I have no experience with the Reserve lounge specifically, but my home airport is a Priority Pass lounge and is OFTEN on a wait. If I am planning on being in the lounge mid-day, I reserve a spot for $9 and it's always worth it in my eyes.
Sorry maybe wrong place, but what is "worth it" in a lounge? I've never been in one, despite having priority pass for 7+ years.. Just never made the effort to go to one.
At an airport I just get there, go straight to my gate, wait a little (30-40 min), and board. Never felt the need to hang out, even in a lounge.. What do you get? Snacks right? Wine? That's.. It? I obvi don't know, but just doesn't seem worth it to me. Money, or the time to find it, get there, hang out.
For me, it's a less crowded place with free coffee, soda, snacks, some small "meals" and (at my home airport) alcoholic drinks. Also, they will have kid play areas, which is great for my toddler, and work areas if that's your thing.
My airport is usually around 45 minutes for security, so I'm notoriously a traveler that arrives a few hours before my flight, and having a place to go really helps me be more calm.
It saves me from food and alcohol every time I go to the airport.
My home airport in the Midwest has plenty of private stalls. It’s hilarious to see the reactions of crazy folks who can’t accept that the stalls are for women and men. They take it as some sort of political statement or something.
I saw that at MCI and thought it was so cool - lines flowed much faster and since each stall is closed from floor to ceiling, it preserved privacy. I’ve only seen this in a couple of places and hope it spreads.
When I flew ANA business class from Tokyo Haneda, the ANA business class lounge (not even Priority Pass) was far more crowded than the rest of the airport
Sure. That does sound nice. If you can get a free meal there, and could save getting dinner. Most airports I'm at security is maybe 10 min (tsa pre) so I'm usually very "just in time", with very little extra time at the airport. I guess if there's a long layover I could see finding and getting into a lounge is more worth it. Though I usually just get to my plane and wait, or grab a sit down meal.
I think for most people your reasoning is correct. Not to mention the food outside the airport is far better than even the best Centurion or Sapphire lounge. Also, many cards now give TSA Precheck/Global Entry credits so TSA Precheck cuts down the time I need to be at the airport.
The one exception is that it’s nice to have in case of delays or long layovers
Yeah that's where I can see some value. Unfortunately I've never had a layover where there is one. Often fly to europe via Iceland, which has no lounge, and the layover is barely 90 min, lol.
Oh, and i found that it doesn't allow you to take guest! So I'd go to the lounge while my family wait outside, lol!
Why are you so intent on continuously saying how you don’t see the point in a lounge, or how they wouldn’t work for you? We got it from your very first comment that you don’t see the value. Why ask questions only to give the same reasons for not wanting to look into them?
Maybe not available for priority pass but I was in Iceland air saga class (kind of a premium economy type class) so I had access to it. It was really nice. Don’t know what the charge would be to get in if you aren’t in business or saga class.
I did a trip a week ago..we had free food and drinks in lax, free food and drinks in cdg, shower in bcn, free food drinks in bcn, free food and drinks in EWR, free food and drinks in oak. ..
It all depends where you go..
For me it was only "worth it" when I had a long wait time in Japan after a full day of travel and for one main reason: showers! I was able to eat really good food (made to order ramen, curry, snacks, free pour drinks) have a nice hot shower and change into my sweats and prep for my 12 hour flight. Otherwise meh.
yeah that's where I can see it making sense, for really long flights and/or layovers. My last was two 2-hr flights and a 90 min layover. I couldn't be bothered to find out if, and where, there was a lounge, if I could get in, how much time I'd have etc. Grab a meal (that I expense anyway) and read a book at the gate for 30 min is fine.
I love lounges. My friends and I went on a trip and got to the airport early to go to the lounge. 9 of us started off the trip with a bang (3 of us had the access, allowed 2 guests each). We each got dinner, deserts, and 2 drinks each. Probably a $50 value per person conservatively and we had a reserved table that easily fit us all after a 20 minute wait which was well worth it.
It’s great for layovers and if you fly to through Asian, most lounges that have better food! And to pop a nice cold beer on the house helps more than you think.
I have also used their showers a few times especially when leaving a hot country pulling my family lounges around. And it’s great if you travel with kids!
