Capital One is officially in the airport lounge business … in a big way. The company behind the popular *capital one venture card* and the premium *venture x* opened its first branded airport lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) back in 2021.
It took a while, but the company has since opened four more lounges: Washington-D.C.-Dulles (IAD) and Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), and a new “flagship” location in New York City (JFK). The company also has a pair of hybrid lounge-restaurant spaces in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) and New York-LaGuardia (LGA).
Travelers love these lounges – and they absolutely should. The food and drinks are second to none, with great seating to relax and a beautiful design to soak in. They're easily some of the best airport lounges in the country, putting Amex Centurion lounges – once the gold standard in the U.S. – to shame.
But it's not all good news. Capital One recently implemented new restrictions, cutting free guests and access for authorized users altogether (without paying an additional fee) to help manage capacity and wait times. You can restore complimentary guest access by spending a whopping $75,000 per year on either the Venture X or the *venture x business*.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about this growing list of airport oases.
Current Capital One Lounge Locations
So far, Capital One has just five airport lounges at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Washington-D.C.-Dulles (IAD), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), and, most recently, New York City (JFK). While we're sure Capital One has more locations in the works, only one other lounge in Charlotte (CLT) is currently announced.
Capital One clearly wants to build out even more branded lounges to challenge the likes of Amex Centurion lounges, as well as Chase Sapphire Lounges. But, much to cardholders' chagrin, Capital One's network expansion has been slower than its rivals'.
Case in point: Capital One has opened just five lounges in the last four-plus years (plus, two Capital One Landings) … while Chase already has eight locations open (and a couple more in the works) in just two years and change.
Read more: Chase is Winning the Airport Lounge Wars … & It's Not Close
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
The DFW Capital One lounge officially opened its doors in early November 2021. And right off the bat, it blew almost every U.S. airport lounge out of the water.
Years later, it remains a truly impressive space, clocking in at roughly 10,000 square feet with amazing design and decor, comfortable seating with power outlets almost everywhere, and floor-to-ceiling windows to watch planes come and go on the runway below. You'll find it near Gate D22 in DFW's D Terminal, home to American Airlines and some of its international partner carriers.
There are also amenities you won't find in many other U.S. airport lounges, including two shower suites, a workout studio equipped with two Peloton bikes, two relaxation rooms, and even multi-faith prayer rooms.
But the shining star in Dallas – and all of Capital One's lounges, really – is its food and drink program. And yes, all food and drinks are free once you're inside.
Rather than serve-yourself vats of lukewarm food, Capital One specializes in smaller dishes. From a bowl of Korean bulgogi to fresh-made hummus and bacon mac and cheese, every single bite is delicious. The bar is stocked with free wines, beers, and craft cocktails, including a very tasty butter pecan Old Fashioned. And there are pour-your-own stations with water, soda, juices, and draft cold brew or lattes, too.
There's also a grab-and-go cooler full of fresh salads, sandwiches, and snacks if you want to pop into the lounge and grab something nice to eat that won't set you back $20 or more like most mediocre airport fare.
Read our full review of the Capital One lounge in Dallas (DFW)!
Again: All of this is free.
While it has gotten much busier recently as more and more travelers pick up credit cards that get them in the door, Capital One does a much better job of managing capacity, ensuring the experience is still enjoyable once you step inside.
Read more: As Airport Lounges Overflow, Capital One Gets it Right
Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD)
Capital One opened the doors to its second lounge at Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) in September 2023. It replicates much of the excellence it debuted at its first location in Dallas.
The Dulles lounge is located in the main terminal building just after clearing airport security. The 8,500-square-foot lounge has the same top-notch food and drinks – all complimentary. And the full bar has local craft beer on tap and cocktails inspired by the D.C. area.
One standout feature you won't find at other Capital One lounges? There's also a full-service coffee cafe. The baristas can make your drinks to go or to enjoy in the lounge itself. Our favorite part? The latte art.
Given the lounge's smaller size, it lacks some of the fancier amenities of the Dallas lounge. For instance, there are no showers, fitness or relaxation rooms.
