Capital One improves lounge entry benefits on multiple cards

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Over the past year, Capital One has been causing waves in the travel segment of the credit card world with the changes that it has been making to some of its products and the benefits they offer. Now, with yet another positive move announced, Capital One has improved three of its cards even further.

The first big recent change that we saw Capital One make was the significant improvement in the transfer ratios used to convert Capital One Miles to a variety of other loyalty currencies. The next important change was the opening of the first Capital One branded airport lounge (with promises of more to come), and the third big change was the introduction of the card_name which blew a lot of people away.

Now, Capital One has announced that Plaza Premium Lounges have been added to the list of lounges that can be accessed by holders of three of its credit cards.

Holders of the card_name now receive unlimited complimentary access to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide in addition to the 1,300+ Priority Pass Lounges and Capital One Lounges to which they have already had access.

Holders of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and card_name can now use their two annual complimentary lounge visits at any of the 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide as well as at any Capital One Lounges.

Here’s what Capital One’s rules now say for these cards:

card_name

Priority Pass:

• With enrollment, cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access for themselves, plus
• Unlimited complimentary access for guests traveling with the cardholder*

*This is the only US-issued credit card (that’s still open to new applicants) that offers unlimited complimentary access to guests.

Plaza Premium Group:

• Cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access for themselves, plus
• Complimentary entry for 2 guests per visit.
• Additional guest passes may be purchased for an additional standard charge where available.

Capital One Lounges:

• Cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access for themselves, plus
• Complimentary entry for 2 guests per visit—and special pricing of $45 per visit for additional guests.

Find out more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture & card_name Cards

For cardholders:

• Enjoy 2 complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges.

Guests of cardholders:

• Cardholders may use 1 of their 2 annual complimentary passes for a guest at a Capital One Lounge or a Plaza Premium Lounge.
• Cardholders can purchase an additional visit for a guest at a Capital One Lounge at a special rate of $45.
• Cardholders may purchase an additional guest pass for a Plaza Premium Lounge for an additional standard charge where available.

Find out more about the Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card

Quick thoughts

These are small but significant enhancements to the lounge benefits offered by the Capital One cards and with Plaza Premium in charge of running Capital One’s own branded lounges, this news is a logical step for Capital One to make.

While numerous other credit cards offer the same Priority Pass benefit as the card_name, I’m struggling to think of another US-issued card that combines that benefit with Plaza Premium access as well. The closest match is card_name (review), but because the Platinum Card’s Priority Pass benefit excludes Priority Pass restaurants and because Venture X cardholders are not restricted to the number of guests they can invite into Priority Pass lounges, the Venture X’s benefit is superior.

As far as the other two cards go, the addition of the Plaza Premium Lounges as an option now gives cardholders access to 5 more lounges in the US (4 of which are Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses) and also gives them (limited) access to lounges at over 60 locations outside of the United States – that’s pretty good going for cards that aren’t in the “premium credit card” category.

Bottom line

As of today, holders of the card_name now receive unlimited complimentary access to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide (in addition to the lounge access benefits they already held) making the card_name one of the best cards to hold for those who value access to the broadest selection of airport lounges.

Also, holders of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and card_name can now use their two annual complimentary lounge visits at any of the 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide meaning that these cards now offer (limited) lounge access outside of the United States.

Featured image: Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 2