WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
Chase Sapphire Preferred does not provide complimentary access to airport lounges/clubs. The higher-tier Sapphire Reserve does offer free access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. You’ll just have to pay the card’s $550 annual fee in order to take advantage of this benefit.
There is another option, however. You can transfer Sapphire Preferred points to other airlines’ rewards programs. You can learn more about Chase’s transfer partners here.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Mark Towers, Retired CFP
@MarkTowers
Chase Sapphire airport lounge access provides comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and beverages and free wifi at lounges located in more than 1,300 airports worldwide.
To find a lounge, go to the Priority Pass website and type your destination into the “Find a lounge” bar. You’ll be able to see where a lounge is within an airport, as well as its hours, amenities, guest policies and other rules. You can also check the Priority Pass lounge directory.
But this benefit is not available on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the discontinued Chase Sapphire® Card (if you still have it). Only the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives free airport lounge access – for the cardholder, authorized user, and up to two guests.
If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Priority Pass Select membership requires a one-time activation at no additional cost. Log in to your Chase.com account and click “Things you can do.” Then click “Account details,” and finally “Airport Lounge Access.” But before you rush out and apply for this card just for entry into airport lounges, there are a few things you should know.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® enables you to enroll in the Priority Pass Select airport lounge program for free. This card also waives Priority Pass’s $32 guest fee, which allows for unlimited access for up to two guests per visit. For any additional guests, your card will be charged $27 per guest, per visit. If you were to purchase a standard Priority Pass membership separately, it would cost at least $99 a year, plus $32 per visit (not including guests). Higher membership levels give free visits but cost significantly more –for $429 per year, all visits are free.
Now here’s the kicker: Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee. However, some of that is offset by a $300 annual travel credit. It’s important to take those types of things into account if you want to get the best deal.
Chase Sapphire Airport Lounge Math…
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $99 airport lounge membership + $95 annual fee = $194 per year for airport lounge access + $32 per person per visit.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $0 airport lounge membership + $550 annual fee - $300 travel credit = $150 per year for airport lounge access.
As you can see, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is more expensive than Chase Sapphire Reserve® when it comes to lounge access, especially if there are guest visits. You’ll need to take this into account before you decide if this benefit is worth the added expense.
Mark Farms, Member
@mark_farms
The complimentary airport lounge benefit gives you and your authorized users access to over 1,000 VIP airport lounges worldwide, with Priority Pass. Among other things, you get free wi-fi, snacks and beverages. You can see all Priority Pass lounges here: https://www.prioritypass.com/en/airport-lounges.
My main hub is San Francisco Intl. According to your link there is only 1 lounge (Air France/KLM) and I can only access it if I am flying out of that Concourse???? What's the point? Zero benefit for any domestic flights flying out of California's second largest airport?
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What are the best credit cards with lounge access?
One of the best credit cards with lounge access is Chase Sapphire Reserve®, giving you a Priority Pass Select lounge membership ($429 annual value) that gets you into 1,300+ lounges worldwide. Depending on the lounge, you may be able to bring in guests for free, too. And Sapphire Reserve also … read full answer
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What is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass membership?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass membership gives cardholders and authorized users free memberships in the airport lounge program Priority Pass Select. Each cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide as a result. Additional guests cost $27 per visit. Priority Pass … read full answer
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Thom Fotenberg, Avid backpacker
@thom.f
You basically gain entry into a room, you get complementary drinks and snacks, and free WiFi. It's pretty sweet if you're gonna be waiting a lot in the airport, but not exactly a reason to pick a card on its own.
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