Why the Capital One Lounge Access Changes Aren’t a Dealbreaker for Me

Updated: November 10, 2025, 9:27am CST

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The Capital One Venture X Business Card Is Still Worth It
Capital One Venture X Business Card’s Priority Pass Isn’t Changing
My Wife Has Her Own Capital One Venture X Card
Final Thoughts

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After I applied for the Capital One Venture X Business Card in 2024, it quickly became one of my favorite business cards. With 2x miles on all purchases, a comparatively modest $395 annual fee, and generous lounge access perks, it was an easy addition to my wallet.

But the card just lost some of its luster. Starting February 1, 2026, the Capital One Venture X Business card will no longer include guest access to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings. To earn guest access after this date, cardholders must spend $75,000 on their card or pay a new guest fee of $45 per person ($25 if they’re under 17). Similar changes were made to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

This is a blow to this premium business card’s value proposition, as Capital One Venture X Business cardholders can currently bring 2 guests to Capital One Lounges until early next year.

However, this major policy change isn’t necessarily making me reconsider keeping the card past my first year. Here’s why.

The Capital One Venture X Business Card Is Still Worth It

Presently, the only cards that offer access to Capital One Lounges are the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Venture X card.

Despite these changes to guest access, I still highly value my Capital One Venture X Business card. Sure, it has a $395 annual fee, but it includes both a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus Capital One miles every year.

The 10,000 bonus miles are awarded after your first cardmember account anniversary (and each anniversary thereafter). They are worth at least $100 if you redeem them through Capital One Business Travel or to cover travel expenses charged to the card. However, I often get more value by transferring Capital One miles to the bank’s airline and hotel transfer partners, like Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

Air France Boeing 789 business class cabin — You can transfer Capital One miles to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

Because of this, we value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each, making the anniversary bonus worth about $180 in our eyes.

Bottom Line:

Even without factoring in lounge access, those 2 perks alone more than justify the high annual fee for me as a business owner. As someone who travels monthly for work and leisure, I can use these credits to cover travel purchases I would make with or without the credits. This makes them as good as cash to me.

Capital One Venture X Business Card’s Priority Pass Isn’t Changing

Unlike the changes to the consumer version of this card, the Capital One Venture X Business card’s Priority Pass Select lounge access isn’t changing.

Primary cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Business card can still bring up to 2 guests to Priority Pass lounges with them every visit, which can be helpful for business owners traveling with employees or clients. This is a big leg up for the business variant, as the personal version of the card (Capital One Venture X card) will start charging $35 per guest per visit in February 2026.

Plaza Premium Marmara Lounge SAW Priority Pass signage — Capital One Venture X Business cardmembers can still bring guests to Priority Pass lounges. Image Credit: Keri Stooksbury

Oddly enough, authorized user lounge access is actually improving for the Capital One Venture X Business card. Previously, this card did not offer lounge access to authorized users.

Starting February 1, 2026, you’ll have the option to add up to 4 authorized users to the Capital One Venture X Business card for $125 per card annually. These users will be granted access to Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges. If lounge access isn’t needed, authorized users can still be added at no cost.

My Wife Has Her Own Capital One Venture X Card

While being unable to bring a guest to Capital One Lounges is a big loss, my wife has her own Capital One Venture X card that she can use for lounge access. This will be especially important later this year, as Capital One is opening a lounge at New York (JFK) and a Landing at New York (LGA), our 2 home airports.

Capital One Lounge Las Vegas barstools — Capital One Lounges are some of the best in the game. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Since this card also pays for itself, she’s already renewed it and paid the $395 annual fee for another year. This means we’ll both be able to access Capital One Lounges so long as she keeps her card open, so the lack of guest access from the Capital One Venture X Business card doesn’t affect our lounge access when we’re traveling together.

Final Thoughts

It’s always disappointing to see negative card changes. This time, Capital One announced it was taking away lounge access benefits included with the Capital One Venture X Business card and Capital One Venture X card, with the latter getting more cuts.

The Capital One Venture X Business card will no longer allow guests to access Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings, effective February 1, 2026. Instead, you will have to spend $75,000 on the card over the course of the year or spend $45 per guest 17 or older whenever you visit. Thankfully, Capital One Venture X Business cardmembers can continue to bring up to 2 guests to Priority Pass lounges.

But even with these lost benefits, this business card isn’t leaving my wallet any time soon — it’s simply too good a deal. The Capital One Venture X Business card will continue to be my catchall card for business expenses.