I went to a Chase Sapphire airport lounge and couldn't believe I could get in for free without the travel credit card

Joey Hadden
Updated ·3 min read
Dark and good walls with gold finishings in front of the Chase Sapphire Lounge's welcome desk
The Chase Sapphire airport lounge is always free for Sapphire Reserve credit cardholders, but there are two ways to get complimentary access without the card.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I visited LGA's Chase Sapphire airport lounge to check out the meals, drinks, entertainment, and spa.

  • Chase Sapphire lounge access is free for $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders.

  • However, travelers without the card can enter for free with a Priority Pass membership once a year.

A Chase Sapphire airport lounge opened in January at New York City's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. There are also Chase Sapphire lounges in Boston and Hong Kong.

I got an exclusive tour of the credit-card lounge in LaGuardia's Terminal B in February.

Inside a lounge with seveeral seating areas and hanging plants from a mezzanine.
A peek inside the Chase Sapphire Lounge at NYC's LaGuardia Airport.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The 21,850-square-foot space felt like a luxury hotel lobby.

I spotted thoughtfully designed seating areas, an upscale bar, a complimentary restaurant and buffet, extensive coffee bars, a peaceful coworking space, an arcade with an old-school jukebox, and a spa offering free facials.

Upstairs on the second floor, there were private suites as well as a mezzanine full of plants.

Inside an art-deco style arcade with shelves of records behind a shuffle board table, a Marshall jukebox on the left, a velvet seating area on the right, and blue striped carpeting
Inside the arcade at LGA's Chase Sapphire Lounge.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The lounge at LGA is open from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily and is free for $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cardholders to visit whenever they have a flight departing within three hours.

All they have to do is activate their complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge membership that comes with the credit card.

However, during my tour from general manager Ioannis Tzielekis, I was surprised to learn that Chase Sapphire lounge access doesn't necessarily require a Chase card. In fact, you can get all the same complimentary amenities free of charge.

How to get into the airport lounge for free

A man stands at the entrance of a blue-mirrored entrance to an airport lounge.
The entrance to the Chase Sapphire Lounge in LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

There are two ways to get Chase Sapphire lounge access for free without the card, both of which require a boarding pass for a flight up to three hours away.

The easiest way is to travel with a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder who is allowed two free guests per visit. Any additional guests cost $27 per person.

photo illustration of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is displayed on a smartphone screen.
An example of a Chase Sapphire Preferred card is displayed on a mobile device.SOPA Images

Travelers don't have to know a Chase cardholder for the second option.

A Chase Sapphire representative told Business Insider that those who hold a Priority Pass membership without the card can enter for free once a year. Each additional visit costs $75.

The pass is complimentary with various travel credit cards from other banks, or it has a starting rate of $99 for those without any of the partnered card programs, according to the Priority Pass website.

While I was only visiting the lounge for a tour, knowing I could have a pleasant experience before boarding a long flight made me excited for my next trip to the airport — and keen to get a Priority Pass membership.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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