Capital One Lounges Review 2024: Access, Locations, Perks, and Amenities

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Introduction to Capital One Lounges

The Capital One Lounge network is a collection of premium airport lounges that provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for travelers. They offer a wide array of standard amenities, including individually plated local food and drinks from regional purveyors. Each lounge also has a full-service coffee and pastry bar.

There are semi-private work booths, a variety of seating options, and one major Capital One Lounge differentiator: an expansive grab-and-go area for travelers stopping in for a short visit.

This guide shows you where to find all of the Capital One Lounges available right now, and how to get in the door.

What are Capital One Lounges?

If you haven't heard of Capital One airport lounges, you aren't behind the times. For years, the network of American Express-owned and operated Centurion Lounges was the only player in the credit card airport lounge space. But in recent times, that's changed. Along with Capital One, Chase is heavily investing in its proprietary Chase Sapphire lounges — and some are just as good, if not better, than Amex's offerings.

Capital One is a latecomer to the airport lounge game, but its debut was worth the wait. The issuer opened its first lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in 2021 to coincide with the launch of a premium credit card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

Where can I find a Capital One airport lounge?

Since opening its first lounge in Dallas, Capital One has opened two more at Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Denver International Airport (DEN). And that's just the beginning: Other upcoming Capital One Lounges include locations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

Capital One Lounge Access and Availability

Any traveler departing from an airport with a Capital One airport lounge can enter, either through credit card lounge access privileges or by purchasing a one-time pass.

Complimentary access

Capital One's premium cardholders enjoy unlimited access to Capital One Lounges (as well as Priority Pass Select membership and access to Plaza Premium lounges).

Expert tip: If you're interested in airport lounges beyond Capital One, read our guide to alternative credit cards with airport lounge access .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders and their authorized users get unlimited access per year, plus complimentary entry for two guests at each visit. Additional guests beyond the first two cost $45 per person for entry.

Capital One Venture X Business Card†

While access via the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the primary avenue for entry, it's not the only way. Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Business Card† also get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges.

Paid access

Other travelers can also access Capital One Lounges. Some get discounted entry rates, while others must pay full price.

Other Capital One cardholders

Capital One Spark Miles for Business† cardholders currently get two complimentary visits per year. However, this perk will no longer be available on this card come January 1, 2025. After this date, cardholders can enter at a discounted rate of $45 per person.

Non-cardholders

Any traveler, even those without a Capital One credit card, can buy their way into a Capital One Lounge for $90 per person.

Entering a Capital One Lounge: Tips for Visiting

If you're headed toward an airport with a Capital One Lounge, here's what you should know about getting in.

Travel requirements

If you plan to visit a Capital One Lounge, you must present a boarding pass for a same-day departure. This includes access up to three hours before departing or connecting same-day flights.

Travelers cannot enter on arrival without having an onward connection. In other words, you cannot enter a Capital One lounge when that airport is your final destination.

Join the waitlist via the Capital One mobile app

Travelers with credit card lounge access can utilize the Capital One app's lounge capacity tracker and digital waitlist tool. This feature can be helpful during peak travel times when the lounge may be at or near full capacity.

Travelers who are paying to access the lounge must check in at the front desk for entry and waitlist information.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† cardholders can join the waitlist by navigating to the Travel section of the Rewards and Benefits tab in the Capital One mobile app.

From the Travel tab, tap on "Lounges" in the top-right corner and select the location you want to visit. You'll be able to quickly view the lounge capacity tracker in real time, and hop on the digital waitlist if the facility is full. Once it's your turn for entry, you will be notified via text or email and can make your way to the lounge for entry.

You'll have a grace period to return, and can communicate with lounge staff via in-app messaging to let them know if you're on your way, running late, have already entered the lounge, or no longer plan to visit.

Capital One Lounge Amenities and Perks

Capital One has invested heavily in the overall design and traveler experience. All amenities, such as access to Peloton bikes and shower suites, are included in your lounge entry.

