Credit Card News
Capital One Announces Upcoming Lounge Location in Charlotte
The relatively young Capital One Lounge network is set to expand once again as a new location in a popular American Airlines hub has been revealed.
About the Capital One Lounge Coming to CLT
This week, Capital One and Charlotte Douglas International Airport announced that a new lounge location would soon come to the North Carolina airfield. The location will occupy 14,000 square feet and will be located on the mezzanine level of Concourse A. Specifically, it will be found near gates 21-29.
Notably, the 14,000 square foot size will make it the largest Capital One Lounge so far. For comparison, the lounge location that opened at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas last year is 8,200 square feet.
As WCNC (a local Charlotte NBC affiliate) notes, Capital One says that the CLT lounge location will feature regionally-inspired dining and design. A full-service coffee bar will also be offered. Other features include dedicated workspaces, airfield views, and more.
Although an opening date for the Charlotte lounge was not announced, it is likely to be the eighth in the Capital One portfolio. Since debuting at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2021, Capital One Lounge locations have opened at JFK, LAS, IAD, and DEN. Additionally, a Capital One Landing is now open at DCA, with another planned for LGA.
Entering Capital One Lounges:
Capital One’s entry into the world of airport lounges coincided with the debut of its Capital One X premium travel card. Those with the $395 annual fee card enjoy complimentary access to Capital One Lounge (and Landing) locations. Currently, primary cardholders also get two complimentary guests when visiting a Capital One Lounge and one complimentary guest for Capital One Landing. However, starting February 1st, 2026, only those who spend at least $75,000 per year on their card will enjoy complimentary guest access. When this change happens, cardholders below this spending threshold can pay $45 per guest for a daily pass — or can add lounge access for additional cardholders at a cost of $125 per year.
What They’re Saying:
Announcing the new lounge location, Charlotte Douglass’s chief business and innovation officer Ted Kaplan said, “We are pleased to welcome Capital One to the roster of lounges in Charlotte. As CLT continues to grow, this addition reflects our continued focus on enhancing the passenger experience and offering high-quality amenities for travelers.”
My Thoughts:
As a nerd, the first thing I noticed about this announcement is that CLT is another big American Airlines hub — just like DFW (the site of the first Capital One Lounge) is. This pattern isn’t quite as obvious as American Express Centurion’s habit of following Delta, but I does jump out at me. Of course, it could also just be that American hubs are on the rise and demand more lounge spaces.
By the way, it looks as though regular Capital One Venture cardholders like myself can still visit Capital One Lounge locations for a $45 fee. I don’t see anywhere that says this policy is changing with the Venture X update, but that could be the case. Either way, this isn’t a very good deal, so it’s largely moot.