Capital One is looking to create a more seamless travel experience, so it’s launching a new all-in-one travel app as part of its plan “to build a fully integrated travel franchise, bringing the technology, talent and supplier relationships that underpin Capital One Travel in-house,” according to a statement.
The goal, says Capital One chief travel officer Sarah Kaplan Moore, “is to build a fully integrated travel ecosystem that provides a seamless, end-to-end journey for our customers, from initial planning and rewards redemption to experiences and airport stays.”
How does the new Capital One Travel app work?
Now available for iOS and Android users, Capital One touts the following features in the new app:
- Hassle-free bookings and rewards– Plan and book flights, stays, cars, and activities while you earn and redeem rewards and get access to relevant offers.
- Live Room Locator: The first-of-its-kind Live Lounge Locator displays capacity and estimated wait times, as well as allowing eligible travelers to join digital waitlists for Capital One’s award-winning lounges and landings.
- Custom profiles– Set preferences for local airports, loyalty numbers, and favorite hotel chains for a personalized experience with just one click.
- Real-time travel intelligence– Receive live updates like flight alerts, gate changes, and nearby lounges.
- Easy travel management– Enjoy access to self-service digital tools and quick rebooking options that help manage trip details and adjust plans with a single click and without repeated logins.
TPG Capital One Lounge Test Run
Playing with the new app, we have to give Capital One props for a beautifully designed app with some out-of-the-box features that will be useful to users.
On the home screen, users can easily see what rewards they have available to spend; switch between booking hotels, flights, cars, vacations, and entire vacation packages; continue recent searches; and check out limited-time travel deals like $50 off your first hotel, vacation rental or car reservation of $200 or more through April 15.
When searching for a flight or hotel, a handy color-coded calendar shows you rates based on a system of dollar signs ($ to $$$) and matching colors for a visual representation of price.
When drilling down into flight bookings, users can set alerts to receive notifications as fares change, get a visual guide to what each fare type includes (for example, a green circle indicates a carry-on bag is included, but a money sign indicates a checked baggage fee), and view pages of detailed information as they progress through booking pages. The latter highlight the exact itinerary (including stopover times) and offer further insight into what’s included and what’s extra in the booking.
Through multiple clickable pages, users are also offered add-ons, such as flight disruption assistance, before being guided through traveler information, selecting and purchasing seats, and adding rewards and credits to the final total.
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All in all, it provides a truly enjoyable flight booking experience.
What cards have access to the Capital One lounge?
A useful feature of the app is the opportunity to check wait times at Capital One lounges located at:
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, DC
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas
You can also check wait times at both Capital One Landings, the issuer’s unique dining concept featuring tapas-style bites from acclaimed chef José Andrés. Current locations include The newly opened landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and one at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); a third outpost is also arriving at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Related: A Complete Guide to Capital One Airport Lounges: What You Need to Know
People who wear the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business have access to Capital One lounges. Guests can check in with cardholders for $45 (although cardholders who spend at least $75,000 with their Venture X or Venture
People without those specific cards can visit for $90.
In a nutshell
Capital One’s new travel app is a useful, well-designed tool for people with or without Capital One premium credit cards. While its features are obvious tools, from tracking flight prices to checking lounge capacity and wait times, its smooth execution, at least in the early days, seems promising. Of course, we’ll continue to play with the app to see if it stands the test of time.
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For Capital One products listed on this page, some benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. Please see the respective Benefits Guide for details as terms and exclusions apply.
