With Capital One ending free lounge access for authorized users on February 1, 2026, and Chase having hiked the Sapphire Reserve authorized user fee to $195 late last year, the math has changed. Is it still worth adding your partner or child to your account? Or are you better off paying for a separate card entirely?
This guide cuts through the noise to reveal the credit score impacts, the hidden “gotchas” with Chase’s 5/24 rule, and the new math for premium card benefits in 2026.
Quick Summary: The “Position Zero” Answer
An Authorized User (AU) is someone you add to your credit card account who receives their own card but is not legally responsible for the bill.
- The Pros: The AU “inherits” your positive payment history and credit age (boosting their score) and can often access perks like airport lounges or elite hotel status.
- The Cons: The primary cardholder is 100% liable for all debt. Additionally, being an AU counts toward the AU’s “5/24 status,” potentially blocking them from getting their own Chase cards later.
- The 2026 Verdict: It is still excellent for building credit for children (13+), but less valuable for “perk sharing” due to recent fee hikes by Capital One ($125/user for lounge access) and Chase ($195/user).
The Credit Score Impact: A Double-Edged Sword
The number one reason people add authorized users is to boost a credit score. This is often called “piggybacking,” and it works because of how credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) calculate scores.
When you add someone as an AU, the entire history of that specific credit card account—not your whole credit profile, just that one card—is copied onto their credit report. This typically appears within 30 to 60 days.
How It Helps the Authorized User
- Payment History (35% of Score): If you have held the card for 10 years and never missed a payment, the AU suddenly looks like they have 10 years of perfect payments.
- Credit Utilization (30% of Score): If the card has a $30,000 limit and you only owe $500, the AU’s credit report now shows a massive available credit line with low usage, which is rocket fuel for a credit score.
- Average Age of Accounts (15% of Score): An older card can significantly lengthen the AU’s average credit history, which is crucial for young adults or immigrants new to the U.S. system.
The Risk: It Works Both Ways
This linkage is a mirror. If the primary cardholder misses a payment or maxes out the card, that negative data also appears on the authorized user’s report. I have seen credit scores drop 50+ points overnight because a parent maxed out a card during a renovation, inadvertently tanking their child’s credit score.
Pro Tip: Unlike a joint account, an AU can usually be removed from the account with a simple phone call. Once removed, the entire history of that tradeline (good or bad) typically disappears from the AU’s credit report within one billing cycle.
For a deeper dive on how inquiries affect your report, read our guide on Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries.
The Chase 5/24 “Gotcha”
If your goal is to eventually have your spouse or child open their own travel rewards cards, you must be careful with the Chase 5/24 rule. Chase will automatically deny you if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months.
Here is the problem: Authorized User cards count toward this limit in Chase’s automated system.
If your spouse is at “4/24” (four cards opened in 24 months) and you add them as an AU on your new card, they are now technically at “5/24.” If they try to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the computer will instantly reject them.
How to Fix a 5/24 Denial Due to AU Status
If your authorized user gets denied for this reason, do not give up. You can call the Chase Reconsideration Line and explain the situation. Use this script:
“I was denied due to the number of recent accounts, but one of those accounts is an Authorized User card on my spouse’s account. I am not financially responsible for that debt. Can you please exclude it from my count and reconsider my application?”
In 2026, human agents can still manually approve these applications, but it requires you to pick up the phone.
Major 2026 Changes to Authorized User Perks
The “Golden Era” of cheap authorized user benefits is ending. Banks have realized they were losing money by letting primary cardholders grant unlimited lounge access for free. Here is the new reality as of January 21, 2026.
| Card | AU Annual Fee | Key AU Benefit | 2026 Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X | $0 (Card) / $125 (Lounge) | Unl. Lounge Access | Feb 1, 2026: Lounge access is no longer free. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $195 per user | Priority Pass + Sapphire Lounge | Fee hiked from $75 to $195 in late 2025. |
| Amex Platinum | $195 per card | Centurion + Delta SkyClub | Fee is now per card (no longer 3 for $175). |
| Ritz-Carlton Card | $0 (Free) | Unl. Priority Pass (2 Guests) | Guest limit capped at 2 (Jan 2026). |
The Capital One Venture X Devaluation
For years, the Venture X was the best deal in travel because you could add 4 authorized users for free, and they all got their own Priority Pass. That ends on February 1, 2026.
