The Capital One Lounge network will be expanding, with the opening of a new outpost at an airport that could certainly use some more lounge capacity…
In this post:
Basics of the new Capital One Lounge Charlotte
Capital One has announced plans to open a new lounge location at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The lounge will be located on the mezzanine level of the airport’s Concourse A expansion, and will span approximately 14,000 square feet.
Unfortunately the timeline for the lounge opening hasn’t yet been revealed (if I missed any public airport documents that reveal the potential timeline, please let me know!).
Capital One is promising “an elevated, regionally inspired travel experience” at the lounge, with a light-filled environment boasting expansive tarmac views, locally inspired menus, a full-service coffee bar, and dedicated workspaces.
This will complement the existing Capital One Lounge network, with locations in Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), New York (JFK), and Washington Dulles (IAD), plus the Capital One Landing concept, with the first location being at Washington National (DCA). This announcement follows the recent opening of Capital One’s Charlotte office, which expands the company’s commercial banking presence in the city. 
Charlotte needs some more great lounge options!
Charlotte Airport is a major American Airlines hub, and it has to be one of the worst major airports in the country in terms of lounge options:
- American’s current lounge situation is a mess; the Admirals Clubs leave a lot to be desired, and at least there’s now the grab & go Provisions by Admirals Club concept; fortunately this situation should improve massively over time, as American is planning a Flagship Lounge at the airport
- The airport otherwise has fairly limited lounge options; there’s an Amex Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, and The Club CLT
Capital One does a really great job with its lounge network, so I’d consider this to be a very exciting development. Based on the card issuer’s existing lounge portfolio, I suspect this will be the best lounge at the airport, perhaps along with the eventual American Flagship Lounge (which we know almost nothing about).
Either way, even without factoring in quality, more lounge capacity is great, and most definitely overdue.
Bottom line
The Capital One Lounge network is expanding to Charlotte, with plans for a new 14,000 square foot lounge in the Concourse A expansion. Unfortunately we don’t yet know when the lounge will open, but it’s exciting to hear that this is in the pipeline.
Charlotte is one of the country’s worst airports when it comes to lounge options, though things will certainly improve over time, especially with a Flagship Lounge also being in the works.
What do you make of plans for the Capital One Lounge Charlotte?
Am I the only who is seeing a sharp deterioration in the experience at DFW Cap One? They've put a black curtain over what used to be the to-go section and are putting those wrapped items out as part of the regular buffet. It seems like there's much less hot food, and they've removed the ice machines (you have to go to the bar for ice, like at Centurion Lounges). Drink machines are also often...
Am I the only who is seeing a sharp deterioration in the experience at DFW Cap One? They've put a black curtain over what used to be the to-go section and are putting those wrapped items out as part of the regular buffet. It seems like there's much less hot food, and they've removed the ice machines (you have to go to the bar for ice, like at Centurion Lounges). Drink machines are also often broken. Hoping this was just bad luck for me, but it's been that way at least the last three times for me.
According to local news it'll be mezzanine level gates A21-29 which is Spirit, Southwest, and United.
It is the opposite side of the airport from PreCheck (now that PreCheck enters next to the main Admirals Club at Concourse D). It's a good 2/3 to 3/4 of a mile from curbside where all off-sites/hotels drop off and airlines other than American are located, through PreCheck, and to this lounge location. Almost a mile from it...
According to local news it'll be mezzanine level gates A21-29 which is Spirit, Southwest, and United.
It is the opposite side of the airport from PreCheck (now that PreCheck enters next to the main Admirals Club at Concourse D). It's a good 2/3 to 3/4 of a mile from curbside where all off-sites/hotels drop off and airlines other than American are located, through PreCheck, and to this lounge location. Almost a mile from it to the ends of E. Definitely not convenient for most of the airport.
Also, for some reason just like the Delta club on the even further wing of A, the escalators face the outermost end of the concourse... so you have to walk down the concourse then upstairs and back to it. Kind of silly.
Tragically it will do away with what is today a very nice spot to wait... upstairs with rocking chairs, good views, generally low traffic, barely used restrooms.
It's not that far. People seem to think that CLT is huge, but it's really not. I had some time to kill a few weeks ago so timed myself walking to various places. I started at the far end of E, and walked to the far end of A (all the way to where the Delta gates are). I walked normally, didn't take any moving walkways, etc. It took 11 minutes end to end. You can easily be from where the Precheck line spits you out to this new lounge location in 5-6 minutes.
lol, no
Expect this lounge to open by 2032.
Good things take time, it seems. Let's plan to be around for it, even if it takes that long.
Still waiting on that new C1 Landing to open at LGA TB... (supposed to be open by now...)
I visit CLT at least once a month. I'd rather see them fix the escalators. At least a third of them are broken. Always.
The A gate mezzanine is literally miles away from the rest of the airport- without the escalators that's quite a hike to visit a stupid lounge.
The escalator up to the Sky Club was broken for about 3 months recently. I have never ever in a few hundred trips over the past few years from CLT seen a time where all the moving sidewalks were working. One time, none of the escalators up to ticketing from arrivals were working and half the elevators were out of service at the same time.
When is the C1 Landing at LGA opening? That has been coming soon for the longest time.
(Was supposed to already be open. It isn't.)
Wow CLT is not what I expected at all.
I'd think C1 would focus on other larger cities first, but I guess CLT's growth is just too good to not capitalize on. It's been the fastest growing US city for the past two decades almost.
Its not like lounge space is equally available at every airport. You focus on where the opportunities are, and if there is one spot in CLT, you think about whether passing on it would (1) allow Chase to take it, and (2) prevent you from having a lounge in CLT for the next 10-15 years.
Good for United flyers.
Finally, at least somebody's tryin' to rub CLT the right way...
Needs more flights from PNS.
And Fukuoka to Busan.
I live in Charlotte and have flown out of CLT many times. I agree that it definitely needs some new / upgraded lounges. Unfortunately it sounds like the location of the lounge is going to be a hike from most of the rest of the airport. Not sure if I would walk 15 minutes from security to then walk 20 to 30 minutes to my gate on another concourse.
It'll almost certainly be a non-starter for most folks going to E gates, which may help traffic. Definitely agree that I'm not going to go out of my way to show up early to use this, but I can see a world where I have to be at the airport early and I pop in. Been impressed with C1 lounges so far and I hope this continues with this one.
I live in Charlotte, so I don't really pay attention to the amenities because I never have to stick around. That said, the airport has been expanding and redeveloping extensively over the last 10 years. It is a connecting airport, so 75% of the passengers are just passing through. That, unfortunately, also means locals have to pay high fares because we are essentially bumping connectors from their connections. It's good to see the lounge. I...
I live in Charlotte, so I don't really pay attention to the amenities because I never have to stick around. That said, the airport has been expanding and redeveloping extensively over the last 10 years. It is a connecting airport, so 75% of the passengers are just passing through. That, unfortunately, also means locals have to pay high fares because we are essentially bumping connectors from their connections. It's good to see the lounge. I don't accrue enough airline miles for lounge access, but we do use our Capital One card extensively.
Charlotte is a dump
Cries in Atlantan