But there's still an expansive grab-and-go section right when you walk in. With the lounge located a good 10-plus minute walk from any gates, travelers can simply drop into the lounge and grab a sandwich or a snack to take with them on their flight.
Read our full review of the Capital One Lounge in Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD)!
Denver (DEN)
After repeated delays, the third (and long-awaited) Capital One Lounge in Denver (DEN) officially opened in early November 2023.
The 10,800-square-foot space sports many of the same amenities and inviting design that have made Capital One lounges fan favorites among travelers – plus some unique features and quintessentially Coloradan touches.
The Denver Capital One Lounge is located just up the escalators near Gate 34 in Concourse A, which is home to American, Delta, Frontier, and a handful of other, smaller airlines. But all the Denver concourses are connected by tram, so anyone should be able to easily get there.
The oval-shaped Denver lounge has a clear focal point: A massive bar – the largest in Capital One's network – with seating wrapped all the way around it, where travelers can sip on specifically selected Colorado craft brews and hand-mixed cocktails.
Because Capital One knows many of its cardholders connect through Denver, it placed even more emphasis on lounge amenities like more relaxation rooms and shower suites at this lounge.
While there's no full-service coffee bar at the Capital One Lounge in Denver, there is a similar grab-and-go display full of drinks sandwiches, salads, and snacks you can snag on your way out of the lounge – or if you're just stopping by briefly on the way to your gate.
Read our full review of the Capital One Lounge in Denver (DEN)!
Las Vegas (LAS)
Capital One's fourth lounge is in Sin City.
The lounge is located in Concourse D of Terminal 1 in the Las Vegas airport, not far from the concourse's main bank of escalators. It's open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
It measures in at 8,200 square feet, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, and offers some specialty food and beverage options. That includes an entirely new(ish) option it calls “Daily Rituals” – a roaming trolley cart delivering specialty food and drinks to passengers, right at their seats – that is now rolling out to other locations.
The lounge features the same design, amenities, bells and whistles travelers have come to expect from other Capital One lounges. There are separate work areas, a relaxation room, water bottle fillers, power outlets at every seat, Wi-Fi, a children's play area, and restrooms.
This new club also features a robust grab-and-go food area near its entrance for travelers pressed for time. But like all Capital One lounges, it also features a small plates available to dine for all three meals of the day. Vesta Coffee Roasters – a downtown Las Vegas coffee maker – furnishes the club's joe. A full service bar can be found in the club as well, with a signature frozen, gin-based cocktail from the famous Herbs & Rye cocktail bar in Vegas. Other signature drinks include a Bloody Mary and a Vienna Lager from Las Vegas Brewing Company.
New York City (JFK)
Capital One's fifth and newest lounge is inarguably its best yet.
Located in the central concourse of JFK's Terminal 4, it clocks in at 13,500 square feet, making it the largest Capital One Lounge so far. It takes the bank’s winning lounge formula — stylish yet welcoming design, small plates, quality cocktails, and strong service – and kicks it up a notch.
There's a bodega-inspired coffee-and-bagel counter, slinging homemade BECs (that's New Yorker-shorthand for a bacon egg and cheese on a bagel) and other sandwiches on bagels baked freshly onsite. And there's a full-blown cheesemonger station, where travelers can reserve a spot to belly up for a cheese tasting course.
Yes, really: You can do a cheese tasting inside of an airport lounge without paying another dime. Capital One partnered up with a pair of New York institutions to take in-house dining to the next level: Ess-a-Bagel for bagels and Murray's for a curated, 45-minute cheese tasting.
In a first for Capital One, the bank also introduced table service for hot dishes with meals available via QR code, ensuring that everything stays hot and fresh. As always, there are small plates like a mason jar of arugula panzanella salad, a roasted heirloom tomato crostini with whipped ricotta, avocado toast, and more available to bring back to your table.
Capital One's bar program has always been a shining star, so go figure they leveled up in New York. There are 18 different cocktails and mocktails on the menu, all allegedly inspired by some of New York's most famous neighborhoods. The bar itself is gorgeous.
Check out our full review of the new JFK Capital One Lounge!
More Lounges on the Way?
Capital One has made clear that they're not stopping at just five U.S. lounges. But the bank has been (mostly) tight-lipped about what other locations they might be targeting next.
