Latest news with #VentureX
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Why it's getting even harder to get into airport lounges now
Airplane tickets are getting cheaper, but it's getting more expensive to bring your family to an airport lounge. Capital One is the latest company to limit access to booming airport lounges to combat overcrowding. Starting Feb. 1, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will no longer be able to automatically take a guest into lounges or bring authorized second card users. They will instead have to pay $125 annually for each additional cardholder to keep their lounge access, $45 per adult guest per visit and $25 per guest 17 or younger. The $125 fee also includes second cardholder access to a network of Priority Pass lounges. "As airport lounges continue to grow in popularity across the industry, we've seen our customers increasingly encounter wait times to enter them," Capital One said in a statement. "It is important to us that we maintain a great airport lounge experience for our Venture X and Venture X Business customers, while continuing to deliver best-in-class premium travel cards at an accessible price point." Primary cardholders will have to spend at least $75,000 per calendar year to bring up to two complimentary free guests to Capital One lounges and one guest to Capital One Landings, smaller lounges built for travelers who tend to spend less time at the airport, like those heading to short flights. The $75,000 spending requirement for complimentary guests matches what American Express announced two years ago, also a measure to minimize crowding and keeping the clubs feeling exclusive. Credit card companies have ramped up their airport lounge networks in recent years, opening new locations to handle demand. And airport lounge access has been a central perk attached to rewards cards, which generally come with an annual fee. The Venture X card, which launched in 2021, is $395 a year, less than the $695 a year American Express charges for its Platinum card or the $550 JPMorgan Chase charges for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, both of which come with airport lounges. "When it comes to lounges, Capital One is a challenger brand; they're an underdog," said Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group. Capital One has lounges at Denver International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. It plans to open one this year at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and one of its Landings at LaGuardia Airport. But the new restrictions show Capital One isn't immune to its popularity leading to big crowds. "Like Amex, like Chase, these lounges have become victims of their own success," Harteveldt said. "No lounge operator wants them to be as overrun as the public areas of the airport." Airlines have also raised prices to access airport lounges and built larger ones to accommodate the influx. Delta Air Lines, for example, has made sweeping changes to its lounge access policies, like getting rid of unlimited visits in favor of annual caps. And last summer, Delta unveiled its first Delta One lounge, dedicated for customers in its highest class of cabin. It plans to open a new one in Seattle later this month. American Airlines and United Airlines have also expanded their airport lounges and opened new top-tier ones for customers traveling in premium classes on long-haul flights.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Fury as major credit card company cuts airport perk and hits customers with new steep fee: ‘I'm deeply disappointed'
Time for them to say bye-bye-bye to these perks. Capital One customers will soon be grieving a beloved perk that the bank holding company provided its customers with — and they're not happy about it. The company's Venture X card launched in 2021 and is known as a premium travel card offering great perks to its users. Advertisement Capital One hits cardholders with a steep $395 annual fee — however, users were willing to pay that since the card offered them many benefits, including complimentary access to airport lounges. However, starting next year — on February 1st to be exact, according to The Points Guy — that free access for Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will soon be a thing of the past. Having free access to airport lounges was a beloved perk by card users. Yakobchuk Olena – Advertisement In early 2026, cardholders will have to shell out a yearly $125 fee for each person who wants to relax in an airport lounge — which means a family of four has to spend around $500 for some sanity before even stepping foot onto a plane, as reported on by Men's Journal. Yes, it gets even worse. If you want to access the Capital One-specific lounges — it'll cost you $45 per guest and $35 for Priority Pass access, exclusive lounges affiliated with Capital One. The only way cardholders can be exempt from paying these annoying fees is if they rack up $75,000 in credit card charges over the course of a year. Advertisement Sounds like a lose-lose situation. The Post reached out to Capital One for comment. 