Chase’s new Sapphire Lounge at LGA shines bright

Chase has been growing its premium airport lounge network. Chase Bank opened its newest, ultra-luxe Sapphire Lounge on Jan. 16, 2024 at LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) in Terminal B, and it’s making other lounges pale by comparison. 

The first Sapphire Lounge was opened at Hong Kong International Airport in 2022, and the latest location at LGA is a much-needed reprieve for travelers who can’t access or are shut out due to overcrowding in the terminal’s other airline lounges. 

The newest Sapphire Lounge is designed to dazzle. Open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., standout features include:

• A wellness space where guests can get complimentary facials and travel kits from Face Haus, a women-owned open concept facial bar.
• A family area with an arcade, shuffleboard and photobooth.
• Workstations for business travelers. 
• Upscale dining options including a buffet and an a la carte menu in partnership with New York City drinking and dining notables.
• Interior design by firms Corgan and ICRAVE handled interior design on the new Sapphire Lounge.

Anyone eligible for access to the lounge can appreciate the luxurious experience that doesn’t cost anything extra outside of holding the right credit card. But Chase chose to up the ante and offer an experience so over the top, it’s sure to be a hit among those with deep pockets.

“The Reserve Suites by Chase” are private bookable rooms where Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers can have a dedicated suite attendant, signature caviar service, a selection of curated food and drink and a private ensuite bathroom and shower. The price for this pre-flight pampering? Parties of four or fewer will pay $2,200 and parties of up to eight guests are $3,000. 

Notably, you’re normally restricted to two guests with your Chase Sapphire Reserve or Priority Pass access upon enrollment — but if you reserve a suite, you can bring up to three or seven guests at no additional cost, depending on which size suite you book. Be aware you must book at least 72 hours in advance of your flight, and can book up to a year out.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

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On Chase Bank USA, NA’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

Annual fee

$550

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

• Up to $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass Select lounge access.
• Redeem points for 50% more value to book travel through Chase Travel℠.
• Transfer points 1:1 to partners such as United Airlines and World of Hyatt.

Cons

• High annual fee.
• Not ideal if you aren’t interested in transferring points.
• May not qualify if you’ve applied for 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Card details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

How to get access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LGA

The Chase Sapphire Lounge at LGA is open to select Chase cardholders and Priority Pass members upon enrollment. Chase customers with a Chase Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve * The information for the J.P. Morgan Reserve has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (invitation only) receive unlimited entry to Sapphire lounges, for the primary cardholder and up to two guests. Additional guests can visit for $27 per person. Authorized users also get complimentary access, making it a terrific option for getting lounge access on a budget.

The lounge is also accessible to Priority Pass Select members, which is available on a wide variety of credit cards from a number of issuers upon enrollment. 

If you have a Priority Pass Select membership from any of the following cards (enrollment required), you can visit up to one Sapphire Lounge annually without charge, after that you’ll have to pay $75 per visit. No additional guests are included with either the free or paid access for Priority Pass members.

American Express

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply)
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card * The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply)

Bank of America

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Capital One

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• Capital One Venture X Business Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi

• Citi Prestige® Card (no longer accepting applications)

U.S. Bank

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Other Chase airport lounges

Chase currently has two other Sapphire airport lounges open. One is at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and one in Hong Kong (HKG)’s Terminal 1. Another location is set to open in New York’s JFK Airport’s Terminal 4 in late January 2024. Additional Sapphire lounges are planned for Las Vegas (LAS), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), and San Diego (SAN) in the future. 

While the list isn’t extensive, it focuses on major U.S. airports with the most traffic. The San Diego location will be a welcome addition for West Coast travelers with limited options at that particular airport.

One-upmanship

Notably, the most well-known of luxury airport lounges, the American Express Centurion® Lounge, is also located in this terminal.

However, this iteration of Sapphire Lounge seems designed to challenge the Centurion Lounge’s sparkle as it will attract those who want to avoid the often-long lines at the luxury lounge competitor, which has been known to turn away cardholders during peak hours due to overcrowding. 

Amex also began restricting Centurion Lounge guest access in 2023 to cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply) who spend $75,000 or more per calendar year on their card. American Express Centurion Black Card * The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) cardholders do not have this restriction. 

By contrast, the Sapphire Lounge is more accessible, allowing Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and eligible Priority Pass members (enrollment required) to bring up to two guests with them into the lounge.