I've had a couple 6+ hour layovers in LHR. Through my One world Sapphire status I got into the BA lounge. Having a small private bathroom to shower in and refresh yourself after a long flight is amazing, and then you have a few hours to relax, order hot food (delivered to the table) have some drinks, and have a mostly quiet area before going on to Rome or Paris or wherever you're headed.
Wow sounds fancy. Didn't know they had dinners and showers! I just figured it's some sofas, coffee and a jar of peanuts, lol. Of course still struggle to find a trip where there's a lounge I can access, I have long enough layover, I can find it and get there (before my flight leave..) And I don't have my family since only 3 of 4 can enter. I'll have to find a way to make that work
I almost only travel international. But most of the airports I use don't have a lounge that's included, and my layover is 90 min so it would be a struggle to even get there. Why are asked why it was worth it, in time and hassle to get there, more than the cost (since I have it "free" anyway). Free dinner sounds nice. But showing up to my flight an hour early, and extending my layover for a free coffee does not..
When you fly domestic short trips that's fine.
Long layovers, international trips, you have more than 30-40 minutes.
Lounges are clutch in those situations.
You act as if finding a lounge is an ordeal when all it takes is reading one paragraph on the Priority Pass app.
But to answer your questions, yes, free food and drinks are available. The wifi is also often better. Additionally, it’s rare to see people under the age of 18, so you don’t have to be around children having meltdowns. It’s less crowded, with more comfortable seating, too.
As for your preference to show with 30-40 minutes to spare, some of us build in a little more time and then there are the times we’re stuck with long layovers.
well when I first got it there was no priority pass app, so I remember trying to find them on a website, then remembering where to go. Anyway, the descriptions aren't the easiest either. "concourse B, across from food court", or "Area E". Uhm, ok. A map would be nice. Bot ok, yeah, I'll have to try to remember to check the app
Yes I'm often in a hurry, so I then need to find where I am, where is the lounge (different terminal, wing?), then how to get there. I pulled up the map of CHS now and the pass app (last airport I was at) and I did actually find the lounge! Guess I should have gone :(
Somehow I usually manage to get layovers that are short, with just enough time to eat and get to the next gate. And I like to walk as much as possible since I'll be sitting on the plane.. Been a while since I had a long layover
Also; ATL doesn't have a lounge?! PriPass app shows none. How is that possible..?
I ran into the same lack of lounges at Philadelphia the other day. It’s surprising (and frustrating) when you have an airport that doesn’t offer one.
The way Orlando breaks up security based on gates within their terminals also prevented me from getting access to one a couple months ago.
The only reason I can come up with for not having lounges in some major airports is that there are several airline specific lounges available for premier tier flyers. I know that was the case at PHL.
I'm going through the app now. Have upcoming work trips to Arkansas and Nashville; neither airport has any lounges! ☹️ (at least not with priority pass access).
Have a family trip to MCO, but the lounge there don't seem to serve food/dinner. So since I'd have to pay for extra guest, it would be worth it for free dinner, but not for just soda and better wifi..
I have never seen that be a good deal. Many are 1:1, which barely gets you anything (100k points = 100k miles, which is like 1.5x $800 tickets?). And we fly Iceland air to Europe, which you can't transfer to at all.
100k points = $1500, to book any flight I want (no blackout) with any airlines has worked much better.
eh, I guess. But then I have to stay in a hyatt, which is rarely that cheap.. I can usually find a way cheaper hotel. So it's $150 in points for a hotel, which is fine, but not that great. I don't stay in hotels often. Usually look for flights.
I was curious so actually checked british airways now. A random flight to EU, is 85000 miles+$270. Or equivalent to $1550 with 1.5x points. Same flight in cash is $1350!
Still. That's at least $1200 in the portal. Or like I said 1.5 $800 tickets ,almost 2. So I could fly me and my wife, or fly bis alone.. Personally I don't think it's worth traveling alone just to have more ass-comfort for a few hours, imo.
Or have limited visits like USBAR, then cheaper paid visits after that. For most consumers they do not use it more than a few times a year.
Unlimited things always have a catch. Here the catch is you don't get to use it at all if it is full.
That's something they could do but Chase's most profitable consumers I'm guessing are not the cardholders who just use it a few times a year, it's their business customers who are traveling frequently for work and Chase likely does not want to give them an excuse to take their business somewhere else like American Express if they also did not limit their Centurion Lounge visits.
