Capital One and José Andrés open new lounge at Reagan National Airport
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Capital One partnered with José Andrés to open its newest lounge at Reagan National Airport Tuesday.
Why it matters: The highly anticipated space has a tapas-inspired menu and a dining room that looks more like a swanky downtown restaurant than an airport lounge.
The big picture: The Capital One Landing at DCA is the latest entrant in the luxury airport lounge landscape, an arms race that includes Chase and AmEx looking to entice frequent flyers with its credit card perks.
- Travelers with the high-end Capital One Venture X credit card get complimentary access and a plus-one, while Venture & Spark Miles cardholders get in for $45.
- Non-cardholders will pay $90.
The vibe: Decorated with warm tones and art pieces, the 5,500-square-foot space is front-and-center at DCA inside the National Hall of Terminal 2.
- Spanish tapas and craft cocktails are served tableside or at a bar, with views of the runway. Travelers can order, say, carne asada steak with mojo verde sauce through a QR code, while making use of power outlets at every seat and high-speed WiFi.
- A cafe-style area called "On the Fly" also sells sandwiches, snacks and beverages for those in a hurry. Noncardholders can also shop, though Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders get half off on all items, including treats from the José Andrés Group brand.
Dig in: The menu includes staples like jamon sourced from Spain and breakfast plates like olive oil pancakes and pincho de tortilla, a Spanish omelet with confit potatoes and caramelized onions.
- Tableside experiences for diners include a morning mimosa cart serving different fruit juices and an afternoon cheesecake cart with sauces and fruits. The idea to create something interactive came from Andrés' The Bazaar restaurant.
On the big main lunch/dinner menu, you'll find appetizers like white Spanish anchovies cured in vinegar, Spanish cured meats, and cheeses.
- Hot dishes include a chef's daily special of croquetas, gambas al ajillo (red shrimp confit with EVOO and oloroso wine), eggplant & tofu donburi, and more.
- Desserts include a standout burnt basque cheesecake.
In your glass: Cocktails like a Landing G&T with Mediterranean tonic and espresso martinis, wines, and non-alcoholic mocktails.
Zoom in: Capital One Landing is open 6am-9pm every day, and the "On the Fly" cafe section will be open 5am-10pm.
- Venture X cardholders can make reservations ahead of time and join a waitlist through the bank's mobile app.
Between the lines: This is Capital One's debut of the chef-driven "Landing" lounge concept, with the next one slated for New York's LaGuardia Airport in Terminal B.
- Capital One also has lounges at Dulles International Airport, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth.
