After what felt like an eternity of construction walls and tantalizing glimpses of progress, Capital One Landing has finally opened its doors at Reagan National Airport (DCA). This haven of tranquility, nestled within Terminal 2, promises a respite from the usual airport chaos, and it’s safe to say that it’s redefining the pre-flight experience. Forget the usual crowded gates and overpriced snacks; this innovative concept, born from a partnership with renowned chef José Andrés, offers travelers a chance to indulge in delectable cuisine and handcrafted cocktails before embarking on their journeys. But does it live up to the hype? Join us as we delve into the details of this highly anticipated addition to DCA, exploring its amenities, accessibility, and overall ambiance. Is it truly a first-class experience, or is it just another restaurant that joins the existing options? Let’s find out.

Spoiler Alert: We were a little rushed, spending only about 45 minutes in the lounge before our flight. But hey, that’s real life, right?

First Impressions: Location, Ambiance, and Amenities

Located conveniently in Terminal 2’s National Hall near Concourse D, the Landing is easily accessible for travelers. The ambiance is sleek and modern, with warm lighting and comfortable seating that instantly relaxes you. And fear not about your devices dying – power outlets are conveniently located at every seat.

But the real highlight is the culinary experience. José Andrés, the renowned chef, has partnered with Capital One to curate a menu of delectable tapas. Imagine savoring the flavors of sizzling chorizo and fresh seafood while sipping on a handcrafted cocktail from the full bar. It’s enough to make you forget you’re in an airport!

For those who need to catch up on work or emails, the Landing offers a dedicated space with high-speed Wi-Fi. And if you’re traveling with little ones, there are even luggage nooks and private restrooms for added convenience.

Access: Who Gets In and How?

Now, let’s talk about access. Unlike its larger counterparts, the Capital One Lounges, the Landing has a slightly different access policy.

Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders are in luck! You get unlimited complimentary access for yourself and one guest per visit. If you and your travel buddy both have Venture X cards, you can each bring a guest, essentially allowing a group of four to enter for free. For larger groups, additional guests can join for $45 per person.

Venture and Spark Miles cardholders can access the Landing at a discounted rate of $45 per visit. However, complimentary lounge passes associated with these cards cannot be redeemed at Capital One Landings. It’s also important to remember that as of January 1, 2025, Venture and Spark Miles cardholders will no longer have complimentary access to airport lounges.

For those without a Capital One card, the Landing welcomes all travelers for a standard entry fee of $90 per visit.

For families traveling with young children, know that children under two years old can join their parents or guardians free of charge and do not count towards the guest limit. Hooray!

Beyond the Restaurant: The “On-the-Fly” Experience
Adjacent to the sit-down restaurant, you’ll find the “On-the-Fly” quick-service area. This grab-and-go market offers a variety of à la carte food and beverages, perfect for those who prefer a quick bite or need to grab some snacks for their journey. While this area is open to all travelers, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders enjoy a 50% discount on their purchases.

Essential Entry Requirements: Don’t Leave Home Without These
Before heading to the Landing, make sure you have the following:

Your eligible Capital One card: Venture X, Venture X Business, Venture, or Spark Miles cardholders must present their physical card or digital pass upon entry. Ensure your account is in good standing to avoid any access issues.
Boarding pass with confirmed seat assignment: A boarding pass with a confirmed seat assignment for a departing or connecting same-day flight is mandatory for all guests. Arriving flights or those without a confirmed seat will not be granted access.
Timely arrival: Guests are welcome to enter the Landing up to 3 hours before their scheduled departure time.

Snagging Your Spot: Why Reservations are Key at Capital One Landing

While walk-ins are technically allowed, having a reservation at Capital One Landing is highly recommended, especially in these early days. As the first of its kind, this lounge is a hot commodity, and you can bet it will be operating at full capacity with potentially long wait times for the foreseeable future. To avoid any disappointment and ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, securing a reservation through the Capital One mobile app is your best bet.

To illustrate just how quickly things book up, let me share my own experience. The Landing officially opened on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, and that’s when the app started accepting reservations. Luckily, Aroob and I were flying out of DCA the next day, so I hopped on the app at 10:00 AM to snag a reservation for the evening of our flight. At that time, plenty of slots were available for same-day travel and the following few days. However, when I checked back around 2:00 PM, I was surprised to find that all the time slots until Saturday were fully booked! Considering the reservations are in 15-minute increments, it was quite a shock to see how quickly things filled up.

