Capital One Lounge Access Changes: What Cardholders Need to Know in 2026

If you’ve been enjoying free guest access at Capital One Lounges, I have some bad news: those days are officially over.

As of February 1, 2026, Capital One has implemented significant changes to lounge access for Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders. The once-generous guest policy has been tightened considerably, and it’s going to hit couples, families, and group travelers the hardest.

Let me break down exactly what changed and whether the card is still worth keeping.

What Changed (Effective February 2026)

Guest Access: No Longer Free

Previously, Venture X cardholders could bring guests into Capital One Lounges at no additional cost. That’s gone.

Here’s the new pricing:

Adults: $45 per guest, per visit
Children (ages 2-17): $25 per guest, per visit
Under 2 years old: Still free

Authorized Users: Now $125/Year

This is the bigger sting for many. Venture X authorized users used to get complimentary lounge access — one of the card’s best perks for couples and families.

Now, the primary cardholder must pay $125 per year per authorized user to unlock their lounge access. This covers:

Capital One Lounges
Capital One Landings
Priority Pass lounges

Priority Pass Guest Changes

For Priority Pass lounges specifically:

Venture X: $35 per guest
Venture X Business: Still includes 2 free guests (additional guests $35)

The $75K Spending Threshold

There’s one way to unlock free guest access again: spend $75,000 or more on your card in a calendar year.

Hit that threshold and you unlock:

2 free guests at Capital One Lounges
1 free guest at Capital One Landings

This benefit applies for the year you hit $75K and the following calendar year.

Who Gets Hit Hardest?

Couples with one Venture X card: You used to be able to add your partner as an authorized user for free lounge access. Now that’s $125/year — or $45 every time they join you.

Families: Kids 2-17 now cost $25 each. A family of four visiting a Capital One Lounge now faces $95 in guest fees ($45 + $25 + $25).

Group travelers: Bringing friends to the lounge? That adds up fast at $45/head.

Solo travelers: You’re largely unaffected. Your access remains complimentary.

Is the Venture X Still Worth It?

Here’s my take: Yes, but it depends on how you use it.

The Capital One Venture X still delivers incredible value for the $395 annual fee:

$300 travel credit (through Capital One Travel)
10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth ~$100)
Lounge access for the primary cardholder
Priority Pass membership
Excellent earning rates (2x on everything, 5x on flights/hotels through Capital One Travel)

When you factor in the travel credit and anniversary bonus, the effective annual fee drops to just $-5 to $95 depending on your miles valuation. That’s hard to beat.

But Consider This…

If you frequently travel with a partner or family, the math gets trickier.

Scenario: Couple traveling together 6 times per year

Old cost: $0 (authorized user had free access)
New cost: $125/year (authorized user fee) OR $270/year (6 visits × $45)

The authorized user fee is clearly the better deal if you’re visiting lounges more than 2-3 times per year with your partner.

Alternatives to Consider

If these changes have you reconsidering your strategy, here are some options:

American Express Platinum: Gives you Centurion Lounge access, which has its own guest policies but includes access to 1,400+ Priority Pass lounges. Higher annual fee ($695), but more lounge options globally. See our complete Amex points guide to learn more about the Amex ecosystem.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Priority Pass membership with unlimited guests (though some lounges have restrictions). $550 annual fee with a $300 travel credit. Check out our Chase Ultimate Rewards guide for the full breakdown.

Get your own card: Sometimes the best solution is for both partners to have their own premium travel card. If you and your partner each have a Venture X, you each get your own complimentary access.

The Bottom Line

Capital One’s lounge changes aren’t ideal, but they’re not a dealbreaker either. The Venture X remains one of the best value travel cards on the market, especially for solo travelers or those willing to pay the $125 authorized user fee.

If you’re a family or group traveler who heavily used the free guest access, you’ll need to do some math. Consider whether the $125 authorized user fee makes sense for your travel frequency, or whether alternatives like the Amex Platinum might better suit your needs.

The reality is that all premium lounges are dealing with overcrowding. Capital One isn’t the first to restrict guest access, and they won’t be the last. It’s the price we pay for lounges becoming mainstream.

My advice: If you have the Venture X, don’t cancel it over these changes. The core value proposition is still excellent. Just factor the new guest costs into your travel budget.

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Have questions about the Capital One Lounge changes? Drop a comment below or reach out — happy to help you figure out the best strategy for your situation.