In October 2022, Capital One announced an exciting new concept for cardmembers, intended to be an alternative to the traditional airport lounge. This might just be the coolest-sounding and most innovative airport concept we’ve seen from a credit card issuer.
The catch is that there hasn’t been any update in the 16 months since this concept was announced, so I wanted to take an updated look at what we know so far about the progress of this. The good news is that it looks like this concept may come to life in the coming months.
In this post:
Capital One’s airport dining lounges with José Andrés
Capital One Landing is a new concept from the popular card issuer, which will complement Capital One Lounges. That lounge network currently consists of three locations, in Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Washington (IAD).
As it’s described, Capital One Landing is a way of rethinking the travel and lounge experience. It’s a new chef-driven, culinary-focused concept, intended to bring an elevated experience to the heart of the terminal.
The concept is being launched in partnership with Chef José Andrés, who will design Capital One Landing’s food and beverage menu, focusing on authentic, Spanish-style tapas. Not only will there be sit-down dining, but there will also be food available to-go.
Here’s what Chef José Andrés had to say about this concept:
“Travel is a huge part of my life, and food is deeply linked to the travel experience. It’s the best way to learn about a place and its people. But as someone who spends a lot of time in airports, many times I find myself wanting more. When Capital One came to us with the idea of creating a new kind of dining experience, our team immediately started to think of the Spanish tapas way of eating with the bounty of American farms and traditions – the very best of both countries. We cannot wait to share these new Capital One Landings with the people of the world!”
Capital One Landing coming to DCA & LGA
Capital One has announced that New York and Washington will be the first locations for this new concept. The intent is that these will open at metropolitan airports where shorter stays are the norm, in order to meet the needs of different kinds of travelers.
Here’s what we know so far:
- The Capital One Landing at New York LGA will be 10,700 square feet, and will be located on one of the skybridges in the new Terminal B; this will be an indoor/outdoor concept, with views of the NYC skyline and airfield
- The Capital One Landing at Washington DCA will be 5,483 square feet, and will be located immediately post-security in the airport’s Terminal 2, at the intersection of National Hall and Concourse D, with access to Concourses B, C, D and E
While there aren’t yet renderings of what the finished product will look like, Capital One has shared pictures of the outdoor space that’s being taken over at LGA. HOW EPIC IS THIS?!?!
While no official timeline has been shared for the opening of the two Capital One Landing locations, it’s my understanding that both are expected to open in 2024. Professor Points also notes how Washington National Airport is stating that Capital One Landing will open in Q2 2024, so we should hopefully see the concept open by June (though let me emphasize that this is per the airport, and not per Capital One).
There are still lots of questions
It goes without saying that there are still a lot of questions about this concept:
- We don’t know exactly when Capital One Landing locations will open, though hopefully it’ll be in 2024
- It remains to be seen what exactly the food and drink menu will look like, and how the service flow will work; is this a sit-down restaurant experience where servers come to your table, do you pick up food at a counter, or what?
- I would guess the food & drinks are complimentary for those who have access, but that’s not explicitly stated as of now
- Entry requirements haven’t yet been revealed; I would guess that the rules will work similarly to Capital One’s existing lounges, meaning that those with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) and Capital One Venture X Business (review) will hopefully get unlimited access
I’ll be sure to provide more details as I learn them.
My take on the Capital One Landing concept
The Capital One Landing concept sounds spectacular, and I can’t wait to experience this. Capital One has been incredibly innovative with its entry into the airport lounge space, as the Capital One Lounge DFW has everything from cold brew on tap, to grab & go food, to a workout room. It’s truly one of my favorite airport lounges in the United States.
Now the issuer is being even more innovative compared to what currently exists. Personally I think what Capital One is doing here is brilliant. With lounge crowding having become such an issue, it’s often not actually fun to linger in lounges for an extended period of time. Rather you might just want to grab something to eat, and then sit somewhere quieter. Many airport lounges have become overcrowded cafeterias.
In that sense I really love this concept, since you can enjoy a good meal, even if you don’t have much time. This is a smart evolution of the traditional lounge concept.
We’ve of course seen Priority Pass restaurants become popular in recent years, where those with a Priority Pass membership can get a certain dollar credit toward food & drinks at restaurants. The catch is that the restaurants generally aren’t great.
Based on the food Capital One offers at its existing lounge, plus the partnership with Chef José Andrés, plus the fact that this is specifically a food-driven concept, I trust this is going to be something that many will enjoy. José Andrés is also a total rockstar of a human, so I appreciate anything he’s involved in.
