Chase Just Opened Its First Airport Lounge in the U.S. — and We Went to See It

Chase's first Sapphire Lounge in the U.S. opened in Boston Logan International Airport. Here's what our expert wants you to know.

Two years after Chase confirmed it was entering the airport lounge scene, the company’s first-ever U.S. location — at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — is now open to the public. While a Hong Kong lounge in 2022 was the credit card company’s entryway into premium airport spaces, this Boston outpost has more widespread appeal for U.S. travelers.

Dubbed the Sapphire Lounges by The Club, this is Chase’s answer to American Express Centurion Lounges and more recently, Capital One Lounges. Amex opened its first airport lounge nearly a decade ago, but in the coming years, Chase will become a heavyweight in this arena, with at least seven more lounges in the works. 

“For more than 10 years, Sapphire has activated lounges across the country at marquee events, serving as hubs for unique access at culinary, entertainment, and regional cultural experience destinations. Chase Sapphire has brought that same inspiration to the airport lounge experience,” said Dana Pouwels, managing director and head of Sapphire card partnerships, in an interview with Travel + Leisure.

For the 11,640-square-foot Boston location, there’s à la carte dining from acclaimed Boston chef Douglass Williams (of Boston’s Mida and Apizza), sleek Apotheke-stocked shower suites, and dedicated wellness rooms featuring anti-gravity massage chairs. Needless to say, this Chase lounge isn’t lacking in gourmet food and beverage or thoughtful amenities. 

Let’s take a closer look at the lounge, how travelers can get access, and what Chase is up to next.

Boston Sapphire Lounge: What It's Like

Located airside in the Boston Terminal B to C connector, the Sapphire Lounge is between gates B39 and B40 and open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Perched above the concourse level, expect a sun-drenched space with spectacular views of both the airfield and Boston Harbor.

The lounge is sectioned into distinct areas for dining, imbibing, and relaxing. But without full walls and complete separation, it all feels light, airy, and cohesive. There are a variety of seating options, from plush armchairs and loungers to cafe-style tables and pastel-colored poufs. Besides the view outside, eyes are also drawn upward to a variety of dramatic ceiling treatments and modern art pieces from Boston-based artist Silvia López Chavez.

“Here in Boston, we designed a space for a variety of travel scenarios: a business traveler flying alone and needing to take an important call in a quiet space, a family of four stopping through on the way to family vacation and needing to entertain the kids in our family room, a couple stopping in to grab a drink and something to eat during a flight delay,” said Pouwels.

Food, Beverage, and Amenities

Douglass Williams, the Bostonian chef with two Italian eateries under his belt, crafted seven signature dishes for the lounge, serving up his take on comfort food classics. “This menu is meant to evoke relatability; textural and flavor memories from our past or types of food that bring us back to great moments in our life,” Williams told Travel + Leisure.

Between made-to-order options (via QR codes placed at tables throughout the lounge) and ready-to-eat dishes at the buffet, guests will have a variety of rotating light bites and full meals to choose from. The lunch and dinner menu features dishes such as a beef meatball parmesan sandwich with San Marzano tomato sauce and provolone; a shrimp risotto Milanese with saffron and parmesan; sticky Buffalo chicken with chilled coleslaw and blue cheese dip; and a whipped lemon-mascarpone parfait with whole berry jam and honey granola. 

Other à la carte dishes that will be available across the Sapphire Lounge network include a Sapphire Burger; dan dan noodles with smoked tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and shirataki noodles; and a cheesy bao bun. 

To complement all the food options, there are two bars in the lounge, including a Boston-style tavern, complete with hometown sports memorabilia and notable dates in Boston history. Specialty cocktails include the “First Lighthouse,” a nod to one of the 14 lighthouses in Boston Harbor, with locally distilled gin, St. Germain Elderflower, Aperol, jasmine honey, and lemon. All cocktails, beer, and wine can also be ordered via QR code and delivered tableside.

While you won’t find a full-service spa (like at select Amex Centurion Lounges) or Peloton bikes (like at the Capital One Lounge in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport), there are some unique amenities in this Chase lounge that may be worth devoting some time to. Those include two wellness rooms with high-tech, zero-gravity massage chairs; two Zen-like shower suites, and a Dyson hairdryer; a dedicated family room with seating and toys; and a private nursing room with a changing counter. Of note, the wellness rooms are equipped with LED face masks and feature guided meditations by health expert Devi Brown.

How to Get Into the Sapphire Lounges

While Sapphire is in the name, don’t expect to enter the lounge with any Chase Sapphire card. Only $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders with Priority Pass get unlimited access to U.S. Sapphire Lounges (along with two guests). Travelers will need to ensure they have an active Priority Pass membership, complimentary with the Sapphire Reserve.

If you have a Priority Pass membership with another premium travel credit card (such as an Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X), you’ll be able to enter a U.S. Sapphire Lounge once each calendar year at no cost. Any subsequent visit will be charged $75. Finally, any passenger — Priority Pass or not — can buy their way into the lounge for $100 per visit (up to three hours before departure).

What’s Next for Chase

There is no question that airport lounge access is fast becoming an expectation among luxury travelers. “We know that lounges are an integral part of the traveler journey,” Pouwels noted.

With at least seven more U.S. locations in the pipeline, Chase is going all in on pre-departure enclaves. Those lounges will be in Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS); New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA); Philadelphia International Airport (PHL); Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX); San Diego International Airport (SAN); Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD); and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

However, for Chase, this isn’t just about lounges; it’s about becoming a full-fledged travel company with exclusive access for premium cardholders. “Travel has been the center of gravity for our Ultimate Rewards program for a decade,” Pouwels explained. She hinted at future Chase Travel announcements including a “soon-to-relaunch Luxury Hotel and Resorts Collection” and a “new and improved booking platform.”

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