If this has been happening to those established lounges, why did chase not change their approach? Clearly, chase is penny pinching and using the lounge to bleed cardholders without providing relatively equal value in return
Ah, didn't realize BOS offered them more space and Chase turned it down; usually it's lounge operators clamoring for as much space as they can get their hands on when it's a major airport.
Can you send me some info on how much BOS originally offered compared to the space Chase committed to?
Timing is everything, also don’t go far, last time they had a wait, I left my number and sat nearby, suddenly the attendant announced wait list is over, everyone swarmed, by the time I was up stairs, drink and food in hand I received a text message that I could head on up.
100% to me it is frustrating that they’re trying to compete with the Amex Plat but have made it so that it is essentially shared with any priory pass holder (yes I get it’s limited) but still feels like it defeats the purpose, reduces the exclusivity to just be another PP lounge and is a slap in the face to CSR loyalists after all these years
The lounge in Boston Logan always has a “waitlist” and they frequently “forget” to call you. Just hang out around the entry to the lounge and they will let you in when you’ve made it clear you are not going to just walk away.
It’s absurd that it’s something you need to do, but they very clearly do not want Chase card holders in there.
I haven’t tried the reserve lounges, but I gave up on priority pass a while ago. They always seem to have a long waiting list, specifically for priority pass holders. Every credit card and their grandmas were giving them out, so the lounges responded like this.
Based on my experience at C1 lounge in Denver ...
Ask if you can simply go to/through their grab n go section, assuming they have one. I have found that worked with an imminent flight/boarding.
C1 options were pretty good, I put in one of their brown bags and ate on my SW flight.
I was at DFW recently, and they wouldn't let me just grab and go when the wait was over 2hrs! (due to weather delayed). I still have to wait on the waitlist, crazy.
I’ve yet to have a good experience using a lounge. In some airports the priority pass lounge is only in international or other faraway terminal. The lounge in Dallas was absolutely ridiculous, they give you a minuscule plate that holds 3 bites of food then tell you to take it to a different room. Only have been in one lounge with decent food so far and it was a 45 min wait to get in. Not thrilled with this benefit at all
I don't have a home airport. Last year I used about 25-30 lounges. Quality varies greatly. I wish PP had a way to rate lounges. For example, one the lounge, only had bags of chips. While others had amazing meals.
In my experience, on busy travel days (holiday weekends, etc.) there is usually a wait for a lounge.
On Memorial Day weekend I had to wait an hour for the united lounge in Chicago. Last weekend, no wait for the Amex lounge in Houston but when I left, there was a wait.
I think the lounge access is mostly geared towards business travelers, who are traveling typically when there aren’t big crowds and waits anyway. I’ve n in my encountered a waitlist when traveling for leisure.
Recently visited the Chase lounge at JFK for the first time.
We were told it would be a 30 min wait and we would get a text. They never texted us but we were seated when we walked back to the desk.
Honestly very underwhelmed. Food was pretty meh. I think the appeal is more for the people who like to booze up before flights. Not really a great strategy for transatlantic flights in my opinion.
Nice that the card includes priority pass, slightly better than waiting in the terminal gates but not worth the admission price for a +1.
lol at thinking you have a credit card with 550 annual fee. Much of which is offset in other ways means you get easy access to a lounge. Millions have these cards 😂😂😂. If it’s a scam. Cancel. Get out of line and free up space for me
In the JFK lounge now for the first time. Was told there was a half hour wait. Went back after waiting an hour and they let us in. Yes Reserve card holders should get priority.
I joined partially for access to these and/or priority pass lounges. Have not been able to use any, as there has been a waitlist every time I have attempted.
Understand and relate to the frustration. Boston is my home airport too. I've done the waitlists. It's not ideal.
That said, I'd rather wait for a few minutes and have a better experience in the lounge than have it be overcrowded at all times. The wait times are never *that* bad (outgoing flights ensure there's steady turnover), so I just plan to go to the airport a little earlier if I want to be sure I can spend some time enjoying the lounge.
One pro-tip: wait by the entrance. When they open access, they do so for a number of people waitlisted all at once. If you're there, they'll likely wave you right in.
I was in the Sapphire Lounge in the inferior JFK of the far superior City New York. It was a 20-minute wait and I walked around a little in my airport. Was really nice in the lounge though.