'As airport lounges continue to grow in popularity across the industry, we've seen our customers increasingly encounter wait times to enter them,' a Capital One spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail, defending their decision. Venture X cards were always known for their great perks. monticellllo – Advertisement 'It is important to us that we maintain a great airport lounge experience for our Venture X and Venture X Business customers, while continuing to deliver best-in-class premium travel cards at an accessible price point.' Regardless, Capital One customers are furious over these changes. '…to be blunt — I'm deeply disappointed. This isn't just a tweak to policy. It's a fundamental shift in what made this card valuable, and frankly, worth recommending,' Seth Chomout, a Venture X cardholder and travel advocate, wrote in an open letter on LinkedIn. '…it feels like Capital One has pivoted from creating value to creating obstacles.' 'And sure, I get that lounges are crowded. But rather than scaling with demand, Capital One chose to wall off benefits behind spending thresholds that are completely misaligned with the needs of real families and real travelers,' Chomout continued.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fury as Capital One cuts beloved airport lounge access perks
Fliers who own Venture X and Venture X Business cards will soon lose the privilege of extending Capital One airport lounge access to guests and additional cardholders. Capital One confirmed the change would be applied to all of these account owners in February 2026. Venture X and Venture X Business card owners will still be allowed to give other individuals access to their cards - but they will have to pay $125 annually for access. Venture X cardholders will also be required to pay $35 per guest to Priority Pass lounges, which are exclusive lounges affiliated with Capital One. 'As airport lounges continue to grow in popularity across the industry, we've seen our customers increasingly encounter wait times to enter them,' a Capital One spokesperson told 'It is important to us that we maintain a great airport lounge experience for our Venture X and Venture X Business customers, while continuing to deliver best-in-class premium travel cards at an accessible price point.' Qualified cardholders will still be able to bring two guests to lounges and one to Landings locations, as long as the account owners spend over $75,000 a year. Capital One launched Venture X cards in 2021, which they described as a 'unique premium travel card with industry-leading rewards and benefits.' Venture X will be required to pay $35 per guest to Priority Pass lounges starting in February 2026 The company opened its first lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport later that year. Other lounges operate in popular airports in states like Colorado, Nevada, and Virginia. With these two cards, fliers typically save $395 when visiting any Capital One airport lounge. The company opened its first Landing lounge in 2024 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 'We need to revolt against the lounge access change,' one user wrote on Reddit in response to the new restrictions. 'Yeah dropping to 0 flat out is kinda ridiculous. They should've just went with 1 guest for primary and no guests for authorized user,' another user agreed. While the upcoming policy may leave guests heartbroken, the primary cardholders will still be allowed to enjoy the perk. 'You might be underestimating how many solo travelers are going to be happy about these changes,' a commenter suggested on the social media site. Venture X and Venture X Business members must pay $125 annually in order to bring guests to Capital One lounges The Capital One Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia opened in 2023 'Venture X and Venture X Business primary cardholders will continue to receive complimentary access to over 1,300 lounges, including Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings and Priority Pass lounges,' the spokesperson confirmed. 'We thought carefully about these changes, and we remain committed to delivering a differentiated premium travel card for our customers.' Airport lounges have remained must-visit destinations for passengers waiting for flights. American Express was the first credit card issuer to open an airport lounge in 2013. The company's lounges made headlines last year after announcing its decision to use online waitlists for all US Centurion Lounges. Amex later caused backlash after removing an Equinox Body Lab from its Centurion Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport. While these two companies have been competitive with one another, Chase Bank joined in a few years ago by opening a Chase Sapphire Lounge in Hong Kong.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Capital One to Curb Lounge Access for Some Cardholders
