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Capital One just negatively updated the terms and conditions of its Priority Pass Membership for eligible cardholders. At a stroke, Capital One has eliminated all non-lounge benefits like dining credits, retail experiences, and spa discounts from cards including the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
In Capital One's own words on its FAQs page:
“Priority Pass is a program that provides access to airport lounges worldwide. Effective January 1, 2023, Priority Pass non-lounge airport experiences (like dining, retail shopping and spa discounts) are not part of the Visa Infinite® benefit program for Venture X cardholders.”
The new changes will come into force from January 1, 2023. So, if you have travel plans this upcoming holiday season, make the most of it since you won't get the chance to do so again.
How Big an Impact are These Capital One Priority Pass Changes
The impact varies greatly depending on the airport you are using. Many U.S. airports only feature one or at most two Priority Pass participating restaurants. For instance, New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) have one restaurant a piece. On the other hand, the busiest airport in the U.S. — Atlanta (ATL) — has no participating restaurants.
| City/Airport | Restaurant Name + Location | Special Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD (BWI) | • Harbor Grille - Concourse C | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Boston, MA (BOS) | • Stephanie's - Terminal B • Stephanie's - Terminal E | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Cleveland, OH (CLE) | • Bar Symon - Concourse C | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Denver, CO (DEN) | • Mercantile Dining and Provision - Concourse A • SweetWater Mountain Taphouse - Concourse B | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Detroit, MI (DTW) | • Anitas Kitchen - Warren C. Evans Terminal | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) | • Kafe Kalik - Terminal 4 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Houston, TX (IAH) | • Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar - Terminal A • Landry's Seafood - Terminal C | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Indianapolis, IN (IND) | • The Fan Zone - Concourse B | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Miami, FL (MIA) | • Corona Beach House - Concourse D | • Receive US$30 off the bill per guest (max $60) • 18% gratuity is automatically added to the final bill • Excludes 'To-Go' Orders |
| Nashville, TN (BNA) | • 400 Degrees Hot Chicken - Concourse C | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest • Excludes "To-Go" Orders |
| New York, NY (JFK) | • Bobby Van's Steakhouse - Terminal Eight | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Portland, OR (PDX) | • Capers Cafe Le Bar - Concourse C • Westward Whiskey - Concourse C • Capers Market - Concourse D | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest Capers Market & Capers Cafe Le Bar Additional Conditions • Excludes bottle sales & merchandise |
| Providence, RI (PVD) | • Providence Provisions Kitchen - Near Gate 15 | • Receive US$30 off the bill per guest |
| San Diego, CA (SAN) | • PGA Tour Grill - Terminal 2 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| San Francisco, CA (SFO) | • Lark Creek Grill - Terminal 2 • Giants Clubhouse - Terminal 3 • Yankee Pier - Terminal 3 • Mustards Bar & Grill - Terminal G | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest • Limit 1 guest |
| Seattle, WA (SEA) | • Brewtop Social - Central Terminal • Ninth & Pike Artisan Kitchen - Concourse C • Bambuza - North Satellite | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| St. Louis, MO (STL) | • The Pasta House & Schlafly Beer - Terminal 2 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest • Free Wi-Fi is limited to 20 minutes |
| Syracuse, NY (SYR) | • Johnny Rockets - N Terminal B | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Tampa, FL (TPA) | • The Café by Mise en Place - Airside by Gate F85 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Tuscon, AZ (TUS) | • Barrio Brewery Co. - Landside 2nd Floor | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest |
| Washington Dulles, VA (IAD) | • Chef Geoff's - Gate C14 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest - 1 guest allowed |
| Washington DC (DCA) | • Bracket Room - Terminal 2 • American Tap Room - Terminal 2 | • Receive US$28 off the bill per guest • Limit 1 guest at American Tap Room |
| London Gatwick, UK (LGW) | • Grain Store Café & Bar - South Terminal | • Receive £15 off the bill per guest |
| London Heathrow, UK (LHR) | • Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen - Terminal 2 • The Oceanic Pub & Kitchen - Terminal 3 • The Globe Pub & Kitchen - Terminal 5 | • Receive £15 off the bill per guest |
| Sydney Kingsford Smith, AUS (SYD) | • Mach2 - Terminal 1 • Peroni Bar - Terminal 1 • Bistro Bar 2020 - Terminal 2 • The Fat Yak - Terminal 2 • Bar Roma - Terminal 3 • Wok On Air - Terminal 3 | • Receive AUD$36 off the bill per guest |
| Brisbane, AUS (BNE) | • 4 Restaurants Available - Domestic Terminal | • Receive AUD$36 off the bill per guest |
| Gold Coast Coolangatta, AUS (OOL) | • Wollumbin - Airside - after Security | • Receive AUD$36 off the bill per guest |
| Lima, Peru (LIM) | • La Bonbonniere - Airside • Bar Bleriot & Lounge - Landside | • Receive US$27 off the bill per guest. |
| Sao Paulo, BR (GRU) | • 3 Restaurants Available - Terminal 3 • Bar Bleriot & Lounge - Terminal 2 | • Receive US$27 off the bill per guest. |
| Singapore (SIN) | • Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao - Terminal 1 • Kaveri Indian Vegetarian - Terminal 2 • Chutney Mary Indian Fast Food - Terminal 2 • Crystal Jade Go - Terminal 4 | • Receive a set menu for the cardholder and one guest maximum. Drinks not included. |
The airport taking the biggest hit is Sydney Kingsford Smith SYD in Australia. Currently, the airport has 2 lounges and 7 restaurants spread over 3 terminals. From January 1, 2023, you will only be able to access the House Lounge in T1 or the REX lounge in T2. If you have the misfortune of traveling from Terminal 3, Capital One cardholders will have access to no Priority Pass lounges.
Our Take
Capital One removing Priority Pass non-lounge benefits is a major negative move. But it doesn't come as a surprise. American Express eliminated these benefits back in 2019. Cynics might wonder why it took so long for another issuer to follow Amex's lead.
If you're a regular user of these non-lounge benefits, Chase is currently your primary option for a Priority Pass Select membership that still delivers. Holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® still have complimentary Priority Pass membership with all the non-lounge benefits.
The latest development is a heavy blow to the value of the Capital One Venture X card.
Will you be switching allegiance next year? Or will you stick with the card despite the devaluation? Let us know in the comments below!
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Capital One is terrible:
1. Travel Portal is a JOKE—— lack of availability of hotel, flights and reduction of PP dining $28 credit
2. Quitting Capital One—another bad AMEX like cheapskate
I have never valued Capitol One. First, they pull all 3 credit reports. Second, they never approve, if you have applied for or hold, in their words, “too many credit cards”. For me with an 800 credit score, I take my business elsewhere.
Cap1 Venture has been the darling of miles and points bloggers who receive incentives for using their links. The company has lousy customer service. Cap1 is the biggest issuer of “sub-prime” CC for people who have poor credit. Why does anyone think that Cap1 is worthy of having in your wallet? Is Jennifer Garner that big of a motivator? Because the benefits are not that great compared to Sapphire Reserve or Amex platinum. Everyone jumped on-board for 100K Venture SUB, but the value is waning. Time to move on. Hopefully Citi will introduce a new premium card.
To be fair, the Venture X Card is still an excellent card. It might not have all of the perks as the Amex Platinum, but it comes with a much lower annual fee. And I’d argue that the Venture X provides comparable benefits to the CSR.
With that said, you’re exactly right about CapOne being overly aggressive with denying new cardholders. And CapOne certainly earns a negative rap from its sub-prime accountholders.
And I agree, hopefully Citi steps up and offers a new premium card (or revamped Prestige).