Capital One ended lounge access for most cardholders in 2024
Capital One removed lounge access from nearly all of its credit cards, effective in early 2024. If you held a Capital One Venture X card or another premium card with lounge benefits, that benefit is no longer available through Capital One's partnership. The company did not replace it with an equivalent benefit.
This change affected cardholders who had been using Priority Pass Select, the lounge network that Capital One had partnered with. If you were visiting airport lounges with your Capital One card, you will no longer be able to do so under that card's benefits.
The change was sudden for many cardholders. Capital One notified existing cardholders by email and through their online account, but the transition happened quickly without a long phase-out period.
Key Takeaways
- Capital One removed lounge access from the Venture X and other premium cards in early 2024, ending its Priority Pass Select partnership.
- Existing cardholders lost lounge access when ready and Capital One did not offer a replacement benefit of similar value.
- If you were using lounge access regularly, you may want to review whether your card's other benefits still match your spending and travel patterns.
- Some other credit card issuers still offer lounge access through Priority Pass or other networks, though the benefit varies by card tier.
Which Capital One cards were affected
The Capital One Venture X card was the primary card that lost lounge access. This was the card's marquee premium benefit, and its removal significantly changed what the card offers for its annual fee.
Capital One also removed lounge access from other premium cards in its lineup, though the Venture X was the most widely used for this benefit. If you held any Capital One card marketed as a premium or travel card, check your benefits guide or your online account to confirm whether lounge access was listed — and whether it is still there.
What you should do if you used lounge access regularly
If airport lounge access was a primary reason you held your Capital One card, you have three realistic options: keep the card for its other benefits, downgrade to a card with a lower annual fee, or switch to a different issuer that still offers lounge access.
Before you decide, review what else your Capital One card provides. The Venture X, for example, still offers travel credits, purchase protections, and other perks. Whether those are worth the annual fee depends on how much you travel and how you spend.
If lounge access was the main draw and you do not use the other benefits heavily, downgrading or switching makes financial sense. You can downgrade to a Capital One card with no annual fee, or move to another issuer's card that includes Priority Pass or Amex Centurion Lounge access.
Other credit card issuers that still offer lounge access
American Express, Chase, and Citi still include lounge access on some of their premium cards. American Express offers access to Centurion Lounges and other lounges through its Platinum and certain other cards. Chase includes Priority Pass Select on cards like the Sapphire Reserve. Citi offers lounge access on select premium cards as well.
The specific lounges available and the number of visits included vary by card and by issuer. Some cards limit you to a certain number of visits per year, while others offer unlimited access. Read the benefits guide for any card you are considering to see exactly what lounge network it uses and what the access terms are.
Lounge access is not the only premium benefit these cards offer, so compare the full package — annual fee, travel credits, purchase protections, and earning rates — before switching.
Why Capital One made this change
Capital One did not publicly detail its reasoning, but lounge partnerships are expensive for card issuers to maintain. The cost of providing Priority Pass access to millions of cardholders adds up quickly, especially if cardholders use the benefit frequently.
Removing the benefit allowed Capital One to reduce its costs without lowering the card's annual fee. From the company's perspective, this improves profitability. From the cardholder's perspective, it means paying the same fee for fewer benefits.
How to check your current Capital One card benefits
Log into your Capital One online account and look for the benefits guide or benefits summary. This document lists every benefit your specific card includes, along with any terms or limits. You can also call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask a representative to walk you through your current benefits.
If your card previously showed lounge access and it is no longer listed, that confirms the change has taken effect on your account. Some cardholders may have had a grace period, but most lost access when ready upon the change date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get lounge access back if I call Capital One?
No. The removal of lounge access was a company-wide decision, not a benefit that can be restored by request. Capital One is not offering lounge access on any new or existing cards at this time.
Do I get a refund or credit for losing this benefit?
Capital One did not offer refunds or credits to cardholders who lost lounge access. Your annual fee remains the same even though the benefit is gone. If you believe the card no longer provides value, you can downgrade or close the account.
If I downgrade my Venture X, what card can I switch to?
Capital One offers the Venture card (no X) with no annual fee, or the Venture X One with a lower annual fee than the original Venture X. You can also switch to a completely different issuer's card. Contact Capital One to learn what downgrade options are available to you.
Will other card issuers remove lounge access too?
It is possible, but there is no indication that other issuers are planning to do so. Lounge access remains a competitive advantage for premium cards, so most issuers are keeping it. That said, benefits can change at any time, so review your benefits guide periodically.
What is Priority Pass Select?
Priority Pass Select is a membership network that gives you access to airport lounges around the world. Many credit card issuers include Priority Pass membership as a cardholder benefit. Capital One used to offer this through the Venture X, but no longer does.