Big & Tall Travel

We’ve been back from our most recent vacation for two weeks, which happens to be just enough time to reflect adequately on how great it really was. And it was pretty terrific!

We started our vacation with a flight on Iceland Air from Washington-Dulles to Reykjavik, Iceland. We flew in business class, since I needed the extra width of the afforded seats.

But before we even left the ground, we found ourselves enjoying the Capital One Lounge. We have access to the lounge via the Capital One Venture X. Until the end of January 2026, cardholders and authorized users can gain entry for themselves and one guest. On February 1, 2026, the program will change so that no free guests are allowed; cardholders may pay for guests at a reduced rate of $45/guest. Notably, authorized users will not have access unless the primary cardholder pays an additional $125 fee for authorized user lounge access (Cap1 Lounge, Cap1 Landing, Priority Pass included). If you’re interested in the Venture X, you can check it out here.

It was absolutely packed, but we didn’t have trouble getting in or even really finding space to sit. The big thing that makes this lounge different from others is that there is staff everywhere, and everyone on staff goes out of their way to actually assist the patrons.

We tried one of everything of the food. Everything was pretty good, but the shrimp and grits really was fantastic.

We also had a couple of drinks.

After we were satisfied, we grabbed a couple of drinks from the grab and go section and made our way towards the gate.

Fortunately for us, there was another lounge we could access nearby: the Chase Sapphire /Etihad Lounge. This lounge was very nice as well. We didn’t eat here, but the food looked appetizing. Instead, we shared two of the signature drinks and rested while we awaited our flight.

Having the option to attend a lounge or two while we’re waiting for our flight really changes the airport experience for the better.

Especially as a big guy, having the ability to have a decent bite to eat, a few drinks, and a comfortable seat, really makes the experience fun and engaging!