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It may not comes as a surprise to some, but it’s a bummer that it's finally happening: Capital One is slashing guest access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and its business counterpart. In short, free guest access is going away — but the details vary slightly between the personal and business versions of the card, and the timeline is a bit confusing.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing with guest lounge access for Capital One Venture X and Capital One Venture X Business, plus the key dates you’ll want to circle on your calendar.
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Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business Guest Lounge Access is Changing
Capital One Lounges are some of our favorite airport lounges, and for a while, the Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business cards have let you bring up to two guests for free. Even better, this benefit — at least for now — extends to authorized users on your account.
But despite adding a digital waitlist to manage crowds, Capital One is planning to tighten guest access. These new restrictions will all roll out in February 2026.
And it’s not just Capital One Lounge access that is changing. Similar restrictions are coming to Priority Pass guest access — a benefit available when you enroll your card in a complimentary membership.
Related: Guide to Capital One Airport Lounges: Amenities, Locations, and How to Access
Capital One Lounge guest access changes
Starting February 1, 2026, Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business primary cardholders can no longer bring guests into Capital One Lounges or Landing Lounges for free — at all. Instead, guests will cost $45 per visit, or $25 for those 17 and under (this pricing goes into effect June 3, 2025); kids under 2 years old will remain free.
Even worse, authorized users on Capital One Venture X accounts will no longer receive complimentary lounge access. To keep this perk on authorized user cards, you’ll need to pay a $125 annual fee per additional cardholder, granting access to Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings, and Priority Pass lounges.
You can still add up to four authorized users to your account for free, but they won’t have lounge access unless you pay the fee. Eligible authorized users who’ve paid the $125 lounge access fee also receive discounted guest pricing: $45 per adult and $25 for those 17 and under.
Spend your way to unlocking complimentary guest access
Big spenders can still unlock complimentary guest access. If you spend $75,000 or more on your Capital One Venture X or Venture X Business in a calendar year, you’ll still be able to bring:
- Two complimentary guests per visit to Capital One Lounges
- One complimentary guest per visit to Capital One Landings
Spending toward this threshold starts in 2025, and once you qualify, free guest access is valid for the rest of that year plus the following calendar year.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
Priority Pass guest access changes
But wait, there’s more. Starting February 1, 2026, guests of personal Capital One Venture X cardholders will no longer receive free access to Priority Pass lounges. Instead, primary cardholders and authorized users with lounge privileges will need to pay $35 per guest, per visit.
However, for Venture X Business cardholders, primary cardholders can still bring two guests for free at Priority Pass lounges. Authorized users who have paid the $125 lounge access fee will also receive two complimentary Priority Pass guests per visit. And any additional guests will cost $35 per visit.
Spending $75,000 in a calendar year won’t unlock free Priority Pass guest access; you’ll still have to pay the per-visit guest fee.
Related: How Capital One Venture X Cardholders Can Request a Priority Pass Card In Just 5 Minutes
Final Thoughts
Whether you saw this coming or not, it still stings. The ability to bring multiple guests for free to Capital One Lounges (and Priority Pass lounges) has been a huge selling point of the Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business, and now that perk is being watered down — without any reduction in either card's annual fee.
But the good news is that these changes don’t take effect for a while, so you have time to decide if the Capital One Venture X or the business variant still makes sense for your spending and travel habits — and to take advantage of the current guest access policies while they remain in effect.
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