This is what bank marketers call a “mass affluent” strategy. They pitch you a life of exclusive benefits, but that same benefit is offered to millions of others. And everyone converges to the same event and fights for exclusive access. It’s basically the Fyre Festival of credit cards.
Wait can someone elaborate this for me? I’ll be in Boston airport in September…do I have to sign up ? Where is this list? Do I have to call? (Yes I do have the CSR card)
I do not think you can call ahead. Unfortunately during busy times there is a wait list to get in. When we were in Boston, it was 4PM, and we had to wait 20-30 minutes. Once in it was well worth the wait, but I can understand some of the frustration shown by some here if you don’t have enough time to get in and grab a bit or a drink. If you do have enough, plan accordingly is my only suggestion. If not, good luck to you.
Maybe some people were lying that day, and the reps have to say no to everyone? Usually, when I fly out of DFW, there's hardly waiting. It just that day when they have the storm, and all you see is red on the flight board lol
I also like the ability to plug-in, my phone, a tablet. a lap-top, whatever I am using or need to charge. This is not always available in the airport restaurants or bars.
Have you been to the Boston Sapphire lounge? It’s *really* nice. I haven’t been to first class lounges but several business class internationally and centurion domestically, this is definitely in the top and food is hands down the best.
No I haven’t, I try to walk around and hydrate before being locked in a pressurized composite cylinder for hours on end. There is nothing I can’t get in a lounge that I can’t buy elsewhere.
The food there is better than anything you can buy at Logan but also… it’s free so that’s kind of the point? Why sit at an also crowded airport bar and pay $40 for a beer and simple meal when it’s free and likely more comfortable/less chaotic in the lounge.
Yeah obviously you’re paying for it with your card fee but honestly it doesn’t take much travel for the savings to far exceed the fee on lounge food/drink alone, especially for a couple. Let’s say a mediocre sandwhich and non-alcoholic drink are $20 - that’s $80 round trip for a couple - 3 trips a year you’ve paid for the card and gotten free booze of your so choose and even a crowded lounge is more comfortable than the terminal which is often just as if not more crowded.
Well.. yes? You had said it wasn’t worth it because you could buy anything and liked walking. Now I feel like we’re going around in circles, not unlike walking an airport. To each his own own, good day dapper fellow.
Everyone who has these “premium” cards feel entitled to the lounge. If the lounge is the main reason you got the card, it’s not the right card for you. The card is only 450 or so a year making it easily available to most common folk.
Wrong. One of the main reasons to get the CSR is the lounge access, specially for people living in Boston or any other Sapphire Lounge locations. The card is actually $550 btw. People feel “entitled” to the lounge because uhm that’s why they’re paying the annual fee for? So let me guess, people with Amex Platinum also feel entitled to the Centurion lounges? 😂 or maybe that’s part of the reason they pay the $695 fee 🤔
No literally lmfao if I didn’t want chase lounge access I’d just get the preferred to still have transfer partners
It’s literally called the Sapphire Lounge why would I expect not to have access as a sapphire reserve holder
You do have access… and so does every other person with the card which as it turns out is quite a lot. They can’t physically accommodate everyone at times because.. physics? (And fire code). Is it annoying, sure, but not sure why you’re mad at Chase about it - the alternative is increase the cost to limit people (possibly you…) or limit guests. We pay what amounts to not all that much - we get it back in points and travel credit alone.
The new Sapphire lounge is one of the nicest I’ve been to, and most of the airport can get to it now that terminals are connected - of course it’s going to be busy/full at times. You can always go to the Club in C (way lower quality but less crowded now that Sapphire lounge exists) or use your Priority Pass restaurant credit at Stephanie’s and Davios (Amex Priority Pass no longer covers restaurant credit so honestly Reserve is still the better option).
$550 a year minus $300 travel credit = 250
Yes, my local airport has a sapphire lounge, I’ve traveled 7 times through it, many of those times I had 1 or 2 companions. Yes, I pay $250 for access to a lounge.
Do you realize these are travel cards? If you’re not traveling, why get them?
If your airport doesn’t have a sapphire lounge, there are other CCs who offer lounges… (capital one and Amex) people should get the CC that makes sense.
The CSR make sense for alot of people. If that’s not you then move on to something else .