Capital One is tightening access to its exclusive airport lounges, no longer allowing all premium credit cardholders to extend free entry to additional cardholders and guests. Starting early next year, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will no longer have this perk to offset the card's nearly $400 annual fee. In its email announcing the changes to customers on Tuesday, Capital One cited the popularity of its lounges — which feature chef-curated menus, specialty cocktails and relaxation amenities — and the ensuing long waits to enter. Lounge access for each additional cardholder will now cost $125 annually on a Venture X or Venture X Business account, and the cost for guests will hinge on how much credit card users spend. Cardholders and authorized users who spend more than $75,000 a year can continue to bring two guests to the lounges and one guest to the bank's Landings locations, which are a lounge-restaurant hybrid, for no additional fee. Those who don't meet this threshold will pay $45 per adult guest and $25 for each guest 17 years old and under. Children under 2 will remain free. 'We thought carefully about these changes, and we remain committed to delivering a differentiated premium travel card for our customers,' a bank spokesperson said in an emailed statement. While Venture X Business cardholders will still be allowed to bring two guests to Priority Pass lounges — a separate network of exclusive lounges in which Capital One participates — with no additional fees, Venture X cardholders will pay $35 per guest to get in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNET
15-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Don't Let a Flight Delay Leave You Stranded. Here's How You Can Get Airport Lounge Access — Free
Getty Images/CNET Between delays, cancellations and outages, air travel can be a bit unpredictable -- and stressful. However, airport lounges can provide a place to rest, whether you have downtime between flights or are doing an extended airport stint because of a delay. And you don't always have to pay an arm and a leg to get in. When I left my job as a full-time personal finance editor last year to travel the world, I quickly discovered that airport lounge access isn't as expensive as you might think. You can typically snag a day pass for about $35 to $75. But with the right credit card, you might even be able to snag Priority Pass lounge access for free. Priority Pass membership can get you access to a network of more than 1,600 airport lounges and experiences worldwide. Here's how you can get Priority Pass airport lounge access affordably and in some cases, at no extra cost. Read more: Breeze Through Airport Security. These Credit Cards Offer TSA PreCheck for Free How much does Priority Pass cost? The prices for an annual Priority Pass membership range from $99 for the Standard plan (with a $35 charge for each lounge visit) to $469 for the Prestige plan (with unlimited complimentary visits). If you only plan to visit a lounge once or twice a year, paying for a day pass or the standard plan is your best bet. If you're taking more frequent trips, you'll want a plan that gives you unlimited access. Luckily, there's a cheaper way to get it than purchasing the Prestige plan directly from Priority Pass: credit cards. Popular credit cards that offer Priority Pass Several premium travel credit cards offer cardholders (and sometimes authorized users) complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which grants unlimited lounge visits just like the Prestige plan. Because the Prestige plan costs $469 annually, any credit card with an annual fee below that amount is already a better deal, even before you consider the card's other benefits. Some of the most popular travel cards people turn to for Priority Pass include: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card* with a $395 annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve®* with a $550 annual fee The Platinum Card® from American Express with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card* with a $550 annual fee Several business cards and hotel or airline co-branded cards also offer Priority Pass, but those cards appeal to a narrower audience and aren't significantly cheaper than the options above. What's the cheapest way to get Priority Pass airport lounge access? Looking at the four cards above, there's a clear standout: the Capital One Venture X has the lowest annual fee, at $395. Capital One also lets you add up to four authorized users, who all get their own Priority Pass membership at no additional charge. Clearly, the Venture X is the winner, right? Well, that depends. If you're not going to use the card for any other travel benefits, then maybe. If you're traveling often enough to want a Priority Pass membership, there are other factors to consider. In addition to offering Priority Pass, the four cards above come with a litany of benefits, including statement credits that offer quantifiable cash value. If you use these credits to offset purchases you were going to make through normal spending, they can help lower the card's annual fees significantly. Let's take a look at the value you can get from each card's statement credits and effective annual fees if you use all of them. For ease of comparison, I'm only counting credits that have a defined cash value attached and don't come with complicated restrictions. Some credits aren't available every year so the calculations below reflect each card's first-year value. Priority pass credit card values undefined Card name Annual fee Total cash value of credits and benefits Effective annual fee *Capital One Venture X $395 $420 -$25 Chase Sapphire Reserve $550 $755 -$205 The Platinum Card from American Express $695 $1,294 -$599 Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card $550 $550 $0 