Airport real estate is about as cutthroat as it gets. The company is likely weighing where its cardmembers are traveling, as well as where physical space to build a Capital One lounge is available, as it scouts out its next location.
That's easier said than done. Case in point: Capital One has lost at least three bids for other new lounge spaces to Chase over the years in Phoenix (PHX), Las Vegas (LAS), and Los Angeles (LAX).
So far, there's just one other lounge officially in the works at Charlotte (CLT).
According to a release from Capital One, the new space will span 14,000 square feet on the mezzanine level of Charlotte's Concourse A, as part of a major airport expansion. But the timeline is up in the air: a bank spokesperson said there was “no timing available yet.”
Construction has not yet begun, so don't expect this to open until late 2026 or 2027 … at the very earliest.
Dine at Capital One Landings
Don't call them lounges, but Capital One has something entirely different in store at select airports. They're sit-down dining spaces called Capital One Landings.
The first Capital One Landing opened in late 2024 at Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA), providing both a sit-down dining space (free to eligible cardholders) and grab-and-go options (for a price) alike. Meanwhile, the long-planned New York City-LaGuardia (LGA) outpost opened just last month.
Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA)
You'll find the D.C. location in the National Hall of Terminal 2 near Concourse D. It's open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, while the to-go counter, dubbed “On the Fly,” is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The food and beverage programs at these restaurant-like spaces focus on Spanish-style tapas, all spearheaded by the award-winning celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés and his José Andrés Group. Visitors can order small plates and drinks via a QR code which will be delivered directly to their seats, much like a traditional restaurant.
With quality ingredients such as Spanish breads and olive oils sourced directly from José Andrés Group's trusted purveyors – including jamon straight from Spain – Capital One is aiming for an elevated dining experience that travelers would be excited to try anywhere, not just in an airport terminal. The menu includes a variety of traditional Spanish dishes including pan con tomate, pincho de tortilla de patatas, gambas al ajillo, croquetas, and more.
Read our full overview of the Capital One Landing at Washington D.C.-Reagan (DCA)!
New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
Capital One’s second Capital One Landing opened at New York-LaGuardia (LGA) Terminal B in February, bringing the bank's restaurant-style lounge concept to one of the country’s busiest airports. Like the other Capital One Landing in D.C., this one also focuses on chef-driven, sit-down dining with full table service, developed in partnership with Michelin-starred chef José Andrés.
The 12,500-square-foot space seats more than 180 guests and features 30-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and skyline views of Manhattan, plus an enclosed terrace overlooking the tarmac. Travelers can order Spanish-style tapas such as pan con tomate, croquetas, and gambas al ajillo, with additional dishes and desserts available from the bank's “Daily Rituals” carts.
Amenities include fast Wi-Fi, power outlets at every seat, luggage storage nooks, and five restrooms (but no showers).
The Capital One Landing at LaGuardia Terminal B is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Check out our full write-up of the new LGA Capital One Landing!
How to Get In
Capital One cardholders with eligible credit cards must show their card or digital lounge pass, which is available in the Capital One Mobile app, to qualify for complimentary or discounted access.
Whether you've got Capital One's top-of-the-line credit cards or have never been a customer, there's a way to get in. Here are the exact requirements to get into a Capital One Lounge.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One unveiled its first-ever premium credit card – dubbed the *venture x* – back in late 2021, taking direct aim at the likes of the *chase sapphire reserve* and the *amex platinum*. At just $395 a year, it's one of the few ways to get into these lounges for free.
Venture X cardholders get complimentary access to all Capital One lounges and Landings. Just show your Venture X card at the check-in desk or pull up your smartphone app to enter.
Learn more about the *venture x*.
Capital One Venture X Business
The *venture x business* debuted back in 2023, with nearly identical benefits (and price tag) to the personal version. Like the consumer Venture X, this card also comes with unlimited complimentary access to all Capital One Lounges and Landings.
Learn more about the *venture x business*.
Guests & Paid Entry
If you're planning to bring friends or family into the lounge, free guest access is no longer automatic. To bring two complimentary guests in with you (only one guest for Capital One Landings), cardholders must spend $75,000 on their card in a calendar year.
