
Many travelers chose Capital One cards specifically because of these perks. Airport lounges are no longer just a luxury—they’re a necessity for frequent travelers looking to escape crowded terminals, find a place to work, or grab a bite without overpriced airport food.
Losing lounge access feels like a bait-and-switch. Some users are questioning whether the high annual fees for cards like Venture X are worth it anymore.
What Does This Mean for Frequent Travelers?
If you rely on airport lounges to make travel more bearable, Capital One’s cuts might be your cue to reconsider your wallet’s lineup. Competing cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum still offer robust lounge networks—at a higher annual fee, yes, but with more consistent access perks.
For Venture X users, it may still be worth keeping the card, depending on how often you travel and how much you value the remaining perks like travel credits, TSA PreCheck reimbursement, and earnings on travel spend. But if you’re holding the standard Venture card just for the lounge access, it’s probably time to look elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
Capital One’s lounge perks were a strong reason to stay loyal. With this latest change, that loyalty is being tested. Travelers have made their frustration known—and if Capital One isn’t careful, it might just lounge itself out of the premium card conversation.
