Capital One has announced significant changes to the lounge access benefits for its Venture X and Venture X Business credit cards, effective February 1, 2026. These adjustments will impact authorized users and guest access policies for both Capital One and Priority Pass lounges.

Capital One Announces Lounge Access Changes For Venture X Cardholders

Let’s address the changes first, then I’ll offer my thoughts below.

Authorized User Lounge Access

Currently, Venture X cardholders can add up to four authorized users at no additional cost, with each user enjoying full lounge access benefits (including the ability to bring in two guests). Starting February 1, 2026, authorized users will no longer receive complimentary lounge access.

Instead, primary cardholders can opt to pay a $125 annual fee per authorized user to grant them access to Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings, and Priority Pass lounges. This change applies to both personal and business versions of the card.

Guest Access Policy Changes

For Capital One Lounges and Landings, the current policy allows primary cardholders to bring up to two guests (one for Landings) at no charge. Under the new policy, complimentary guest access will be eliminated unless the cardholder meets a $75,000 annual spending threshold.

Upon reaching this threshold, cardholders will regain the ability to bring two guests into Capital One Lounges and one guest into Capital One Landings for the remainder of that calendar year and the entire following year.

Without meeting this spending requirement, guest access will cost $45 per adult and $25 per child aged 2 to 17; children under 2 will continue to be admitted for free.

Priority Pass Guest Access Adjustments

Currently, Venture X cardholders enjoy complimentary guest access to Priority Pass lounges. As of February 1, 2026, this benefit will be discontinued for personal cardholders, who will need to pay $35 per guest per visit.

However, Venture X Business cardholders will retain the ability to bring up to two guests into Priority Pass lounges at no additional cost (any additional guests will incur a $35 fee per person).

My Thoughts

In one sense, this is hardly surprising…the Venture X card offered outsized value with the ability to add up to four authorized users, each of whom had lounge access for themselves and two guests.

My initial thought was that this negatively impacts families and a “war on families” post was brewing in my mind. I’m not sure that is fair…the $25/child access strikes me as close to a Goldilocks figure as possible. My kids won’t eat $25/each worth of food…but paying $25 each to spend a couple of hours in a tranquil place strikes me as a price I’m willing to pay…and I suspect a lot of thought went into arriving at the figure.

The Venture X card still offers a $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles, which more than offsets the annual fee. I’m not happy about these changes, but in light of the horrendous overcrowding, they strike me as reasonable…

I do hate to see the Priority Pass guest access dismantled because I cannot think of any case where a $35 fee is justified. Sadly, it would not surprise me to see American Express and Chase copy this.

But unlike airline co-branded cards, my first thought is not to cut up the card. That’s a victory for Capital One.

CONCLUSION

Capital One is tightening up lounge access for Venture X cardholders starting next February. The news is negative for those who travel with guests or take full advantage of the authorized user benefit, but not so unreasonable as to warrant cancelling the card. This isn’t just about overcrowding: it’s about revenue generation too. But the overcrowding is such a big issue now that addressing it in this way does not strike me as unacceptable.

What do you think about these negative changes?