If you are reading this before Feb 1, you have days left to lock in the last moments of this benefit. After this date, while the AU card itself remains free (for spending), you must pay a $125 annual fee per user to enable their lounge access. Without the fee, the card is simply a spending instrument. For more details on this transition, see our 2026 Capital One Miles Guide.
The Amex Strategy
While the Amex Platinum fee is steep ($195), it can still be worth it for frequent flyers. Why? Because Amex AUs get their own Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (worth up to $100 every 4-5 years) and their own Marriott/Hilton Gold status. If your spouse travels solo even twice a year, the lounge access and status inheritance can justify the $195 fee.
Who Gets the Points?
This is a common point of confusion. When an Authorized User swipes their card, the Primary Cardholder earns the points.
The points pool into the main account. You cannot “split” them. This is actually a great feature for families who want to consolidate earnings into one massive balance for a dream trip. It simplifies the “Two-Player Mode” strategy we discuss in How to Combine Two People’s Points.
The Amex Offer Loophole
There is one major exception to the “primary gets everything” rule: Amex Offers. Since American Express issues unique card numbers to authorized users (unlike Chase or Capital One, who often use the same number), each AU can target their own Amex Offers.
Example: If there is an offer for “Spend $200 at Marriott, Get $50 back,” you can add it to your card AND your authorized user’s card. If you split the hotel bill, you can trigger the credit twice, saving $100 total.
Legal Liability: The “Sock Drawer” Method
It is critical to understand that the Primary Cardholder is 100% responsible for the debt. If you add a friend and they run up a $10,000 bill and disappear, the bank will sue you, not them.
This leads to the “Sock Drawer” strategy for parents. If you want to build your child’s credit score but don’t trust them with a limitless credit card yet:
- Add them as an authorized user.
- When the card arrives in the mail, do not give it to them.
- Activate it, then lock it in your safe or sock drawer.
- They will still get the credit score benefit of your payment history, but they cannot spend a dime.
For parents considering this, check the age limits. Amex requires users to be 13+, while Chase and Capital One have no strict minimum age (I have seen toddlers added successfully, though it’s rarely necessary until the teenage years).
Verdict: Pros & Cons Summary
| Pros (Why do it) | Cons (Why avoid it) |
|---|---|
| Instantly boosts AU’s credit score (History/Utilization). | Primary user is 100% liable for debt. |
| Pools points into one central account. | Counts toward Chase 5/24 status for AU. |
| Grants lounge access/status (usually for a fee). | Expensive fees on premium cards ($125-$195). |
| Simplifies household finances (one bill). | One missed payment ruins both credit scores. |
In 2026, the strategy has shifted from “add everyone for free perks” to “add strategically for credit building.” If you need to build a credit profile for a beginner, this remains the best tool in your arsenal. For lounge access, however, you may find that opening a separate starter travel card for your partner offers better value than paying high AU fees.
Authorized User FAQs
Does being an authorized user hurt my chances of getting a Chase card?
Yes, it can. Chase’s automated system counts authorized user cards toward the “5/24 rule.” If you have opened fewer than 5 cards yourself but have several AU cards that push you over 5, you will likely be denied. However, you can call the Chase Reconsideration Line and ask them to manually exclude the AU accounts to get approved.
Is there a minimum age for authorized users in 2026?
It depends on the bank. American Express requires authorized users to be at least 13 years old. Chase, Capital One, and Citi generally do not have a specified minimum age, meaning you can often add young children to help establish their credit file early.
Do authorized users get their own Global Entry credit?
On premium cards, usually yes. The American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve (despite the higher $195 fee) provide a separate Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit for authorized users. However, lower-tier cards typically do not extend this benefit to AUs.
Can I remove an authorized user if they spend too much?
Yes. As the primary cardholder, you can call your bank or log in online to remove an authorized user at any time. The card will be deactivated immediately. However, you are still legally responsible for paying off any balance they accrued before you removed them.
