Credit card issuers compete on many fronts, but one area that has been heating up the most is airport lounges. Chase is now in the game with facilities dubbed "Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club." You'll need the right credit card to get unlimited access to these lounges, which we detail in this guide.
Currently, five lounges and one "terrace" are open; the opening dates for most other lounges have not yet been announced, with the latest announcement being for a lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Although American Express remains the undisputed heavyweight in this arena with its Global Lounge Collection, Capital One has also made a foray into the field by opening its first airport lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) in 2021 and opening two more locations.
Here's the latest on the current and future Chase lounges, plus what to expect and how to access them.
Chase Sapphire Lounge locations
Currently, six locations are open:
- Dulles International Airport (IAD): Lounge opened March 2024
- New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Lounge opened January 2024
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA): Lounge opened January 2024
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): "Terrace" opened March 2023
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): Lounge opened May 2023
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): Lounge opened October 2022
Additionally, confirmed plans call for clubs in the following five airports:
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Terminal 1 C gates
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Terminal D/E Connector
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): Terminal 4 South 1
- San Diego International Airport (SAN): Terminal 2 West
Chase is working in partnership with Airport Dimensions to build out its lounges. Airport Dimensions currently operates over two dozen lounges worldwide, most of which are branded as "The Club" or "Club Aspire" and are largely accessible via Priority Pass membership.
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Washington, DC's Dulles International Airport (IAD) lounge
The Etihad Lounge in Dulles is in Terminal A near Gate A14. Like the lounge in New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), this is an Etihad Lounge that has gotten a Chase revamp.
It's small but features two levels with ample seating and outlets, gender-neutral restrooms, a reflection room and a family room.
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We'll break down how to access all of these locations below, but premium Etihad passengers can also access this lounge even without being a Chase cardholder.
Related: Etihad quietly reopens revamped Dulles lounge, collaborating with Chase
New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) lounge
The Sapphire Lounge is located next to the Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4. Like the location in Dulles International Airport (IAD), this space is a redesigned Etihad Lounge rather than one Chase created from scratch.
It's a bit smaller than other Sapphire Lounges but features a similar aesthetic as well as showers, a facial bar and massage chairs.
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Also, like the lounge in Dulles International Airport (IAD), Etihad passengers can access this lounge without being a Chase cardholder.
Related: Chase's interesting new JFK lounge is now open — here's a tour
New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) lounge
This Sapphire Lounge is located right next to the Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal B. The lounge is spacious and features large seating areas, a bar and dedicated family-oriented spaces, including a children's playroom and an arcade.
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Additionally, it features Reserve Suites, Chase's new lounge-within-a-lounge concept.
Related: Chase debuted its LaGuardia lounge — and it's the nicest in the entire airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) terrace
This is not technically a Sapphire Lounge, but it's worth highlighting here. This 5,000-square-foot space is mostly outdoors, offering excellent planespotting opportunities. However, it's not ideal during Austin's hot summers or inclement weather. Plus, it gets very loud being right next to the tarmac and planes parked at their gates.
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Eighty percent of the space is outdoors, offering multiple seating types, places to relax, games and opportunities for watching planes coming and going at the airport. The Sapphire Terrace offers complimentary drinks and light bites (including grab-and-go options) and is located upstairs, near Gate 1 and the Delta Sky Club.
Again, we'll go through how to access Chase lounges below, but note that the Sapphire Terrace is unique because it is not part of Priority Pass. To access it, you must show your Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Related: Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin's airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) lounge
This location was the first Chase lounge to open on U.S. soil and is easily accessible for passengers departing from any terminal. It offers a spacious and well-lit environment with great views for planespotting.
The lounge features a self-service buffet, the option to order from an a la carte menu using QR codes, a full-service bar offering locally inspired co*cktails, and a unique tavern with craft beer.
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Additionally, the lounge provides wellness rooms with massage chairs and comfortable loungers for relaxation.
Related: Chase's splashy Sapphire Lounge in Boston is open
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) lounge
The Chase Sapphire Lounge at HKG opened in October 2022, making it the first Sapphire Lounge to open. It sits in the West Hall of the International Departures area near Gate 40.
The lounge is also accessible for passengers departing from the East Hall via shuttle or a 10- to 15-minute walk.
Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) location
Chase's plans to open an outpost in Las Vegas first appeared in public board documents from the Clark County Commission.
The lounge will be quite small at 4,500 square feet, especially considering how many cardholders will likely have access.
The lease is for a space just past security in the C gates in Terminal 1, primarily home to Southwest's operations in Sin City. Travelers flying from Terminal 3 would need to take a train to the C gates to access the lounge.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) location
Chase's most recent announcement has the issuer bringing a lounge to LAX, near the west gates of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, adjacent to Gate 148.
All terminals at LAX are connected airside (post-security), meaning any traveler theoretically could visit this lounge, although Tom Bradley Terminal will be a bit out of the way for some travelers.
The new lounge will measure around 9,000 square feet, which is on the smaller side — especially for an airport the size of LAX. Given that those are all the details Chase has provided on this new lounge, it seems to be a long way off from opening day.
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) location
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) announced in 2022 that they plan to welcome a huge 20,000-square-foot Sapphire Lounge. It will be located in the connector between Terminal D (Air Canada, Delta, Spirit Alaska and United Airlines) and Terminal E (Frontier, JetBlue Southwest and Spirit Airlines).
While lacking specific details, the announcement included that Chase plans to highlight Philadelphia culture by including local art, food and beverages in this location.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) location
The Sapphire Lounge in Phoenix (PHX) will be located at the new eight-gate facility in Terminal 4. This South Concourse will be the home of Southwest Airlines. A connector bridge will link to the North Concourses, which include gates occupied by American Airlines.
According to Phoenix Airport board meeting documents, three major players competed for the right to the 3,500-square-foot lounge space: Chase with its Sapphire Lounge, Capital One and Escape (in partnership with American Express).
Competition for these types of spaces at busy airports remains fierce, as the number of applicants for this one demonstrates. (Note that two Escape lounges and a dedicated Centurion Lounge are already located at Phoenix.)
Related: Amex to scale to over 40 Centurion-branded lounges worldwide, reduces upcoming guest fee for children
San Diego International Airport (SAN) location
In November 2021, Airport Dimensions (in partnership with Chase) was awarded the contract to build an 11,000-square-foot lounge in San Diego's Terminal 2 West.
Chase's lounge proposal beat out other key competitors, including Escape Lounge (in partnership with American Express), Plaza Premium Group and the Aspire Lounge.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club will feature "locally inspired design, local food, beverages and art partnerships," according to San Diego Airport Authority (SDAA) documents.
These same documents indicate that the space, once completed, will be located on the mezzanine level between Gates 46 and 47 and be part of a 10-year lease with a $17.6 million capital investment.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Who can access Chase Sapphire Lounges?
Chase Sapphire Reserve®, J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton Credit Card (no longer available to new applicants) cardholders can access these lounges. Primary cardholders and authorized users have unlimited access to the Chase Sapphire Lounges once they activate their complimentary Priority Pass membership.
Chase Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardholders can also bring up to two guests per card per visit for free and additional guests for $27. Those with a Ritz-Carlton Credit Card can bring unlimited guests for no additional charge.
Aside from simply pleasing cardholders, plotting out a lounge network appears more and more to be a tactic Chase needs to commit to in order to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded field of premium rewards cards, more of which are beginning to offer access to more lounges.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review: Luxury perks and valuable rewards
The information for the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card and Ritz-Carlton Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Can I access Chase lounges without a Chase card?
All Priority Pass members can access a Chase Lounge once per calendar year and purchase guest access for a fee, even if the membership is through a different credit card. Plus, access to the Chase lounge in Hong Kong isn't restricted to Chase cardholders — anyone with a Priority Pass or Lounge Key membership has complimentary access.
Select Etihad travelers (the airline's Gold and Platinum elite members as well as those flying in business or first class on Etihad-operated flights) can visit the JFK and Dulles locations before their flights.
However, the only way to access the Austin Terrace is by holding either a Chase Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve card (or as one of a cardholder's two complimentary guests).
Bottom line
For years, the network of Amex-owned and operated Centurion Lounges was the only major player in the card-run lounge space. But there's little doubt that airport lounge competition is intensifying among major credit card issuers. And with the competition pushing issuers to up their game, we're the real winners here.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
