Higher, Further, Fares! Airport Lounges Get a Reality Check - Even Captain Marvel Needs a Budget!

By the Power of Binary! A Perk Under Siege

Greetings Earthlings! Captain Marvel here reporting live from... well not an airport lounge anymore apparently. Seems even the most powerful heroes face budget constraints these days. Word on the street (or should I say in the airspace) is that Capital One is tightening access to their airport lounges. I guess even they can't handle the cosmic influx of travelers craving a pre flight beverage and a comfy chair. Remember that time I single handedly took down a Kree warship? Easier than finding a free seat at the Dallas Fort Worth lounge I tell ya!

Seventy Five Thousand Reasons Why I Need a Sidekick with a Credit Card

Here's the deal: Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will now have to shell out extra dough to bring their crew into the lounges. Paying $125 annually for each additional cardholder to keep their lounge access $45 per adult guest per visit and $25 per guest 17 or younger. Apparently you need to spend a cool $75,000 per year to bring up to two complimentary guests. $75,000! I didn't even spend that much on fuel when I was patrolling the galaxy for Ronan the Accuser! I need a credit card sidekick with a serious spending habit. Maybe Rhodey is free.

Higher Further More Crowded!

Capital One is saying it's all about overcrowding. "As airport lounges continue to grow in popularity across the industry we've seen our customers increasingly encounter wait times to enter them," Capital One said in a statement. "It is important to us that we maintain a great airport lounge experience for our Venture X and Venture X Business customers while continuing to deliver best in class premium travel cards at an accessible price point." Accessible? If I have to spend $75,000 to get a free sandwich I might as well just fly to space and forage for moon cheese. It's probably cheaper.

The Amex Effect: A Galaxy Far Far Away from Freebies

Apparently American Express started this trend a couple of years ago. Minimizing crowding and keeping the clubs feeling exclusive! So exclusive that even a superhero can't get in without emptying her (considerably large) pockets. Henry Harteveldt founder of Atmosphere Research Group said "Like Amex like Chase these lounges have become victims of their own success," No lounge operator wants them to be as overrun as the public areas of the airport." This sounds like a problem I could solve with a well placed photon blast... but then I'd probably get charged extra for 'unauthorized demolition of lounge property'.

Delta Blues and Premium Perks: The Airline Strikes Back

Even airlines are getting in on the action. Delta is shaking things up with lounge access policies and even building fancier more exclusive lounges for their premium passengers. So unless you're flying first class to another galaxy you might be stuck with lukewarm coffee and a crying baby in the general waiting area. Trust me I've been there. It's not pretty.

Is This What Thanos Meant by 'Balance'?

So what's the moral of the story? Airport lounges are no longer the sanctuary they once were. Be prepared to pay up spend big or resign yourself to the joys of gate side people watching. Me? I'm considering investing in a personal teleportation device. That way I can avoid airports altogether and still make it to my next intergalactic showdown on time. Higher further faster... and hopefully cheaper! Captain Marvel out!