Airport lounge access tied to premium credit cards is becoming more restrictive in 2026, with new guest limits, fees and spending thresholds rolling out across major issuers.
Capital One and Chase are narrowing lounge access, limiting how many guests cardholders can bring and, in some cases, removing eligibility for authorized users.
Newsweek contacted Capital One and Chase for comment via email outside regular business hours.
Why It Matters
Lounge overcrowding has pushed card issuers to rethink once‑generous perks.
For travelers, access is no longer automatic and may now depend on spending levels or added fees.
What To Know
For years, airport lounge access was one of the clearest selling points of premium travel credit cards.
Flash a card, bring a guest or two, and step away from the terminal crowds. In 2026, that experience is changing.
Capital One and Chase are tightening the rules around who can access lounges, how many guests are allowed and whether authorized users still qualify at all, per Upgraded Points, a company that provides information on credit cards, reward programs and travel information.
The common thread behind these changes is congestion.
As more travelers gain lounge access through credit cards, airline status and partnerships, crowding has become one of the most frequent complaints.
Airlines moved first. Delta and United already restrict guest access based on annual spending.
Now, card‑backed lounge programs are following a similar path.
Chase Scales Back Unlimited Lounge Guests in 2026
One of the changes affects holders of the Ritz‑Carlton Credit Card, a Chase‑issued card that is available only through a product change from another Marriott card.
Until now, the card offered one of the most generous Priority Pass benefits on the market, including unlimited complimentary guests.
That ended on January 15. From that date, cardholders have been limited to two guests per visit at no additional cost. Any additional guests are charged the standard Priority Pass fee.
While the shift removes unlimited access, it does not eliminate flexibility.
Authorized users can still be added to the Ritz‑Carlton card at no extra cost, and each receives their own Priority Pass membership.
Each authorized user can also bring two guests of their own, which preserves an option for families or group travelers to access lounges without paying per‑visit fees.
Capital One Introduces Guest Fees and New Access Rules
Capital One’s changes are broader and affect both guests and authorized users of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Beginning February 1, guests entering Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings have faced new fees.
Adults are being charged $45 per visit, while children ages 2 through 17 cost $25. Guest access to participating Priority Pass lounges also shifts to a per‑person fee model.
Authorized users are also affected. They no longer receive lounge access automatically.
Instead, primary cardholders must pay an annual fee of $125 for each authorized user to retain those benefits.
This replaces the current structure, which allows authorized users full access at no extra cost.
Capital One is offering a spending‑based work-around. Cardholders who spend $75,000 or more on their Venture X card in a calendar year can unlock complimentary guests at Capital One Lounges, along with limited guest access at Capital One Landings.
There is one exception: Holders of the Capital One Venture X Business Card continue to receive Priority Pass access with two complimentary guests, without meeting a spending threshold.
However, guest fees and authorized user rules still apply at Capital One‑branded lounges and landings unless the spending requirement is met or the additional user fee is paid.
Taken together, the changes signal a broader shift.
Lounge access is no longer treated as an unlimited perk but as a benefit that can be capped, billed or earned through spending.
What Happens Next
As lounge crowding persists, more issuers and airlines are expected to revisit access rules, potentially introducing tighter limits or new spending requirements across additional cards and programs.
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