Notice a trend? If you can maximize all the credits without overspending, these cards are effectively free and you might even come out on top. Of the four cards above, the Amex Platinum technically has the lowest effective annual fee, at -$599. The Platinum's credits are split into many different parts, some of which may be harder to maximize than others. Among the options listed, it's also the card with the highest actual annual fee, meaning it requires the largest upfront investment with no guarantee you'll be able to "earn" it back. How to get Priority Pass at the best value For most people, the Venture X card will provide the best balance between minimizing the effective annual fee and ease of using the credits. The card only has two credits, one for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and one for the Capital One Travel Portal, which offers a large selection of flights, hotels and rental cars. I didn't factor each card's rewards into the calculations above but it's worth noting that the Venture X card offers a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year after the first (worth $100 if redeemed as a statement credit toward travel). This bonus, combined with the $300 annual travel credit, keeps the card's effective annual fee negative even in years without the TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit. If you can use all of the travel credits, the Amex Platinum might be a more rewarding way to enjoy airport lounge access with other perks to boot. The credit card that offers Priority Pass free If you'll be making four or fewer trips in a year, there's another lesser-known card that could get you a Priority Pass membership for no annual fee: the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card*. The card got an upgrade in September that changed some of its rewards and benefits and removed its previous $95 annual fee. Despite the annual fee elimination, the card kept its Priority Pass and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit benefits, essentially giving the card a few premium card perks for the price of a no-annual-fee card. So what's the catch? You'll only get four complimentary lounge visits per year with Altitude Connect's Priority Pass membership. Any guest you bring also counts against the four-visit allowance. That might not be enough to tempt frequent travelers but it's perfect for occasional travelers or anyone curious about airport lounges who doesn't want to commit to an annual fee card. Do you need airport lounge access? You don't need airport lounge access to enjoy traveling. You might learn, like I did, that this particular perk isn't always as glamorous as it seems. If you're in and out of airports often, lounge access could elevate your travel experience. If you're new to airport lounges, I don't recommend springing for unlimited lounge access until you've decided that it's an experience you value. Investing a few hundred dollars or opening a credit card -- which can have larger implications on your credit score and overall finances -- isn't a decision you should make lightly. If you're on the fence, buy a day pass and try it out with no commitment. After testing the waters, if you plan to visit lounges frequently, it's smart to find a credit card that aligns with your travel goals. For most travelers, the Capital One Venture X will be the best pick. For more frequent trips, the American Express Platinum can give you the best bang for your buck. As for me, if I decide I want lounge access again, I'd turn to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. With no annual fee, airport lounge access feels like a nice perk, rather than a benefit I'd feel forced to use each time I fly to get my money's worth. Full list of credits compared in the table above: Capital One Venture: $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee every four years Chase Sapphire Reserve: $300 annual travel credit for any travel purchase charged to the card Up to $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee every four years Complimentary DashPass for one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 ($96 retail value through DoorDash) $5 monthly DoorDash credit ($60 annually) Complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years when you activate by Dec. 31, 2024 ($199/year retail value through Lyft) The Platinum Card from American Express: Up to $200 annual credit for select prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel® Up to $20 monthly credit for select digital entertainment subscriptions (Up to $240 annually) Up to $12.95 monthly Walmart+ credit ($155 annually) $15 monthly Uber Cash for US rides, plus a bonus $20 in December (Up to $200 annually) $Up to 200 annual credit for airline incidental fees from one qualifying airline of your choosing Up to $50 semi-annual credit for Saks Fifth Avenue ($100 annually) Up to $199 annual credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card: $300 annual credit for qualifying airline incidental purchases $150 annual credit for qualifying purchases of video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services Up to $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years *All information about the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click here.
