Capital One turned the world of stuffy airport lounges upside down years ago with the first Capital One Lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), following up last year with locations in Denver (DEN) and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD). But as word of these lounges spread and more travelers picked up the *venture x* to get in free, they're filling up fast.
Capital One rolled out a solution on Friday to ease the pain of waiting at the door: Cardholders can now scope out how full their nearest Capital One Lounge is with handy capacity indicators via 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.
This new feature is already live for a “majority of eligible cardholders,” though it will roll out to everyone else over the coming weeks, Capital One said.
Cardholders with Capital One Lounge access still can't reserve their spot in the lounge ahead of time, unfortunately. But this takes the frustrating guesswork out of the “Will I have to wait?” question that many travelers confront when heading for an airport lounge these days – let alone the need to hoof it all the way to the lounge only to find you can't get in.
“Whether our customers are en route to the airport or taxiing to the gate, these new features put control directly into our customers’ hands, enabling a seamless and efficient airport experience,” Capital One said in a statement.
To check out how crowded your Capital One Lounge will be and join the waiting list, if necessary, start by logging into your Capital One banking app. Click “Travel” under Rewards & Benefits, then select “Lounges” in the upper right. That'll bring you to a dedicated tab for all three Capital One Lounges.
Click the lounge you're planning to visit and, within a few seconds, you'll see a capacity indicator showing how full the lounge is. If it's at capacity, you'll see an option to join the waitlist – as well as the estimated wait time.
Just fill out the waitlist form with your name, phone number, and how many travelers are in your party hoping to get into the Capital One Lounge. Once it's your turn, you'll get a text from Capital One.
When that comes, you've got 15 minutes to get to the lounge before you lose your place. Just head back to your Capital One app to open your pass into the lounge.
How & Where to Get Into Capital Lounges
There are three Capital One Lounges and counting – and they're all among the best lounges in the U.S., period.
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) was the first to open back in fall 2021. It's located near Gate D22 in DFW's D Terminal.
- Denver (DEN) opened this past fall, located just up the escalators near Gate 34 in Concourse A.
- Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) opened in the fall, too. You'll find it in the main terminal building directly across from the TSA PreCheck security checkpoint
The bank has tapped Las Vegas (LAS) for its next location, though the timeline for that lounge's opening is unclear. And they're also working on dining spaces called Capital One Landings in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) and New York City-LaGuardia (LGA).
No matter which lounge you head for, you'll find the same thing: Airy and bright decor, comfortable seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, amenities like showers or even exercise and relaxation rooms, plus more.
But the food and drinks are the stars of the show inside Capital One Lounges. Not only is it all complimentary, but it's all excellent – a step above what you can get even in some of the best airport lounges in the U.S. … and even abroad. There are high-quality dishes that rotate from breakfast to lunch and dinner, cold brew lattes from La Colombe on tap, and creative cocktails at the bar. Capital One even offers special “Grab and Go” coolers at the front of each lounge if you need a sandwich, salad, or snack on your way to your flight.
While the *venture x* (and the *venture x business* for small business owners) are the best ways to get into Capital One lounges, they're not the only options:
- *venture x* and their authorized users or account managers enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit — and special pricing of $45 per visit for additional guests.
- *venture x business* primary cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit — and special pricing of $45 per visit for additional guests.
- *capital one venture card* cardholders currently receive two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges — or Plaza Premium Lounges — a year … but only through 2024: That benefit is being cut. After that, Venture cardholders can purchase day passes for a discounted rate of $45.
- Same goes for the *capital one spark miles for business*: Cardholders currently receive two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges a year, but that is ending come 2025. Additional visits can be purchased for a discounted rate of $45.
Travelers can only get into Capital One Lounges starting three hours before their flight. Visiting a lounge upon arrival to Dallas, Denver, or D.C. is not allowed, except during a layover.
Bottom Line
As Capital One Lounges have expanded both their footprint and their popularity, the bank has rolled out a new wait to avoid sitting in line.
Cardholders can now scope out how full a lounge is via the Capital One smartphone app – and if it's at capacity, join the waitlist digitally without schlepping all the way to the lounge only to get turned away at the door.
