Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we may receive financial compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

[Expired] My Favorite Capital One Venture X Card Perk: Adding Free Authorized Users

Lori Zaino's image
Lori Zaino
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Stella Shon
Jump to Section

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Click for Card Offers (Up to 300k!)

Top Partner Offers

LIMITED-TIME OFFERChase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
Earn 75000 100,000 Points
BEST LOUNGE CARD
Platinum Card® from American Express

Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
NEW OFFERThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
Earn As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Most parents claim they love all their children equally but secretly have a favorite. That is what it’s like when it comes to one of my favorite credit cards — the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

This travel credit card earns 2x miles on all purchases, with added bonuses like 10x miles on hotels booked through Capital One Travel. You can use miles to cover travel charges, book flights and hotels (complete with a $300 annual credit), or transfer to airline and hotel partners. Plus, you get 10,000 bonus miles every year. What’s not to love?

But my favorite benefit of the Capital One Venture X card is one of the reasons I have no plans on canceling the card anytime soon — and it might surprise you. It has nothing to do with bonus categories or earning or redeeming miles.Instead, it’s the ability toadd up to 4 authorized users for free. Those users get some of the card’s main perks, including a special one:access to Capital One Lounges and Landings and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment.

Advertisement

Capital One Venture X Card Authorized User Benefits

Let’s be clear: the Capital One Venture X card isn’t the only premium travel card on the market.

This makes adding authorized users to your Capital One Venture X card a fantastic deal, especially if you have friends or family who aren’t as invested in loyalty programs but would appreciate lounge access (looking at you, Dad).

In my case, this perk allows me to give lounge access for free — well, included in the $395 annual fee — to my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my son when he’s older. It’s true that Capital One doesn’t have an age requirement for adding authorized users, but in order to have your own Priority Pass membership, you need to be 18, so I plan to wait a while on that, as my son is only 4.

Why Adding Authorized Users Is Worth It

Because the Capital One Venture X card offers so many benefits, the $395 annual fee more than pays for itself, especially when you consider that a Priority Pass membership that gives you unlimited lounge access is currently $469 — and you’d still have to pay for guests.

If I have 4 authorized users added, each with their own Priority Pass, I’m getting thousands in value. And that’s just thinking about lounge access and not any of the other card perks.

However, in my case, this benefit is only worth it because I frequently enter airport lounges, as do my authorized users. If we didn’t travel much, it wouldn’t be as useful.

Capital One Lounge Window Seating
If you’re an aviation geek, grab a spot by the window for sweeping views of the runways in the distance at the Capital One Lounge at DFW. Image Credit: Jamie Larounis

I still remember how lovely my most recent trip to the Capital One Lounge in Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) was when I encountered a massive flight delay en route to Tucson (TUS). My son fell asleep on one of the cozy chairs while I munched on delicious snacks, planespotted, and watched Netflix on my phone until the lounge closed. We were so exhausted after our long-haul flight to Dallas, and I was thrilled to relax in this inviting and comfortable space. That’s the feeling of peace inside the airport is what I hope to give and share with the authorized users of my card.

Hot Tip:

Capital One’s lounge network is relatively new but small, and you can find other locations in airports like Denver (DEN) and Washington-Dulles (IAD) — with plenty more opening soon.

Lounge Access Is the Best Gift

There’s no better gift than my father telling me that the “nut dispenser machine in the Capital One Lounge in Dallas made my entire trip” or knowing I saved my uncle $20 on lunch since he was able to eat a decent meal (“and a Mahou beer”) preflight in Madrid (MAD) at the Sala VIP.

Fruit Sala VIP madrid
The Sala VIP lounge in Madrid is awesome. Image Credit: Lori Zaino

Furthermore, since my home airport is in Madrid, I love the Priority Pass program. The airport lounges operated by Spanish airport agency AENA (there’s at least one in all of Spain’s major airports), known as the Sala VIPs, are all part of Priority Pass.

Many other airports around Europe have lounges that participate in the program. Because I frequently route through Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to head back to the West Coast, I’m able to visit the Capital One Lounge, as are my authorized users when they come to visit me.

Hot Tip:

I only add people I trust as authorized users. I know that no matter what happens, I’m responsible for any expenses incurred by those with my card, so I always take that into consideration when adding others to my credit cards, as I don’t want to put my credit or budget at risk.

Advertisement

Final Thoughts

The Capital One Venture X card is one of my favorite credit cards. I’m able to get major value from its miles, which I frequently transfer to British Airways Avios and then move to Iberia Avios. I love the 10,000-mile cardmember anniversary perk, and I frequently take advantage of Capital One offers (you can now earn miles instead of cash-back!).

But what makes this card most valuable is the ability to offer Capital One Lounge and Landing and participating Priority Pass Lounge access to the people I love most, especially those who aren’t that interested in getting their own rewards credit cards just yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you add an authorized user to the Capital One Venture X card?

Start by logging in to your Capital One account online. Click on Manage Account Users, then click on Add New User. Then click Authorized User and Continue. Then, fill out any required data for your new user, such as their name, date of birth, and email (adding their Social Security number is optional), and click Continue. The user will get their authorized user card soon in the mail and can start spending.

What is the Capital One Venture X card good for?

The Capital One Venture X card is good for those who spend in a variety of categories, want to earn miles that they can transfer to airline and hotel partners, and use the Capital One Travel portal to book hotels and airfare.

What are the downsides to the Capital One Venture X card?

The Capital One Venture X card has an annual fee of $395 per year (rates & fees). That said, you do get an annual gift of 10,000 miles, and it’s easy to get more value out of the card than the cost of the annual fee if you maximize the benefits, including adding up to 4 free authorized users to the card (rates & fees). As always, it’s best to pay your credit card off in full and not to carry a balance.

How can you get the most out of the Capital One Venture X card?

Adding 4 free authorized users (rates & fees) and getting them Priority Pass cards is an easy way to ensure you get maximum value out of the card and offset the $395 annual fee (rates & fees). Using your miles for travel purchases or transferring them is an easy way to get value out of your miles.

Lori Zaino's image

About Lori Zaino

Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and Forbes and has taken points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

We Recommend

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome Offer: 75,000 100,000 points

  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Show more
  • Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
  • Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Member FDIC
DMCA.com Protection Status