While you might still be able to enter as a walk-in, having a reservation provides peace of mind and guarantees your spot in this airport oasis. Just remember that there’s a 15-minute grace period for reservations, so make sure to arrive on time to avoid losing your coveted table.

Food

Once you’re seated at a table, you’ll find a QR code to scan which will pull up the menu to order hot items. For everything else, just swing by the tapas bar.

Depending on time of day, you can find either the breakfast options, or the lunch/dinner options. For reference, here is the menu for both with drinks menu also included that is the same no matter what time of day.

We only had about 45 minutes to spend at the lounge—more like 30 minutes for ordering food—since we arrived at The Landing around 6:30 PM and the lounge closes at 7 PM. Fortunately, guests are allowed to stay until 7:30 PM, but last call for ordering hot food via the QR code is right at 7 PM. You can still grab items from the tapas bar as long as they’re available, but once the food runs out, that’s it—so act quickly.

I was lucky to secure a reservation through the Capital One app for 6:15 PM. Thankfully, there’s a 15-minute grace period, as we showed up exactly 15 minutes late. Keep in mind that reservations aren’t strictly required to enter since they do accept walk-ins; however, the wait time may vary. We didn’t experience any delay since we arrived close to closing. Once you check in, the staff escorts your party to an assigned table, where you can begin ordering hot food directly through the QR code on the table. Given our tight schedule, I decided to order one of everything on the menu to sample it all. The food arrived gradually, dish by dish, but the entire process took just 10–15 minutes.

Overall, the food was delicious—there wasn’t a single dish we didn’t enjoy. In terms of quality, it was comparable to what you’d find in other Capital One lounges like IAD or DFW. While the menu, curated by José Andrés, added a nice touch of prestige, it didn’t quite deliver the distinctive flavors and finesse you’d expect from one of his renowned restaurants. That said, the quality was still exceptional compared to other dining options available throughout DCA airport.

One noteworthy feature in the Capital One app is the ability to specify dietary restrictions or allergies when making a reservation. For instance, my parents only eat halal, and I included this preference in the reservation. However, when we arrived, there wasn’t any acknowledgment of the halal restriction. Fortunately, many of the tapas options were vegan-friendly, so it wasn’t a major issue for us, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have specific dietary needs.

On The Fly Market

One unique feature of The Landing is the grab-and-go market, similar to what’s offered in the regular Capital One lounges—but with one major difference: it’s not free. We’re not entirely sure if this is intended to let all travelers, regardless of whether they’re Capital One cardholders, experience a taste of the lounge’s food and beverages. However, Capital One cardholders do receive a 50% discount on purchases.

The setup is reminiscent of the Capital One Cafés you’ll find across the country. Even with the discount, though, the prices remain on the higher side—understandable given the airport setting. For non-cardholders, a $13 sandwich might feel steep, but considering the quality and comparing it to other dining options at DCA, it’s actually not unreasonable for airport food.

Our Thoughts

Our overall impression of the Capital One Landing at DCA is a complex one. While we appreciate its convenient location and the friendly staff, the lounge fell short of our expectations in several key areas. The limited space, lack of traditional lounge amenities, and high price point for non-Venture X cardholders left us feeling somewhat underwhelmed. The reliance on a QR code ordering system, while efficient, also detracted from the personal touch we’ve come to expect in airport lounges.

We were particularly disappointed by the size of the lounge, especially given the long construction period and the hype surrounding its opening. The grab-and-go market being separated from the main lounge also seemed like a design oversight. While the food was good, it wasn’t exceptional, and we felt that the high cost for non-cardholders might be largely attributed to the José Andrés branding rather than the actual quality of the offerings.

Despite these drawbacks, we recognize that the Landing serves a purpose, especially for Venture X cardholders seeking a quick and convenient dining option before their flight. The addition of a Capital One lounge at DCA is certainly welcome, particularly given the limited Priority Pass options at the airport. Which is a big plus to those local to the DMV like us, as we now have access at both IAD (Washington Dulles) and DCA (Reagan). However, we believe that the Landing could be significantly improved by expanding the space, adding more amenities, and potentially offering a complimentary grab-and-go option for cardholders.

Ultimately, we remain curious to see how the other upcoming Landing location at LGA (LaGuardia Airport, New York) will compare. We’ll be sure to keep you updated if our opinions evolve or if we have any further insights to share.