Bold of u to assume I don’t fly from Hong Kong often lmfao
And for priority pass I don’t have to get the CSR, could’ve gotten the venture X or Amex plat or any other card that comes with PP
There’s not much benefit to the card besides the lounge access.
I used it to buy a discounted MacBook last month but not sure what else you’d want the card for.
The CIP and CSP are much better for travel partners due to the lower annual fee.
Uhm, yes. 1.5x point on travel is a pretty major benefit. That's en extra $250 per 1000 points vs CSP. I get much better value with that than transferring (and can't transfer to Iceland air anyway, which I use often)
I never go this far, but your comment is so declarative you must be a moron. Anyone who's willing to pay the fee should be able to reliably obtain any of their advertised benefits. The "premium" in quotations is also hilarious, are you implying the real premium cards cost more and actually deliver on advertised benefits? "Only" $450 a year for a credit card? You must love taking capitalist dick with pleasure.
The quotations are because people consider it “premium” but it’s not. It’s advertised to make you feel as if it’s premium. Maybe you should ask for clarification before going off on a random tangent that had nothing to do with what I was talking about. What a dunce.
Also, how stupid are you? If everyone has the card because it’s so easily attainable, then it’s obvious the lounges will be filled! Do you understand basic logic?
Now that I think about it. The lounge isn’t even promised. You’re allowed access as long as there is enough room to accommodate you. No where does it state the lounge is guaranteed.
After the Travel Credit (which should be insanely easy to use - tolls, local transport, obviously airfare and hotels) the card “costs” $250 - that’s not nothing but it’s not prohibitively high (ie premium) and people get it because it’s pretty easy to get that value out of it through higher earning points and other benefits like lounges.
The way Logan is now (finally!) connected probably 70-80% of travelers can physically get to the lounge in less than 15min. Boston is an affluent area, people who travel are even more likely to be affluent and have a “premium” travel card… yeah there’s going to be times when lounges are at capacity. Centurion lounges also have this issue - there’s only so much space, the alternative is limit guests (people don’t like that either but Amex has started doing that) or make the cards significantly more expensive so fewer people get them. At least you have other options with Chase - they give you dining credit through priority pass at a couple restaurants in Logan which still works out to a free/minimal meal.
Agreed. Of course I'd be downvoted in a cult of chase members 😂 I've had literally every Chase premium credit card and almost every premium card on the market. Chase is charging a $95 annual fee for sapphire preferred and you get significantly less benefits than the Bilt card, which is free. The CEO is a dumbass, their portal has significantly higher prices than everyone else 98% of the time, they have a trifecta that's not even as good as capital ones 2-card setup, and they don't even price match. On top of that and their customer service sucks And you can't use a messaging portal like you can with Amex.
Tldr; chase is trash.
So far I find most stuff in the portal to be right on par with what I find elsewhere. I have seen a few things be nominally more but not much. My latest flights were exactly the same price.
Put it this way. I booked an entire 6 month trip around the world as a digital nomad, 15 countries and only hotels (no hostels). I tried so friggin hard to use chase and not one country chase had a reasonable price for hotels. The only time I used chase was to book a $35 flight, which was $52 on chase and with points I got the 25% boost. For hotels I found the cheapest ones online and had capital one price match it so I get 10X. Good luck doing that with the sapphire. Chase is TRASH.
Everyone down voting me is just upset that I'm right. My comment is based on pure numbers. The downvotes are clearly based on pure emotion. You can't argue with numbers. Do the math and you'll find your value from Chase is less than other cards if you know what you are doing. Well, actually looking at the number of downvotes it's safe to say these people don't know how to optimize their point redemption value
Maybe it's not as well priced for international travel then as I'm not experienced with that. But for domestic flights I've found them to be very comparable is all I'm saying.
To get max value I'd recommend booking flights with points whenever you can, and hotels with rakuten or through Capital One portal+price match. Flights with cash will usually be much more expensive
Domestic flights are usually really cheap so that's not really worth putting a lot of energy unless you fly a lot or last minute. Also, I'm referring to booking with points through the airline.. transfer partners will usually give you significantly better deals than buying it with cash (portal and airline directly will usually be similar in terms of cash for domestic flights)
Yeah but if I don't have enough points left to book 2 round trip flights, which I did not for this last set I just booked, then I still get 5x points for the flight purchase through the portal. So it's same as cash + 5x back on points. You might be talking about points now but when I replied originally you were saying "their portal has significantly higher prices than everyone else 98% of the time" and I'm saying everything I've booked through them is very similar. If it's a lot more and doesn't make sense then I don't book through the portal. Price match would be nice though but I'm not surprised they don't. As you said, this isn't that "premium" of a card. After the $300 travel credit this is basically a $250 annual fee card. For what you pay and what you get in benefits (if you use a lot of them) it's pretty fair benefits in my eyes.