Relaxation and wellness

For starters, these lounges are subdivided into "zones" for guests to relax, work, and in some cases, even work on their fitness. Some feature nap pods, which can be particularly restful for travelers waiting out a connection between long flights.

Depending on the location, you may find relaxation rooms for meditation or fitness spaces with exercise equipment. For example, the Dallas location offers space for cycling and yoga with mats, resistance bands, and two Peloton bikes.

Refresh and recharge

Each Capital One Lounge open thus far has a shower facility available on a first-come, first-serve basis with environment-friendly single-use toiletries.

Individual-unit bathrooms are large enough to comfortably allow travelers to change: a welcome option for travel-weary guests.

Work and productivity

Some Capital One Lounge locations offer individual desks and phone booths for taking work calls, as well as ample bar seating and communal work table space. You'll also find plenty of charging stations, with both USB and standard three-prong outlets at every seat. There are no USB-C charging options.

Family-friendly amenities

Each Capital One Lounge includes space for parents with young children. Family rooms are typically quiet and separate from other lounge areas, and they feature nursing rooms and changing stations.

Food and beverages

The main attraction of the Capital One Lounges may very well be the food and drink offerings. Every Capital One Lounge offers a tapas-style menu of individually portioned gourmet bites. There is a strong emphasis on local ingredients and regional sourcing, and many travelers say that Capital One Lounge dining options match or surpass most other airport lounges.

Drinks include a selection of craft cocktails on tap, a variety of spirits, mocktails, and what Capital One calls the "perfect airport beer."

Grab-and-go snacks

These lounges are also generous with their grab-and-go options, a convenient amenity that no other competitors have offered so far. Items you can take with you before a flight include jarred salads, fresh sandwiches, and granola bowls. These eats are located near each lounge entrance for easy access.

Caffeine

An array of caffeinated beverages includes La Colombe cold brew on tap, along with a local coffee producer.

Capital One Lounge Locations

Capital One Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

The Dallas lounge is located in DFW's Terminal D, near gate D12. At about 10,000 square feet, there's a good amount of space here for guests. However, this location can suffer from overcrowding during busy periods. Visitors have floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the runways.

Toward the back of the lounge is a stunning bar area with a striking, curved hanging art piece that doubles as accent lighting. There's a large selection of food and drink, including the aforementioned grab-and-go items.

A separate corridor near the lounge entrance houses four individual restrooms, each stocked with hand soap, hand lotion, cloth towels, and even bidets. This location also has a particularly unique amenity: a cycling and yoga room with mats, resistance bands, and two Peloton bikes.

Finally, there are two relaxation rooms, which feature state-of-the-art nap pods along with a ceiling that mimics stars in the sky.

Capital One Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

The Dulles Capital One Lounge was the second airport lounge to open in the Capital One Lounge network. It's located on the mezzanine level of the airport's main terminal building between the Z Gates and H Gates. While this placement is ideal for passengers originating from Dulles, it's a bit inconvenient for those connecting through the airport.

In addition to the impressive lounge catering, there is a secluded parents' room with a changing table and a variety of spaces for working. Two semi-private, open-air rooms feature workstations, although somewhat disappointingly, there are no fully private phone booths as some lounges offer.

Every single seat in the lounge has power, ensuring you can juice up personal devices no matter where you sit.

Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport (DEN)

In late 2023, the third Capital One Lounge opened at Denver's Concourse A on the mezzanine level near Gate A34, It features an array of mountain-themed art along with food and beverage offerings from the area.

The U-shaped lounge houses six restrooms and two shower suites, along with a dedicated parents' room. There are also multiple workspaces including first-come, first-served phone booths along with reservable conference rooms and private nooks.

Finally, two relaxation rooms are available and designed to provide pre-flight serenity. The rooms here feature dim mood lighting and ceilings that mimic the night sky of Colorado.

Upcoming Lounges and Concepts

Capital One has confirmed at least two additional lounges that will open over the coming years. This includes a location at New York's JFK Terminal 4. At about 13,000 square feet, amenities will include a "bodega" serving coffee and bagels along with cheeses and cured meats from the Hudson Valley.

