The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the premier cards on the market today. It offers a whole host of benefits, including a $300 annual travel credit, bonus categories for earning points, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry credit, travel insurance, and even airport lounge access.
In this post, we’ll show you everything you need to know about the airport lounge access offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one that offers premium benefitsbut also comes with a hefty annual fee. However, the numerous benefits that come with the card, including access to airport lounges, travel insurance, car rental insurance, and more can easily outweigh the cost of the annual fee.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
(at Chase's secure site)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $1,125 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 points
$1,500
$550
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
Cons
- $550annual fee
- Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
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- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt 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, 75,000 points are worth $1125 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
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees:None
Rewards Center
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Hot Tip: You won’t be eligible for the welcome bonus if you currently have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or have received a welcome bonus for any Sapphire card in the previous 48 months.
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is a new lounge network with several open locations and more locations in the works.
Open Locations:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) between Terminals B and C
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in Terminal 1
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)in Terminal B
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Terminal 4
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)in A Concourse
Coming Soon:
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)in Terminal 1
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)in Terminal 4
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)in the Terminal D/E connector
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)in Terminal 2-West
Primary cardmembers and authorized users with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card who have activated their complimentary Priority Pass lounge access can enter the Sapphire Lounge by The Club. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders may bring up to 2 guests per Priority Pass membership card, per visit, for free, and additional guests for $27. There’s no additional charge for children under 2.
Chase Sapphire Terrace
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders plus 2 guests can access Chase Sapphire Terrace locations. Currently, there’s only 1 location at Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas.
Priority Pass Select
Having access to an airport lounge can make your travel experience a lot easier. Instead of sitting in a bustling terminal waiting area, you can enjoy a private space with free Wi-Fi, food, and drinks.
As a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you are eligible to enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. This gives you access to over 1,400 lounges across 600 airports worldwide.
You must activate the membership after you receive your Chase Sapphire Reserve card in order to use it. You’ll receive a physical Priority Pass membership card in the mail and you can also create a digital membership card.
The Priority Pass select membership applies to the primary cardholder plus any authorized users (each authorized user requires an additional $75 annual fee).
Each cardholder (primary or authorized user) can bring in 2 guests free of charge to any Priority Pass lounge, and any additional guests will cost $27 per person per visit. Note that access can be denied if the lounge is at capacity.
These lounges are all independently owned and operated — they come in all shapes and sizes, so to speak. Some lounges offer the ultimate in luxury (including spa treatments), while others are more basic, offering just a place to sit with snacks and drinks.
And some aren’t even lounges at all — the Priority Pass Select membership includes access to select restaurants as well.
Bottom Line: Every Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder plus any authorized users are able to bring in 2 guests each to a Priority Pass lounge at no charge. Any additional guests will cost $27 per person.
How To Activate Your Priority Pass Membership
You’ll need to activate the Priority Pass membership that comes with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card. To do this, log in to your Ultimate Rewards account and go to the Card Benefits section. Scroll down until you see Complimentary Airport Lounge Access and follow the prompts to activate your membership.
You’ll receive a physical membership card in the mail, but you can also create a digital membership card that allows you to gain access to lounges using the Priority Pass mobile app.
Priority Pass App
The Priority Pass mobile app allows you to quickly see what lounges are available. It’s handy to be able to search for a lounge while you’re at the airport.
Once you’ve found a lounge, you can click on it for more information about that particular location, including:
- Opening hours
- What’s included in the facility (refreshments, alcohol, air conditioning, shower, Wi-Fi, etc.)
- Location within the airport
- Any additional conditions of that location, like time limits, age restrictions, and what type of alcohol is included
Hot Tip: Along the bottom of the app you will see a card icon — this will give you access to your digital membership card.
Priority Pass Lounge Locations
Your Priority Pass membership grants you access to over 1,400 lounges across 600 airports around the globe.
The easiest way to find an airport lounge that accepts Priority Pass is to download the mobile app and search for your airport. It’s a quick way to find a lounge while you are traveling.
If you would like to plan out your lounge visits a little more, you can also search on the Priority Pass website. Here, you can input the city you want to search or click on Our Lounges and scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of lounges by region.
Whether you search on the app or online, these lists will give you important information about each lounge location, including:
- Amenities
- Hours of operation
- Age restrictions
- Location specifics
- Dress code
- Any other entry restrictions
Quick Guide to U.S. Priority Pass Lounges
Here’s a quick peek at all of the current Priority Pass lounges in the U.S. These are all independently owned and operated, so they are subject to change at any time. And remember, any of these lounges can deny access if they are at capacity.
Hot Tip: To see all of the most desirable locations, check out our guides to the best Priority Pass lounges in the U.S. and the best international Priority Pass lounges.
Priority Pass Restaurants
You might notice that some “lounges” are actually just restaurants that are open to the public. In this instance, your Priority Pass membership will give you a credit to spend at that restaurant.
The cardholder plus 1 guest each gets a $28 credit per person to use for food or drinks.
- 1 person dining: $28 credit
- 2 people dining: $56 credit
- 3+ people dining: $56 credit
You can use the credit for anything on the menu, including alcohol (excluding to-go orders). If your bill is less than your available credit, you can’t get a cash refund for the difference or use the excess credit towards gratuity.
Hot Tip: Your Priority Pass membership will also give you access to select restaurant locations. These restaurants will accept your Priority Pass and give you a food and beverage credit to use. Most locations will give you a credit of $28 to dine plus an additional $28 for 1 guest.
Quick Guide to U.S. Restaurants That Accept Priority Pass
Right now, there are 35 restaurant locations in the U.S, across 20 airports that accept Priority Pass.
Hot Tip: If you have a Priority Pass membership that came as a benefit on an American Express card, you won’t have access to these restaurants.
Retail Offers From Priority Pass
Your Priority Pass membership also offers a few deals for airport retail locations. Honestly, they aren’t that impressive — but it’s always good to know when they are available.
From the Priority Pass mobile app, search for your airport. If there are any retail offers, they will be listed under the lounges.
What You Need To Bring To Access a Priority Pass Lounge
After activating your Priority Pass membership through your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll receive a physical Priority Pass membership card in the mail. You’ll need to show this card along with your boarding pass and ID to gain access to a lounge.
If you download the Priority Pass app, you will also have access to a digital membership card. Most locations will accept this, but it’s always a good idea to carry your physical card with you to avoid getting denied access.
In summary, to access a Priority Pass lounge, you will need the following:
- Priority Pass membership card (physical)
- Boarding pass showing an outbound flight on the same day
- Government-issued ID
- Priority Pass digital membership card (optional; not accepted at all locations)
Bottom Line: There is a digital membership card available on the Priority Pass mobile app. Most (but not all) locations will accept this in lieu of your physical membership card.
Final Thoughts
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is popular for a reason — it offers tons of perks and points-earning opportunities. One of the fantastic perks for travelers is the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which grants you access to over 1,400 lounges across 600 airports around the globe.
These lounges vary by location and can offer lots of amenities like free food and drinks, Wi-Fi, workspaces, and even showers in some! In addition to the traditional lounges offered, Priority Pass also gives you discounts at select restaurants so you can save some money on a meal while you are waiting for your flight.