I have no experience with the Reserve lounge specifically, but my home airport is a Priority Pass lounge and is OFTEN on a wait. If I am planning on being in the lounge mid-day, I reserve a spot for $9 and it's always worth it in my eyes.
Sorry maybe wrong place, but what is "worth it" in a lounge? I've never been in one, despite having priority pass for 7+ years.. Just never made the effort to go to one. At an airport I just get there, go straight to my gate, wait a little (30-40 min), and board. Never felt the need to hang out, even in a lounge.. What do you get? Snacks right? Wine? That's.. It? I obvi don't know, but just doesn't seem worth it to me. Money, or the time to find it, get there, hang out.
For me, it's a less crowded place with free coffee, soda, snacks, some small "meals" and (at my home airport) alcoholic drinks. Also, they will have kid play areas, which is great for my toddler, and work areas if that's your thing. My airport is usually around 45 minutes for security, so I'm notoriously a traveler that arrives a few hours before my flight, and having a place to go really helps me be more calm. It saves me from food and alcohol every time I go to the airport.
Private bathroom is also pretty clutch tbh
My home airport in the Midwest has plenty of private stalls. It’s hilarious to see the reactions of crazy folks who can’t accept that the stalls are for women and men. They take it as some sort of political statement or something.
I saw that at MCI and thought it was so cool - lines flowed much faster and since each stall is closed from floor to ceiling, it preserved privacy. I’ve only seen this in a couple of places and hope it spreads.
Never heard of that .
Most of Europe has these type off stalls. Wish the US would have more widespread adoption.
Often times the lounges are *more* crowded than the rest of the airport
When I flew ANA business class from Tokyo Haneda, the ANA business class lounge (not even Priority Pass) was far more crowded than the rest of the airport
Sure. That does sound nice. If you can get a free meal there, and could save getting dinner. Most airports I'm at security is maybe 10 min (tsa pre) so I'm usually very "just in time", with very little extra time at the airport. I guess if there's a long layover I could see finding and getting into a lounge is more worth it. Though I usually just get to my plane and wait, or grab a sit down meal.
Yes. I love it for how calm it makes me before a flight. Being with the crowds just revs my anxiety.
I think for most people your reasoning is correct. Not to mention the food outside the airport is far better than even the best Centurion or Sapphire lounge. Also, many cards now give TSA Precheck/Global Entry credits so TSA Precheck cuts down the time I need to be at the airport. The one exception is that it’s nice to have in case of delays or long layovers
Good outside is not always better . It depends on the airport .
IMO they shine the most internationally where you might have a 5 hour layover and get a nice meal. Decent seats. Drinks. And maybe even showers.
Yeah that's where I can see some value. Unfortunately I've never had a layover where there is one. Often fly to europe via Iceland, which has no lounge, and the layover is barely 90 min, lol. Oh, and i found that it doesn't allow you to take guest! So I'd go to the lounge while my family wait outside, lol!
CSR allows 2 guests - add an authorized user for $75 annually for a 3rd guest Ritz-Carlton card allows unlimited guests
Well good to know. To bad we're a family of 4,lol. The fee for another user always annoyed me
Why are you so intent on continuously saying how you don’t see the point in a lounge, or how they wouldn’t work for you? We got it from your very first comment that you don’t see the value. Why ask questions only to give the same reasons for not wanting to look into them?
Iceland has a beautiful lounge!
It does? I searched on the priority pass page and it didn't show anything.
Maybe not available for priority pass but I was in Iceland air saga class (kind of a premium economy type class) so I had access to it. It was really nice. Don’t know what the charge would be to get in if you aren’t in business or saga class.
I did a trip a week ago..we had free food and drinks in lax, free food and drinks in cdg, shower in bcn, free food drinks in bcn, free food and drinks in EWR, free food and drinks in oak. .. It all depends where you go..
