Airport Lounge Access Is Tightening In 2026 For Capital One And Chase Cardholders

For years, airport lounge access was considered a straightforward benefit of premium travel credit cards. In 2026, that perk comes with more strings attached. New guest limits and fees are rolling out, making access less automatic for many travelers.

Here’s what’s changing, when it takes effect, and whether you need to adjust your strategy.

What’s Changing for Lounge Access in Early 2026?

The biggest lounge access changes in 2026 focus on one thing: guest privileges. Both Chase and Capital One are tightening who you can bring with you, how much it costs, and whether authorized users still get access at all.

This move is largely driven by overcrowding, which has become one of the biggest complaints among eligible lounge visitors. While limiting guests and adding spending thresholds is intended to protect the lounge experience, there’s little evidence so far that these measures actually reduce congestion — especially as more travelers than ever have some form of lounge access through credit cards, airline status, or partnerships.

Airline-run lounges such as Delta Sky Club and United Club have already implemented lounge access restrictions for guests based on their annual spending. Now, credit card–backed lounge programs are following a similar path.

Ritz-Carlton Card: Unlimited Guests End January 15, 2026

For holders of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card (only available by changing to it from another Chase-issued Marriott credit card), one of the most generous Priority Pass benefits is being scaled back.

Starting January 15, 2026, unlimited guests for no additional cost will no longer be included. Instead, cardholders will be allowed to bring up to 2 guests per visit, with additional guests charged the standard Priority Pass fee.

The good news is that this change doesn’t completely eliminate flexibility.

Though tricky to get, the Ritz-Carlton card still offers Priority Pass access with up to 2 guests at no extra charge. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

You can still add authorized users to the Ritz-Carlton card for no additional cost, and each authorized user receives their own Priority Pass membership. That means, as a workaround, each authorized user can still bring 2 guests of their own, making this card one of the few remaining ways for families or frequent group travelers to maintain broad lounge access without paying per-visit fees.

Capital One Lounges Add Guest Fees Starting on February 1, 2026

Capital One is also pulling back lounge access, and the changes affect both guests and authorized users of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Beginning February 1, 2026, guests at Capital One Lounges will incur a fee of $45 per adult and $25 for children ages 2 through 17. Guest access to Priority Pass lounges will also come with a per-person charge.

Authorized users are impacted as well. Going forward, authorized users will no longer receive lounge access unless the primary cardholder pays an annual fee of $125 per authorized user. This replaces the current setup, where authorized users receive full lounge access at no additional cost.

Capital One is scaling back lounge access for guests and authorized users. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

Cardholders who want to preserve guest access at no extra charge will need to spend their way back into it. This requires spending $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year, which unlocks complimentary guests at Capital One Lounges, along with limited guest access at Capital One Landings.

There is one notable exception. Holders of the Capital One Venture X Business Card will continue to receive Priority Pass access with 2 complimentary guests, without needing to meet a spending threshold. However, these cardholders will still have the same guest restrictions at Capital One Lounges and the option to either pay $125 for additional users or spend $75,000 on their card to unlock Capital One Lounge access.

Airport lounge access is getting more restrictive in 2026, with new guest limits, fees, and spending requirements rolling out across major credit cards. Capital One is adding guest fees and changing authorized user access, while the Ritz-Carlton card is ending unlimited guests but still offers flexibility through authorized users.

For travelers, the takeaway is straightforward. Lounge access now depends more on how you travel — plus who you travel with. Understanding your card’s rules ahead of time can help you avoid surprise fees and decide whether adding authorized users, adjusting spending, or rethinking your card setup makes sense before your next trip.

Juan Ruiz