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I am really smitten with my new Capital One Venture X Card (see this post for more details on the card). I’m still working on my minimum spending to get my 100k bonus miles, but I’m getting close. I just added my 17-year-old son as an authorized user on the card. Why?
Giving a Teenager a Credit Card?
Well for starters, my son is driving himself to school, tennis tournaments and his job. I would not feel comfortable with him NOT having a credit card on-hand for gas or other car emergencies. He is already an authorized user on one of my credit cards, which will help him build his own good credit.
However, the reason I added him as an authorized user on my Capital One Venture X card has nothing to do with gas. It’s all about the airport lounges.
The Capital One Venture X card comes with Priority Pass airport lounge access for the cardholder and two guests. It also grants access to Capital One lounges like the new one at DFW Airport. In addition, authorized users get their own Priority Pass membership and access to the Capital One lounge.
Since I have some upcoming trips alone with my three kids, my own card would only get two of my kids in with me. Giving my oldest son his own card as an authorized user allows us all to take advantage of lounge access together.
Edited to add: My son will have to wait a few months to get his Priority Pass membership. Officially, he must be 18 to get his own PP card.
I’m not a huge airport lounge user. But when we have a long wait, it’s so much nicer to wait in an airport lounge with free food and comfortable chairs. I do plan on checking out the DFW Capital One lounge on my next flight out of DFW.
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Does the teenager get access to the capitol one lounge if he is under 18?
@RJ Unfortunately no. But, my son is over 18 now.
Doesn’t PP have a minimum age of 18 to get a membership? Or can you bypass that by signing up a AU?
@SHP That’s a wrinkle I did not think of! I guess I’ll find out soon.
@SHP Unfortunately, you’re right, and the AU doesn’t bypass the age requirement (unless you fudge the year, which I won’t). My son will have to wait a few more months to get the PP membership. I’ll update the post.
Thanks Nancy. I think I might do the same for my daughter – great idea
I like the idea of the 16+ teen getting a start on credit history, but have younger children. Can a child under 16 be added as an authorized user by chance? Thanks
@Brian The age varies by bank. Capital One doesn’t have a minimum age. See this article that lists the age requirement by bank. Also, check to see if the card charges extra for authorized users. Venture X does not charge extra, but the CSR does. https://www.cnbc.com/select/whats-the-minimum-age-to-be-an-authorized-user-on-a-credit-card/
I was always curious about this. If you add a child as an authorized user, are they not eligible for a welcome bonus themselves if they apply for a card in their own name in the future ? And do they pull a credit check for an authorized user ?
@Tom Great questions! From what I’ve read, here is what I’ve learned: There was no credit check for an authorized user. Authorized users who are 16+ will have their credit card added to the credit bureaus to build credit. Authorized users can still apply for the card as an adult and are eligible for the sign-up bonus under their own name.