Capital One just dealt a significant blow to Venture X cardholders with sweeping changes to airport lounge access that take effect February 1, 2026. The modifications eliminate free lounge access for authorized users and guests, marking the most substantial devaluation since the card’s 2021 launch. The Venture X has been my preferred travel card for years, but as someone who travels with their partner, these changes have me rethinking my stance.
The changes come as Capital One’s lounges have become victims of their own success, with customers facing increasingly long wait times at popular locations like Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver. But the solution—charging for previously free benefits—has left many cardholders questioning whether the $395 annual fee card still delivers enough value.
Key Takeaways
- Authorized users lose free access: Starting February 2026, each authorized user must pay $125 annually for lounge privileges
- Guest fees introduced: Bringing companions will cost $45 per adult and $25 per child unless you spend $75,000 yearly
- Business card gains advantage: Venture X Business retains two free Priority Pass guests while personal cardholders pay $35 each
- Spending threshold unlocks benefits: Hit $75,000 in annual purchases to restore free guest access to Capital One facilities
- Industry trend continues: These changes mirror similar restrictions at American Express and other premium cards
The End of Free Authorized User Access
The most dramatic change affects authorized users, who currently enjoy the same lounge privileges as primary cardholders at no extra cost. Come February 2026, that free ride ends completely.
Primary cardholders can restore access for up to four authorized users by paying $125 per person annually. For a family maxing out their authorized user slots, that’s an additional $500 per year—more than the card’s base annual fee.
This hits the personal Venture X particularly hard since it previously offered one of the most generous authorized user policies in the premium card space. The Venture X Business, which never offered authorized user lounge access, actually improves by giving cardholders the option to add it for a fee.
“I’ve been traveling full-time for seven years, and I’ve seen how quickly lounge benefits can disappear,” I tell clients who ask about these changes. “Capital One is following the same playbook as American Express—start generous, build loyalty, then monetize.”
Guest Access Gets the Axe (Unless You Spend Big)
Capital One is also eliminating free guest access across the board, replacing it with a tiered system based on annual spending. The new structure creates two distinct experiences:
For high spenders ($75,000+ annually):
- Two free guests at Capital One Lounges
- One free guest at Capital One Landings
- Guest privileges extend through the following calendar year
For everyone else:
- $45 per adult guest at Capital One facilities
- $25 per child (ages 2-17)
- $35 per guest at Priority Pass lounges (personal card only)
The $75,000 spending threshold isn’t insurmountable for business travelers or those who run significant expenses through their card. But it puts pressure on casual users who valued the Venture X for its accessibility rather than its rewards rate.
Business vs. Personal: A Tale of Two Cards
The changes create an interesting divergence between the personal and business versions of the Venture X. While both lose authorized user access and Capital One facility guest privileges, they diverge significantly on Priority Pass:
- Venture X Personal: Guests cost $35 each at Priority Pass lounges
- Venture X Business: Retains two free guests at Priority Pass locations
This makes the business card more attractive for travelers who frequently use Priority Pass lounges, especially since Priority Pass has a much larger global network than Capital One’s dozen locations.
The business card also benefits from not having previous authorized user access, making the new $125 fee an addition rather than a restriction.
Capital One’s Crowding Problem
Capital One attributes these changes to overcrowding, stating that customers “increasingly encountered wait times in order to enter” their lounges. It’s a familiar refrain—American Express made similar arguments when restricting Centurion Lounge access in recent years.
The company has invested heavily in expanding its lounge footprint, with new locations at JFK Terminal 4 and continued enhancements to existing facilities. But growth in cardholders has apparently outpaced the physical expansion.
From a business perspective, the changes make sense. Capital One is converting a cost center (free lounge access) into a revenue generator while preserving benefits for their most profitable customers. The $75,000 spending threshold ensures high-value cardholders maintain their perks.
How Cardholders Are Reacting
The response from the Venture X community has been predictably mixed. Solo travelers and those who rarely bring guests seem largely unbothered—their primary benefit (personal lounge access) remains intact. The card’s other perks, including a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles, still provide solid value at the $395 price point.
Families and frequent travel companions are less enthusiastic. Online forums show cardholders calculating whether paying $125 per authorized user plus guest fees makes financial sense compared to switching cards or buying day passes.
Some are considering the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which maintains two free guests and costs $155 more annually. Others are eyeing the American Express Platinum, despite its $695 fee, for its broader lounge network and established spend-based guest waiver.
The Broader Industry Context
These changes don’t happen in a vacuum. The premium credit card space has seen a race toward restriction as lounge networks struggle with overcrowding. American Express pioneered spend-based guest access at Centurion Lounges. Chase has maintained more generous policies but operates far fewer proprietary lounges.
Capital One’s approach mirrors the broader trend: use lounge access as an acquisition tool, then optimize for profitability once you’ve built a customer base. It’s effective business strategy, even if it frustrates existing cardholders.
The timing also reflects post-pandemic travel recovery. Business travel may have permanently declined, but leisure travel has surged. Lounges designed for business travelers now host families and vacation groups, creating capacity pressures issuers didn’t anticipate.
Should You Keep Your Venture X?
The answer depends entirely on your travel patterns and companion habits. If you’re a solo traveler who values the card’s other benefits—2x miles on all purchases, the $300 travel credit, and anniversary bonus—the core value proposition remains strong.
For travelers with partners or families, the math gets complicated quickly. A couple using one authorized user and occasionally bringing guests could face $125 plus guest fees for each lounge visit. That changes the cost-benefit equation significantly.
Consider your alternatives carefully. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs more upfront but maintains generous guest policies. Airline-specific cards like the Citi AAdvantage Executive might make sense if you’re loyal to one carrier. Some travelers might even find standalone Priority Pass memberships more cost-effective.
The Road Ahead
Capital One’s changes reflect the new reality of premium travel cards: benefits that seem too good to be true often are. The Venture X’s initial generosity helped it compete with established players, but sustainable economics eventually win out.
These modifications probably won’t be the last. As travel patterns continue evolving and lounge networks reach capacity, expect further refinements across the industry. The era of unlimited, unrestricted lounge access is ending, replaced by systems that reward spending and limit casual use.
For now, the Venture X remains competitive for its target audience: solo travelers and couples who value simplicity over extensive perks. But its position as the “accessible premium card” has definitely shifted. Capital One is betting that cardholders will accept higher costs for better lounge experiences. Whether that gamble pays off will depend on execution—and how competitors respond.
