Capital One has launched a dedicated travel app and is bringing more of the technology and supplier relationships behind Capital One Travel in-house as it expands its travel business.
The Capital One Travel App is available on iOS and Android. It sits alongside the company's existing travel portal, which Capital One has described as an award-winning platform.
Capital One Travel launched in 2021. Since then, booking volumes have increased more than tenfold, according to the company. Capital One positions the travel unit as a contributor to growth across its card business.
This launch marks what the company calls a strategic evolution for the travel operation, shifting to a more integrated approach across planning, booking, servicing and on-the-day travel experiences.
The head of Capital One Travel said the goal is to connect more of the travel journey, including rewards and airport experiences.
"Our vision is to build a fully integrated travel ecosystem that provides a seamless, end-to-end journey for our customers-from initial planning and rewards redemption to airport experiences and stays," said Sarah Kaplan Moore, Head of Capital One Travel at Capital One. "The launch of our dedicated travel app is a major milestone in this journey, applying the frictionless innovation we are known for to every stage of the traveler's experience."
Booking and rewards
The app allows cardholders to search and book flights, hotels, car hire and activities. Users can also earn and redeem rewards on bookings through the platform. The app will surface offers that the company deems relevant for cardholders.
The app also includes personal profiles, allowing users to save home airports, loyalty programme numbers and preferred hotel chains. The aim is a more tailored booking experience with fewer steps.
Trip management tools are a core part of the product, including self-service features and rebooking options. The app is designed to reduce the need for repeated sign-ins when travellers make changes.
Airport features
Capital One is adding its lounge network to the app through a "Live Lounge Locator," which shows capacity and estimated wait times for Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings. Eligible travellers can also join a digital waitlist through the app.
The app also offers real-time trip updates, including flight alerts, gate changes and information about nearby lounges.
Matt Knise, Senior Vice President of Premium Products and Experiences at Capital One, said the company views travel as central to its card proposition.
"We are delivering a more connected, intuitive experience that meets the needs of the modern traveler," said Knise. "Travel is so core to our brand, so we're thrilled to give our customers a platform that is able to showcase our innovative features as customers explore, book and service their travel."
In-house shift
Capital One is moving the technology, talent and supplier relationships that underpin Capital One Travel in-house. The company says the change will give it greater control over the end-to-end cardholder journey and allow it to release features more quickly.
The travel portal is part of a broader push among card issuers to add value beyond rewards points and sign-up bonuses. Travel platforms and airport perks have become a battleground for premium cardholders, particularly for customers who want both booking tools and on-the-day support.
Capital One's travel proposition includes airport experiences, which it has expanded in recent years. The company cited its JFK lounge, which it said was named 'Best New Credit Card Lounge' by The Points Guy, and the debut of a Capital One Landing at LaGuardia in partnership with José Andrés Group.
The company has also expanded its accommodation options, continuing to add properties and brands to its Premier and Lifestyle Collection, which it describes as a luxury hotel programme. It also said it recently added 500,000 vacation rentals to the platform.
Capital One reported a 50% year-over-year increase in booking volume for FY 2025, which it linked to growth in its hotel and home rental offerings.
Business travel remains another focus area. Capital One said it expanded access to Capital One Business Travel, a platform that combines booking with automated expense management for business cardholders.
Capital One is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. It reported USD $475.8 billion in deposits and USD $669.0 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2025. The company operates across credit cards, consumer banking and commercial banking, and it also runs a global payments network.
Capital One described the app launch as a milestone in its shift toward a more integrated travel franchise, with future product development expected to sit more directly under the company's control.