First Look: Chase's First US Sapphire Lounge in Boston (Opening ... - Thrifty Traveler
Nearly two years after Chase unveiled its plans to open its own airport lounges, the credit card company is ready to open the first location in the U.S. And trust us, travelers are in for a treat.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston (BOS) officially opens next Tuesday, May 16, giving U.S.-based travelers and Chase cardholders a chance to finally scope out Chase's lounge game after years of anticipation as other banks built out their lounge networks. Could Chase possibly live up to the standards set by the likes of Amex Centurion Lounges – or even better, the new Capital One Lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)?
After getting a sneak peek ahead of next week's grand opening, we can confidently say it holds its own … and then some.
Chase's new Boston lounge is beautifully designed, packs in plenty of seating alongside some excellent amenities, and offers travelers good food and great drinks to boot. Chase has eight more U.S. locations in the pipeline, so more are on the way.
These lounges will no doubt be busy: Chase cards have been a mainstay in travelers' wallets for more than a decade, after all. But the bank has made some surprising decisions about which cards will get travelers into their lounges for free in hopes of avoiding the frustrating lines regularly forming outside of American Express lounges and Delta Sky Clubs.
Keep reading for an early look inside Chase's first lounge in the U.S. before it opens next week and how you can get in.
Getting into The Chase Sapphire Lounge
Once the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston opens its doors to the public on May 16, it'll be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
You'll find it located between gates B39 and B40 in the Boston airport's relatively new B-to-C connector. The entrance is unmistakable.
Its location will make it easy for JetBlue flyers to pop in as well as United, American, and a slew of major international airlines – at least so long as you're up for a bit of walk. But for loyal Delta flyers, it'll be a pain: It'd be at least a 20-ish minute walk from Terminal A where Delta flies in and out of, requiring you to re-clear security multiple times. With an excellent and recently expanded Delta Sky Club in Boston close by, that may not be worth the effort.
But finding the lounge is only part of the equation – getting in is another question. Chase has kept travelers guessing on access policies ever since announcing its vision for Sapphire Lounges.
Surely top-tier Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders could get in free, but what about travelers with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card? Or would it be a free-for-all for absolutely anyone with a Priority Pass lounge membership – whether it's from Chase, American Express, or Capital One cards – as has been the case over at Chase's first-ever Sapphire Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG) since it opened last fall?
Good news or bad, the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston and others throughout the U.S. will be fairly restrictive: Only Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders will get free entry every visit to a Chase lounge, along with up to two free guests each and every visit. Beyond that, getting in gets much tougher.
- Travelers with a Priority Pass Select membership from other cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card will get one free pass into a Chase Sapphire Lounge each calendar year – and not at each Chase location, but one total across the entire network
- After that one-time entry, travelers with Priority Pass can purchase day passes for $75
- Priority Pass members won't get free guests – they'll have to pay full price
- Got a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card? You're out of luck: You'll have to pay the full $100 for a day pass to get into this new Boston lounge
- Day passes to the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston will be available to any traveler for a steep of fee $100 per person – though that figure may vary as future locations open
Read more on Chase Sapphire Lounge access policies!
When the lounge gets busy, Chase may even turn away Priority Pass members and travelers hoping to buy a day pass.
"Making sure that Chase Sapphire Reserve customers have a priority entrance was key to the strategy," Dana Pouwels, Chase's Sapphire Lounge General Manager and head of Chase partnerships, explained in an interview. "They will always have access to the lounge."
There are other restrictions to limit crowds inside the lounge, too. As is common at many lounges throughout the U.S., you can only get in before flying out of Boston – not upon arrival. There's also a three-hour entry limit before departure. Fortunately, the company will relax both restrictions for travelers making connections in Boston and other future locations.
If you make the cut, head down the hallway, hop in the elevators, and make your way up to the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston on the fourth floor.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Chase Sapphire Lounges
A Look Around the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston
Despite sharing a name with "The Club" lounges that dominate Priority Pass in the states, the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston is not your standard, lackluster U.S. airport lounge – not even close. And that's clear from the moment the elevator doors swing open to the check-in desks and welcome area.
Right off the bat, Chase hits you with sharp and tasteful design that carries through every corner you turn. There are soft, wood grains, bold splashes of black color, and gold accents throughout. And it's not just looks: Every inch, from floor to ceiling, is clearly high quality.
It's striking yet simultaneously inviting, punctuated by art on the walls from local Boston artists as well as a special few pieces from the incredibly rare (and incredibly valuable) J.P. Morgan Chase Art Collection.
The entire lounge measures in at just over 11,600 square feet – not massive by any means, but by no means tiny. And the layout of the Boston Chase lounge makes it feel even bigger.
It's laid out in a large and long O shape, with the elevators spitting you right out into the center of the action. You'll find restrooms and most amenities on the left side as you enter, with corridors guiding you all around. At the back and curving clockwise through the space, you'll find much of the seating, not one but two bars, dining spaces, and the food itself.
The entryway opens up into something you could easily mistake for a chic yet cozy living room, with lots of seating and artwork. The pastel-colored furniture gives it both a pop of color and some inviting warmth.
Down the corridor to the left, you'll find the lounge's wing dedicated to several amenities. Don't worry, we'll come back to those later.
The back of the lounge opens up into one of several dedicated seating areas, with an assortment of loungers and private armchairs as well as one of two dedicated beverage stations. The overhead lighting feature is just another example of the artistic yet functional flair you'll find throughout the lounge.
There are also a pair of benches and tables tucked inside of cubbies back in this room – a perfect spot for groups or families to set up.
Speaking of families, there's also a small, dedicated family room in this area with seating, toys, and tons of sunlight.
Continuing onward into the lounge's other main corridor, you'll find – you guessed it – another dedicated seating area, including a long, curving couch; more armchairs and tables; and some pastel poufs which could easily double as a chair or an ottoman.
From this area to almost any seat in the house, you won't have to work hard to find a spot to charge – outlets are everywhere. And that includes universal power sockets, standard USB ports, and even blazing-fast USB-C outlets.
But art is never far away, either. The installation in this area complete with shelving and a gas fireplace is just another homey touch.
Even the departure boards scattered throughout the lounge feel like an art installation.
The space continues down this corridor into the section of the lounge devoted to eating and drinking, with plenty of cafe-style seating. The gold dividers help break up the space without walling things off – a smart and classy touch.
A lounge isn't complete without a beautiful bar, and Chase delivers with not just one signature bar but two. There's a drop-dead-gorgeous marquee bar where you can get anything from cocktails to wine to beer. But there's also a separate bar nearby that Chase calls its Taproom, a cozy space that screams "Boston" thanks to its design, artwork, and local brews on tap.
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