Review: Capital One Lounge at JFK, New York

Review: Capital One Lounge at JFK, New York

On a recent flight from New York City to London, we had the chance to check out the new Capital One Lounge at JFK International Airport. It’s located in Terminal 4 near the B gates and is open 24 hours a day—making it a great spot to relax, no matter how early or late your flight is.

Access is complimentary for Capital One Venture X personal and business cardholders. Currently, through February 1, 2026, cardholders can bring two guests for free. However, starting after that date, only primary cardholders who spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year will continue to receive complimentary access, which could limit the lounge’s appeal for many travelers and significantly reduce the card’s value proposition. If cardholders want to pay for guest access, they can do so at a discounted rate of $45 per person ($90 per person is the rate for non-cardholders).

When we visited, the lounge had only been open for a few days, so it was still working through a few minor growing pains.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the front desk staff, who welcomed us into the lounge. They scanned our boarding passes, verified our credit cards, and gave us a quick overview of the amenities—including directions around the space and instructions for ordering from the dine-in menu. The lounge has all the usual Capital One perks—grab-and-go snacks and drinks, dine-in menu, shower suites, dedicated password-protected Wi-Fi, and a parents’ room. The parents’ room is stocked with diapers, wipes, bibs, bottle warmers, and comfortable seating for feeding your child. No other lounge network accommodates parents with young children to this extent. Capital One gets high marks here.

The lounge offers a bodega-style espresso bar, giving the lounge an NYC feel, with hand-rolled bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, espresso from Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters, and La Colombe cold brew.

Capital One offers its dishes in small plate portions, and I had the Mac & Cheese, Roasted Heirloom Tomato Crostini, Wild Arugula Panzella Salad, and the Rustic White Bean & Spinach Soup. Everything was so flavorful and delicious, and having the small plate portions allowed me to comfortably try multiple items. They frequently replenish their items, and I never had to wait more than a few minutes if something was out.

Although it wasn’t open during our visit, the lounge also features a cheesemonger station where guests can sample a variety of gourmet cheeses. There’s plenty of space to relax, and during our time there, the lounge was only about 60% full.

For families, there are two private rooms available by reservation. You simply scan a QR code to join the waitlist and receive a text when your room is ready. Unfortunately, both rooms were occupied for the duration of our stay, so we didn’t get a chance to check them out.

Unlike most other lounge networks, Capital One offers a convenient “grab-and-go” option, letting guests take food with them for the flight. The selection can vary, but typically includes pre-made sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, fruit cups, salads, bottled water, and more.

The lounge offers nice views of the tarmac, and if you’re an AvGeek, you will consistently spot larger widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The Wifi speed wasn’t terrible, but I think Capital One can improve upon the 16.7 Mbps download speed when other lounges around the country are surpassing 100 Mbps. This lounge also has shower suites, and they can be reserved in advance.

Conclusion

Overall, this is an excellent addition to JFK, giving travelers in Terminal 4 another strong option alongside the Centurion Lounge, Chase Sapphire Lounge, and others. For those traveling with an infant, the family-friendly amenities show that Capital One has gone the extra mile to make life easier for parents of very young children. The downside is that Capital One Venture X personal and business cardholders only have until February 1, 2026, before a $75,000 annual spend requirement kicks in for complimentary guest access.

Review: Capital One Lounge Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

Review: Capital One Lounge Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

My family and I had the pleasure of experiencing the Capital One Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on a connecting flight to Calgary. Located in Terminal D near Gate 22, this lounge is now my first option when connecting at DFW. Dallas-Fort Worth has always been a desirable connecting airport due to its multiple lounges affiliated with credit cards and legacy carriers. Capital One opened its lounge at DFW in November of 2021 and has been gradually expanding its presence across U.S. airports. Capital One offers its own premium credit card, the Capital One Venture X, which grants the cardholder and up to two guests access to its growing network of lounges. Without diving too deep into other benefits the card offers (I will make a separate post for that), this card offers a lot of value for the $395 annual fee. Since my wife and I are both cardholders, everyone in my household had access during this visit.

Dining

The Capital One Lounge features a rotating seasonal menu that varies by city. We visited during lunch hours, and I sampled the Baby Corn Elote & Shishito Peppers, Roasted Pepper Hummus, San Marzano Bruschetta Flatbread, and Surimi Cucumber Canape.  All three were very good, and the staff replenished the items every 15 to 20 minutes. The kids loved the Fontina Fondue Mac & Cheese and the variety of cheesecake bites. The banana nut bread, paired with coffee, was perfect.

The lounge offers a beverage fountain with a variety of soft drinks, including cola, diet cola, lemonade, ginger ale, sweet tea, and iced tea. The lounge also has a dispenser for La Colombe lattes. As someone who frequently purchases their lattes in a can, I liked this option.

Grab-and-go options are also available, although I can’t speak for the quality. There is also a bar area for those who want to consume adult beverages.

Seating

This lounge has plenty of seating for groups of all sizes, but it does fill up quickly. We didn’t have to wait to get into the lounge, but by the time we exited, the wait time was about 30 minutes, with a line of people waiting for their turn. The most significant complaint Venture X cardholders have about the lounge is the wait time. It wouldn’t shock me if Capital One implements an AMEX-type system for capacity control, where only the cardholder has complimentary access unless a spending threshold is met.

Amenities

This is where the Capital One Lounge sets itself apart from other lounges. Capital One has done a great job with amenities outside of food and drink. There is a nursing room, a gym, a multi-faith room, a relaxation room, and shower suites.

It was nice to see a prayer rug, an area for ablution, and a sign pointing towards the direction of Mecca for Muslims who wanted to use the room for prayer.

The Wi-Fi speed at the lounge was excellent, and you shouldn’t have any problems streaming video or engaging in data-intensive tasks. If there’s one thing I wish this lounge had, it’s a dedicated playroom for toddlers. This is a great lounge, and it will continue to be my go-to lounge at DFW as long as their current guest policy remains the same. Score: 4.5/5.