Credit card issuers compete on many fronts, but one area that has been heating up the most is airport lounges.
TPG was the first to report last year that Chase would wade into the fray with its own branded lounges, dubbed “Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.” At the outset, there were four planned locations: Boston, Hong Kong, New York-LaGuardia and San Diego.
Since that initial announcement, the first Chase lounge has opened in Hong Kong and we have learned the issuer is laying the groundwork for five additional locations: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Washington-Dulles and two yet-unknown locations.
Now we’re down to just one yet-unknown location. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has announced its plans to open a Chase lounge, making it the newest airport on the list.
The 20,000-square-foot lounge will be located in the airport’s Terminal D/E connector. Dana Pouwels, Chase Sapphire Lounge General Manager and Head of Sapphire Partnerships, said in the announcement:
We’re thrilled to be bringing a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club to the Philadelphia International Airport that will offer travelers access to an elevated sanctuary to enhance the traveling experience, with details inspired by what makes Philadelphia unique.
The opening date of this lounge has not yet been announced.
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 November last year.
Here’s the latest on the upcoming Chase lounges, plus what cardholders can expect from the lounges.
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Chase Sapphire Lounge locations
The first Sapphire lounge opened at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in October 2022.
Additionally, plans call for clubs in the following seven airports:
More details about Chase Sapphire Lounges
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.
Chase’s lounges are expected to offer more upmarket amenities than you might find in some other Priority Pass locations, including facilities like showers and family rooms, business lounges and both wellness and rest areas.
Hong Kong (HKG) location
The Chase Sapphire lounge at HKG opened in October 2022, making it the first Sapphire lounge to open. It is located 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.
Boston (BOS) location
In June 2021, TPG was the first to learn that Chase had been approved to operate a new lounge at Boston Logan International Airport. The 12,000-square-foot lounge will be located in Logan’s currently-under-construction Terminal B to C connector.
According to Massport meeting documents, Airport Dimensions was awarded a 12-year lease at Logan for a new lounge with a $20.4 million capital investment. Lounge amenities will include a wellness area, business lounge, shower suites and a family room. according to slides from Massport.
Las Vegas (LAS) location
Chase’s plans to open an outpost in Las Vegas first appeared in public board documents from the Clark County Commission.
At 4,500 square feet, the lounge will be quite small, 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, which is 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.
New York LaGuardia (LGA) location
Details about this location seem the most difficult to find. It will be located in the airport’s new Terminal B, where you’ll also find Amex’s Centurion Lounge (opened in June 2021).
Phoenix (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 there are already two Escape lounges and a dedicated Centurion Lounge located at Phoenix.)
Related: Amex to scale to over 40 Centurion-branded lounges worldwide
San Diego (SAN) location
In early November 2021, Airport Dimensions (in partnership with Chase) was awarded the contract to build out 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 has a target opening date of November 2023 and 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.
Washington Dulles (IAD) location
This location will be approximately 5,200 square feet in size and located in Concourse A, according to the Washington Business Journal. This area is home to many of the international airlines departing from IAD, and lounge plans include two levels, with the lower level being the larger of the two. Plans include a bar, dining area, work area, family room, prayer room and kitchen.
It’s worth noting that this location will compete with the planned opening of a Capital One Lounge at Dulles, slated to open in 2023.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Who will have access
Chase’s new lounges are expected to be available to both Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers and members of Priority Pass. Priority Pass is a perk offered by a wide swath of rewards cards from several issuers, including American Express, Citi and Capital One, so it will be interesting to see if folks with premium cards from other banks use them to access Chase’s new lounges.
There’s no word yet on whether folks with other Chase cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, will get access outright, perhaps receive a few one-time passes annually or if they’ll be able to pay for entry.
“Travel has always been important to our customers who aspire for compelling and elevated experiences,” Marianne Lake, co-CEO of Chase, has said. “We’re investing in meeting our customers where they want to be as more and more of them have the confidence to travel again.”
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 adds bonus categories, new perks to Sapphire card lineup
Bottom line
For years, the network of Amex-owned and operated Centurion Lounges was the only major player in the card-run lounge space. In fact, Amex’s Global Lounge Collection, which includes its Centurion-branded spaces, took home the Editor’s Choice prize for best credit card perk at the 2021 TPG Awards.
But there’s little doubt that airport lounge competition is intensifying amongst major credit card issuers.
Related: Airport lounge wars: How credit card companies are competing for your pre-flight cocktail
Capital One has opened its first airport lounge, operated by the Plaza Premium Group, at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Capital One also has plans to debut additional locations at Denver International (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS) and Washington Dulles (IAD).
For its part, Chase has stepped into the ring with Chase Sapphire Lounges at — so far — seven proposed locations, in addition to the now-open Hong Kong location. Thanks to Priority Pass, many travelers might have access to these spaces, so we’ll have to see if crowding becomes an issue.
Let the lounge games continue.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.