I can’t wait to learn more, and to eventually visit one of these “lounges.”
Bottom line
The new Capital One Landing concept is unique, as we’ll see a card issuer open new airport facilities in partnership with Chef José Andrés. Instead of enjoying cubed cheese and cheap chardonnay in an airport lounge, you can enjoy Spanish-style tapas and cocktails in more of a restaurant-style environment.
You can expect this concept to debut at DCA and LGA in the not-too-distant future. Hopefully we learn more details soon, including about entry requirements, how the service will work, etc.
What do you make of the Capital One Landing concept?
This makes no sense: "The catch is that there hasn’t been any update in the 16 months since this concept was announced, so I wanted to take an updated look at what we know so far about the progress of this."
If there hasn't been an update then how can you update what hadn't been updated?
José Andrés is stretched way to thin. He has obtained celebrity status but he can't oversee that many units and perform well.My visit to the new Ritz Carlton was pathetic
Id rather eat in an airport hotel for breakfast.Crazy prices and inferior quality in a beautiful setting.I wont be signing up for one of their cards if he is on board
Concept seems great otherwise
its a grab and go.
Whats new and revolutionary about it?
Given what we learned from the Capital One lounge in DEN, "expected 2024" might mean 2026
I feel like this will be similar to the Air Canada Cafe where it is more focused on grab-and-go food along complemented by a few small items for dine-in and a few tables/seating areas. I have enjoyed the experience enough times where I had little time and could grab something to take to eat onboard and a couple experiences where I had more time to sit without going all the way to the lounge.
...I feel like this will be similar to the Air Canada Cafe where it is more focused on grab-and-go food along complemented by a few small items for dine-in and a few tables/seating areas. I have enjoyed the experience enough times where I had little time and could grab something to take to eat onboard and a couple experiences where I had more time to sit without going all the way to the lounge.
The design of the food may be "elevated" since Chef Andres is said to be crafting it but the execution will be handled by low(er) level cooks. As others implied, it will not be stellar food but good enough.
I scanned through the article three times and I still can't figure out what is different about this concept from traditional lounges. Am I missing something, or is this information missing from the article?
There is a disconnect between what Cap 1 says so far and what they will execute. Saying that food is an essential part of the travel experience and creating a great airport experience for eating seems contradictory. Dining is something I want to do AT my destination when I have time, not at an airport. There are ways to elevate an "in transit" food experience but what they come up w/ may or may not...
There is a disconnect between what Cap 1 says so far and what they will execute. Saying that food is an essential part of the travel experience and creating a great airport experience for eating seems contradictory. Dining is something I want to do AT my destination when I have time, not at an airport. There are ways to elevate an "in transit" food experience but what they come up w/ may or may not be revolutionary. There are airport lounges that serve decent "in transit" food choices.
Having lots of "grab and go" options is counter to a great dining experience; it is simply a club/membership means to graze through an airport store and pick something that is convenient and semi-satisfying while "in transit"
Will be interesting to see how it plays out but there are more details and refinement of the concept needed, including how it fits w/ Cap 1's other lounges.
Classic Tim Dunn, full of fluff in a world of my own.
Something everyone except Tim will understand. What you want to do AT the airport is your problem.
That doesn't make Capital One or any airport restaurants in the whole world wrong, or in Tim's mind, either less "premium" or not a SkyClub.
and yet you read and bothered to comment - inserting your own jilted interpretation.
You live out emotional squatters syndrome to the T.
To the T.
To the I.
To the M.
To the Dunn.
Gimme a Tim Dunn!!!!
Newsflash - in the age of tightly banked hubs, for the thousands of schmucks stuck with 49-minute connections in DFW, DEN, or yes, even your beloved ATL, access to even passable grab-n-go IS a big deal. The alternative is subsisting on a couple of packs of Biscoff during an entire day of flying. I only wish they'd expand the Landing concept to DFW at other terminals so you could grab a couple of sandwiches without having to deal with the waitlist to get in.
Agree this is a brilliant concept. When it comes to domestic lounges, most guests are there for the food and drink. The ability to actually "lounge around" for an extended period of time is generally not a priority, but people will do it if the lounge is configured for that. The Landing concept sounds good as it is aimed at efficiently getting good food out while subtly discouraging lingering around for hours on end.
This is a great idea. Lounges promote long stays and that's just not working anymore. A more traditional restaurant model should help work people in and out more reasonably. And hopefully this will reduce their costs and time to open new locations