MW I paid $90 for access to the JFK Capital One Lounge. Is it worth getting a $395-a-year credit card for unlimited access?

By Aditi Shrikant

'I didn't mind paying the fee, but I wonder if getting a bougie card is worth it'

"They had fancy buffet stations, a café, a bar and Ess-a-Bagel." (Photo subject is a model.)

Dear Dollar Signs,

I recently arrived at the airport en route from New York City to London and wanted to kill some time. I decided to go to the Capital One $(COF)$ Lounge, but I didn't have access. I paid the $90 entry fee and was really impressed. They had fancy buffet stations, a café, a bar and Ess-a-Bagel.

I didn't mind paying the fee, but I wonder if getting a bougie card is worth it for year-round access. I don't travel that much, but if you're going to be at the airport for three hours or more, I feel like $90 isn't too bad of a price. What do you think?

Formerly Frugal Flyer

If you're just starting out on your money or career journey and have questions about how to navigate your finances, we want to hear from you. Write to Dollar Signs, MarketWatch's new advice column, at dollarsigns@marketwatch.com.

Dear Flyer,

I love an amenity.

From what I've heard, the Capital One Lounge at John F. Kennedy Airport is absolutely amazing.

In order to get lounge access, you'd need a Capital One Venture X, which has a $395 annual fee. (The Capital One Venture X Business card also offers complimentary lounge access, but is geared more toward small business owners.) This fee includes unlimited access to Capital One Lounges, unlike lower-fee cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

However, the perks are pretty good. You get 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 during the first three months, 10,000 miles every year, a $120 credit for TSA PreCheck and a $300 annual travel credit, which almost offsets the cost of the card. You also earn 10 times the miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel app, five times the miles on flights booked there, and two times the miles on every purchase. Plus, as you said, lounge access.

The points are the biggest benefit of having this card, says Nick Ewen, the senior editorial director at The Points Guy. "I would view lounge access as the cherry on top," he says.

When thinking about whether you should apply for this card, don't only consider how much you fly, but also which airports you use most often.

Focus on how frequently you are traveling from, to, or through, one of the airports that has a Capital One Lounge, Ewen says. Capital One Lounges are only located in six cities: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Washington, D.C. (Dulles), Las Vegas (LAS), and New York-JFK (JFK).

The Capital One Venture X card also provides complimentary enrollment in Priority Pass, giving primary cardholders unlimited access to over 1,300 participating partner lounges worldwide.

Also, take into consideration whether you're an early-airport person or a late-airport person. Personally, I hate being at airports. I show up 45 minutes before my flight and hope they're doing the last call for boarding so I can walk right onto the plane without engaging with any vendors.

Weighing perks and lounge access

If you like to relax for a bit while grabbing some food and a drink, then lounge access might be more appealing - especially if you prefer an alcoholic beverage. Beer prices at JFK and DFW are among the highest of any U.S. airport, averaging close to $12. What's more, each cardholder may bring up to two guests for free, depending on the lounge, which can increase the value if you travel with companions.

There are other credit-card options with lower annual fees that might be better if you're not traveling as frequently. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. You earn five times the points on flights, hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel; three times the points on dining and online groceries; and two times the points on other travel purchases. Plus, you get a $50 annual hotel credit.

What's notably missing, though, is access to a fancy lounge. Given that a single lounge visit costs $90, if you visit four or more times a year, the Venture X card could roughly pay for itself in that "lounge value" alone.

While I want you to think about whether the $395 fee is worth it, I also want you to consider the mental benefit of knowing you have a comfortable space in which to prepare for a flight. Airports are stressful and expensive. If you feel like the Capital One Lounge significantly improved your experience, then why not apply for year-round access?

Just be sure the fee isn't outside your means, that you pay your balance off on time, and that you indulge in an extra bagel when you're at the JFK location. Otherwise, stick to the occasional day pass when you travel.

Write to Dollar Signs at dollarsigns@marketwatch.com.

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-Aditi Shrikant

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February 20, 2026 08:32 ET (13:32 GMT)

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