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A seating area at the new Capital One Lounge at Washington-Dulles Airport.
Chris Dong
Capital One has revealed its newest airport lounge, an 8,500-square-foot outpost at Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD).
The Capital One Lounge IAD will be open to the public starting on Sept. 7, 2023.
Travelers with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only have unlimited access to this pre-departure enclave.
Read Insider’s guide to the best credit cards with free airport lounge access.
Nearly two years after opening its first-ever airport lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), Capital One is back at it with another. The Capital One Lounge at Dulles (IAD) is the issuer’s highly anticipated second location, expanding the issuer’s reach to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
It’s the first credit card-affiliated lounge at Dulles, and the space will likely prove popular for travelers departing from the airport. The design of the 8,500-square-foot space, at the base of a historic control tower, is heavily influenced by Eero Saarinen, Dulles’ architect. The lounge features teak wood architectural elements and mid-century modern furniture.
Once inside, expect locally inspired food and drink from regional purveyors; a full-service coffee and pastry bar; semi-private work booths; and a major Capital One Lounge differentiator — an expansive grab-and-go area for travelers stopping in for a short visit.
It’s particularly exciting news for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only holders (and their authorized users), who have unlimited access — plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit.
Here’s what to know about the new Capital One Lounge at Dulles.
Capital One Lounge at Dulles Details
The Capital One Lounge at Dulles International is located post-security on the mezzanine level in the main terminal building, between the Z Gates and H Gates. While this placement is ideal for passengers originating from Dulles traveling on any airline, it’s a bit removed for those who will be connecting through the airport.
The lounge’s official hours are 5:30 a.m. ET to 9:00 p.m. ET, covering the majority of departing flight times. (Note that a soft opening schedule of 8:30 a.m. ET to 7:00 p.m. ET is in effect through Sept. 15, 2023.)
Similar to other premium airport lounges — including Capital One’s other outpost in Dallas — this Dulles location offers a wide selection of elevated complimentary amenities and food and drink, a step up from most airline-affiliated or Priority Pass-accessible lounges.
Indeed, the main star of the lounge is the food and drink offerings. That includes a tapas-style menu of individually portioned bites, like a mini-breakfast sandwich with applewood smoked bacon or prosciutto and arugula on toast. Drinks from D.C. local haunts include a custom brew from Lost Rhino Brewing Co. and drip coffee from Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Company, a Virginia-based coffee roaster.
The bar also features a Bee’s Knees cocktail, with gin, Suze, lemon, and a kombucha honey cordial, created in partnership with Will Patton, the beverage director at Michelin-awarded restaurants Jônt and Bresca. There are a variety of non-alcoholic options offered too, including custom soft drinks on tap and legit mocktails, like the “Rock Creek Park,” a refreshing concoction of jasmine green tea, cucumber, Fever Tree lime, and yuzu soda.
Capital One is particularly generous with its grab-and-go options, something that competitors don’t offer at their respective lounges. There are jarred salads, fresh sandwiches, and granola bowls, among other items — all in sustainable packaging and located near the entrance of the lounge for easy access. The made-to-order coffee bar includes an array of caffeinated beverages including La Colombe cold brew on tap. And yes, everything can be made to go.
The lounge serves a tapas-style menu of small bites.
Chris Dong
Besides the impressive lounge catering, on the amenities front, there is a secluded parent’s room with a changing table stocked with wipes, disposable diapers, and a bottle warmer. Every single seat in the lounge has power, ensuring you can juice up personal devices no matter where you sit. Two semi-private, open-air rooms feature workstations, although somewhat disappointingly, there are no fully private phone booths as some lounges offer.
In terms of art, the lounge leans into a local aesthetic and includes pieces from regional artists. Additionally, Acorn Pottery & Farm, a studio in Central Virginia, created custom mugs and pottery.
Although the space is definitely on the cozy side at 8,500 square feet — and the lounge lacks showers or other super-unique niceties (like the sleep pods at DFW) — it’s certainly a welcome addition to Dulles Airport. The only concern is overcrowding, which is something to be on the lookout for in the coming months.
How to Access the Capital One Lounge at Dulles Airport
Capital One is in a battle for lounge supremacy amongst credit card issuers, with both Amex’s Centurion Lounges and, most recently, Chase Sapphire Lounges coming onto the scene. While Amex has nearly a decade-long head start building out these spaces, Capital One and Chase are debuting impressive (and, arguably, better) lounges.
Here’s how to get access to the Capital One Lounges — including at Dulles (IAD), Dallas (DFW), and upcoming locations in Denver (DEN) and Las Vegas (LAS):
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only holders and Capital One Venture X Business Card† – Product Name Only holders enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit. It’s $45 per visit for additional guests thereafter. aCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only holders and Capital One Spark Miles for Business† – Product Name Only holders receive two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges annually. Additional visits can be purchased for a discounted rate of $45.Anyone can purchase access to the lounge for $65 per visit.The lounge stands out for its grab-and-go food options.
Chris Dong
The Capital One Lounge lets visitors enter with a valid boarding pass for a departing or connecting same-day flight, but keep in mind the restriction of up entering no more than three hours before departure time (which doesn’t apply for connecting flights).
With at least two more full-scale airport lounges on the horizon and dining-focused spaces (called Capital One Landing) in development at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Capital One continues to up the ante in the premium travel category.