Washington’s National Airport is about to become one of the best in the country for lounges. Currently there are:
- Three American Airlines Admirals Clubs, including the beautiful lounge on the E concourse with its unique VIP space.
- Delta Sky Club
- United Club, the old Continental Presidents Club which originally opened in 1941 as the airport’s formal dining room.
- Plus a Priority Pass restaurant (American Tap Room) and a USO Lounge.
American Airlines Admirals Club, E Concourse
But the composition is about to change significantly, with two new openings. National airport will still lag Denver from a lounge perspective, perhaps, and LAX. But it’s going to be one of the best.
That’s because there are both American Express Centurion lounge and Capital One options in the pipeline, and Professor of Points reports that the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority is saying both will open in the second quarter of this year.
Every month, I get a newsletter as part of my volunteering with Travelers Aid International. As I was reading it, I noticed a section that covered future restaurant and lounge openings. Tucked away in the list is both the American Express Lounge and Capital One Landing opening in Q2 2024.
In fall 2022, Capital One announced a new dining-focused lounge concept that would be coming to Washington’s National airport (DCA) and to New York LaGuardia (LGA) in conjunction with Jose Andres Group.
The DC airport location would take over an old restaurant space and be 5,483 square feet, located immediately post-security at the entrance to Concourse D. All of terminal 2’s concourses are now connected post-security (only the old ‘banjo’ terminal is not).
Meanwhile, the Centurion lounge has been over 3 years in coming and was supposed to open at the end of 2022, however last fall we learned it was finally making progress and expected to open ‘early’ 2024. The lounge will be 11,500 square feet, offering American Express standard food, beverages, and shower suites and feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking airport operations.
Showers in the the Centurion lounge surprised me. Because of legal restrictions, there are very few flights over 1,250 miles to and from the airport. And because the airport has no customs facility, it can only support international routes with airports that offer U.S. immigration preclearance (such as several Canadian cities and Nassau, Bahamas).
Virginia passed emergency legislation last year to allow financial institutions, “their subsidiaries or contractors” to obtain mixed-beverage carrier licenses.
For locals, it’ll be worth getting a cheap, throw-away award ticket to lounge hop at DCA.
I am just realizing that the Bracket Room at DCA finally met its well-deserved demise.
Awesome! We DMVers continue to be spoiled….This is particularly great for Venture X holders as when the PP restaurant perk went away there was no where to go in DCA.
I typically have recently been trying to fly only from IAD because of the Cap One Lounge but I do like DCA a lot. If only they connected Terminal 1 airside! (“Banjo” terminal is funny and very fitting) You’d have to to go through security twice if flying Southwest. First world problem though — I didn’t and wouldn’t mind it for a free-ish meal.
How accessible is CapitalOne for AA flyers?
I am wondering how crowded that Centurion lounge is going to be. Though the new guest policy seems to be making the IAH one less crowded.
@Hans – Super accessible. The CapOne space is immediately airside of the TSA checkpoint that you typically go through if you are an AA flyer. Easy walk from the AA gates.
Hans, Capital One Landing will be very accessible for AA flyers. AA flies out of Terminal 2 from C/D/E gates. All of Terminal 2 (gates B, C, D, E) are in one security zone. The Landing is near gate D36.
Only A gates (synonymous with Terminal 1) are in a different security zone. It’s the “banjo terminal” due to its stick & circle shape. Air Canada, Frontier, and Southwest use those gates.
Great, thanks, enthusiast!
I’m an ExP and we just got a non-stop AA flight ICT-DCA. I’m originally from the NoVA area and my wife’s family is from Lancaster, PA just a 2h21m drive from DCA. We usually do ICT-DFW-PHL (1h drive), but I am very happy to have the option of DCA and combining with a few days in DC and/or old friends in NoVA. My family loves the CapitalOne lounge at DFW and I also loved DEN. Looking forward to trying out DCA!
Thanks, McDC as well! (Your comment showed up after enthusiast due to moderation queue.)
This is going to be a great addition and exactly what’s needed. I don’t need a true lounge at DCA because I’m usually getting there just early enough to board my flight (the best feature at National). So really all I want is a small snack and a drink to bring with me on board the plane and the Cap1 Landing will very much serve that purpose.
Add Bermuda (BDA) to the preclearance list. Since 1974 I believe.
I don’t believe lounge opening rumors until opening day…
Centurion SeaTac is so much nicer than sfo or lax. I don’t understand ♀️why