Las Vegas will also receive an approximately 8,000-square-foot Capital One Lounge, in the airport's D concourse. No opening dates have been revealed for either lounge.

Capital One Landing

Besides new full-fledged airport lounges, Capital One also has announced a sit-down dining concept at upcoming airports — dubbed "Capital One Landing" — in partnership with the José Andrés Group.

The experience will first debut at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) later this year, with another location to come in New York's LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B (LGA). The José Andrés Group will be at the helm and include a unique food-and-beverage menu focusing on Spanish-style tapas.

Capital One Landing at DCA will be 5,483 square feet, located immediately post-security in the airport's Terminal 2. At LGA, the space will be a total of 10,700 square feet, on one of the skybridges in the new Terminal B. In New York, the concept will be both indoors and outdoors, offering fresh air and views of the Manhattan skyline and airfield.

Access to Capital One Landing will be announced at a later date.

Capital One Lounges vs. Other Airport Lounges

Capital One is new on the scene, but it's debuted with a splash. For starters, it's the only lounge network in the credit card issuer space that allows anyone to pay their way in. For another point, the grab-and-go fridges at Capital One Lounges are a game-changer for time-pressed travelers.

Here's what travelers across online community forums such as Reddit and Facebook say about Capital One Lounges and how they compare against the competition.

Capital One vs. Amex Centurion Lounges

Amex Centurion Lounge enthusiasts are a loyal lot, and it's hard to beat a luxury brand that's been around for decades. That being said, a number of travel experts say they have been pleasantly surprised by how well Capital One holds its own.

Travelers appreciate Capital One lounges for a fresh, relaxing atmosphere focused on restoration and wellness, including fitness options and shower suites. They also speak highly of Capital One's grab-and-go food and drink offerings, which make it easy for guests on tight schedules to get a healthy bite to eat on short notice.

However, Amex has Capital One beat on several fronts, including number of locations. Amex has a global footprint of 28 airport lounges, while Capital One is still fresh on the scene with just three locations open so far. Many seasoned travelers say they hold both Amex and Capital One lounge membership in order to visit whichever location best suits their needs in the moment.

Capital One vs. Chase Sapphire Lounges

Capital One's food offerings blow Chase Sapphire Lounge dining out of the water. The two card issuers are going head-to-head launching new luxury airport lounges left and right, with similar offerings and amenities. But many travelers say the food from Capital One Lounges has truly impressed them, while Chase Sapphire Lounge dining leaves much to be desired.

Chase has more lounges open than Capital One at this time, so travelers have more opportunities to visit a Chase Sapphire Lounge right now. While both issuers have announced additional locations to come, Chase will probably beat out Capital One on the number of lounges available to travelers for some time yet. However, Capital One is smart to compete by elevating the guest experience above the norm.

Capital One vs. Priority Pass and Plaza Premium

Most cardholders with Priority Pass Select membership also have access to Plaza Premium lounges. This includes Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† cardholders.

Capital One Lounges offer a premium experience that surpasses that of many other competitors, but only offers a few locations at this time. Access to more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide is a great supplement to Capital One Lounge membership.

Capital One Lounge frequently asked questions

Can I bring guests into the Capital One Lounge?

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† cardholders and authorized users can bring two guests for free each time they visit a Capital One Lounge. Travelers who pay for entry do not receive additional guest privileges.

How much does it cost to enter the Capital One Lounge?

Capital One Lounge access costs $90 per person for non-cardholders, and $45 per person for Capital One Spark Miles for Business† cardholders. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† enjoy unlimited complimentary access.

Do I need a boarding pass to access the lounge?

Each guest entering a Capital One Lounge must have a boarding pass for a departing flight or same-day connection. Arriving travelers will not be allowed to enter.

How early can I enter the lounge before my flight?

Depending on capacity, guests can enter a Capital One Lounge up to three hours before their scheduled departure time. If the lounge is full, guests must join a waitlist before they can enter.

Are there any age restrictions for children?

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under age 2 can enter free with a parent or adult guardian.