If you don't spend enough, guests now cost:
- $45 per adult
- $25 for kids 17 and under
- Free for children 2 and under
Meanwhile, anyone with a *Capital One Venture* or a *Spark Miles* card can enter for $45 per visit. Everyone else – including non-cardholders – can pay $90 per visit.
Access is limited to travelers with a same-day boarding pass, and entry is allowed up to three hours before departure.
Additional Entry Restrictions
Whether you have the Venture X Card or simply pay your way in, you can't just waltz into a Capital One Lounge at any time.
Capital One restricts entry to flyers with a boarding pass no more than three hours before departure. That mimics the same policy Amex enacted (and more recently, the Delta Sky Club) at its Centurion lounges a few years ago to limit crowding. But in this case, you still can't get into the Capital One lounge even during a longer layover.
That policy also states you can't get into the Capital One Lounge upon arrival unless you've got a connection. And in our experience, Capital One Lounge agents are quite strict in enforcing these requirements.
As word of Capital One Lounges has spread and more travelers pick up the Venture X card, they're filling up fast. But once inside, you generally won't find depleted buffets and swarms of travelers, like is so often the case at Amex Centurion Lounges or even Delta Sky Clubs.
Join the Queue via App!
Capital One cardholders can check how full their nearest lounge is with handy capacity indicators in the Capital One smartphone app – and digitally join the waitlist to get in when it's full.
Join the digital queue on your phone, and Capital One will send a text with a pass to get in when it's your turn.
One unique feature of Capital One Landings is that you can even reserve a time slot months in advance, helping avoid the long lines that plague many premium lounges.
Read more: Don’t Wait in Line: Queue up for Capital One Lounges via App!
Bottom Line
Capital One now has five lounges open in Dallas, Washington, D.C.-Dulles, Denver, Las Vegas, and New York City – plus, two hybrid airport lounge-restaurant concepts at Washington, D.C.-Reagan and New York-LaGuardia (LGA).
Capital One has a ways to go to rival the likes of Amex Centurion Lounges and even Chase in terms of the number of open locations. But if they can expand, these lounges are absolutely incredible and could compete for the best airport lounge network in the country.
“will restrict entry to flyers with a boarding pass no more than three hours before” Maybe it’s me, but this double negative is hard to decode or doesn’t make sense. 2 hours is “no more than three”. Does that mean that if I have a 2 hour layover, they will “restrict entry”?
Any update on when the DEN lounge is opening, now that we’re a third of the way through 2023?
at DFW Capital One Venture X Lounge …..How do I get a family room / relaxation suite ? i heard i have to reserve it but where do i do that ?
You should be able to do that at the front desk.
Will I be able to use the Lounge, if I’m arriving at Terminal D (International Flight) and connecting at Terminal B for domestic flight ? Bit unsure about what happens after Immigration/Customs at Terminal D,before I go through security again at Terminal B ?
After reading your article, I contacted customer service at Capital One and they WOULD NOT confirm the use of the Venture card’s 2nd free pass for a friend. I was told that only the card holder could enter for free and a guest would qualify for a discount.
It may not hurt to try again and see if you get a different answer. We’ve confirmed with Capital One leadership and I have personally used a Venture Card pass for a guest as well as the cardholder for entry at the DFW Lounge.
I have a quicksilver and my bank account with Capital one. Can I get to the lounge?
Do I understand correctly that Dallas has the only lounge open as of the current date?
Correct. Both Dulles and Denver are expected to open by the end of the year, though the timing is up in the air.
I was at the DFW Capital One lounge several weeks ago. In small chat at the front desk I mentioned DEN is my home airport. They pleasantly told me the Capital One lounge is scheduled for a mid Dec 2022 opening.
Why are they so tight-lipped on the Dulles Lounge opening location? “Sometime this summer” is so vague. It’s May already, surely they have a better timeline.
Thank you for this clear explanation. When you want to use the two free passes that are available to Capital One Venture customers, do you just present your card?
Correct. They will automatically apply your two free passes until they’re used up, at which point you’ll be asked to pay the discounted $45 rate.