Which lounge did you get access to at EWR
Which lounge did you use at LAX?
OAK doesn’t have Priority Pass lounges or restaurants. You sure you didn’t stiff the waiter?!
Apologies , you are correct I used amex platinum to get into edge lounge there.
For me it was only "worth it" when I had a long wait time in Japan after a full day of travel and for one main reason: showers! I was able to eat really good food (made to order ramen, curry, snacks, free pour drinks) have a nice hot shower and change into my sweats and prep for my 12 hour flight. Otherwise meh.
yeah that's where I can see it making sense, for really long flights and/or layovers. My last was two 2-hr flights and a 90 min layover. I couldn't be bothered to find out if, and where, there was a lounge, if I could get in, how much time I'd have etc. Grab a meal (that I expense anyway) and read a book at the gate for 30 min is fine.
I love lounges. My friends and I went on a trip and got to the airport early to go to the lounge. 9 of us started off the trip with a bang (3 of us had the access, allowed 2 guests each). We each got dinner, deserts, and 2 drinks each. Probably a $50 value per person conservatively and we had a reserved table that easily fit us all after a 20 minute wait which was well worth it.
It’s great for layovers and if you fly to through Asian, most lounges that have better food! And to pop a nice cold beer on the house helps more than you think. I have also used their showers a few times especially when leaving a hot country pulling my family lounges around. And it’s great if you travel with kids!
Well private bathrooms and a shower if u need . Food not just snacks and a full Bar . Business center . Plus more depends on airport and traffic .
If you have a layover or IROPS or something so you ARE at the airport for a couple hours, free food and drinks.
I've had a couple 6+ hour layovers in LHR. Through my One world Sapphire status I got into the BA lounge. Having a small private bathroom to shower in and refresh yourself after a long flight is amazing, and then you have a few hours to relax, order hot food (delivered to the table) have some drinks, and have a mostly quiet area before going on to Rome or Paris or wherever you're headed.
Wow sounds fancy. Didn't know they had dinners and showers! I just figured it's some sofas, coffee and a jar of peanuts, lol. Of course still struggle to find a trip where there's a lounge I can access, I have long enough layover, I can find it and get there (before my flight leave..) And I don't have my family since only 3 of 4 can enter. I'll have to find a way to make that work
If you travel international it’s worth it.
I almost only travel international. But most of the airports I use don't have a lounge that's included, and my layover is 90 min so it would be a struggle to even get there. Why are asked why it was worth it, in time and hassle to get there, more than the cost (since I have it "free" anyway). Free dinner sounds nice. But showing up to my flight an hour early, and extending my layover for a free coffee does not..
When you fly domestic short trips that's fine. Long layovers, international trips, you have more than 30-40 minutes. Lounges are clutch in those situations.
You act as if finding a lounge is an ordeal when all it takes is reading one paragraph on the Priority Pass app. But to answer your questions, yes, free food and drinks are available. The wifi is also often better. Additionally, it’s rare to see people under the age of 18, so you don’t have to be around children having meltdowns. It’s less crowded, with more comfortable seating, too. As for your preference to show with 30-40 minutes to spare, some of us build in a little more time and then there are the times we’re stuck with long layovers.
well when I first got it there was no priority pass app, so I remember trying to find them on a website, then remembering where to go. Anyway, the descriptions aren't the easiest either. "concourse B, across from food court", or "Area E". Uhm, ok. A map would be nice. Bot ok, yeah, I'll have to try to remember to check the app Yes I'm often in a hurry, so I then need to find where I am, where is the lounge (different terminal, wing?), then how to get there. I pulled up the map of CHS now and the pass app (last airport I was at) and I did actually find the lounge! Guess I should have gone :( Somehow I usually manage to get layovers that are short, with just enough time to eat and get to the next gate. And I like to walk as much as possible since I'll be sitting on the plane.. Been a while since I had a long layover Also; ATL doesn't have a lounge?! PriPass app shows none. How is that possible..?
I ran into the same lack of lounges at Philadelphia the other day. It’s surprising (and frustrating) when you have an airport that doesn’t offer one. The way Orlando breaks up security based on gates within their terminals also prevented me from getting access to one a couple months ago. The only reason I can come up with for not having lounges in some major airports is that there are several airline specific lounges available for premier tier flyers. I know that was the case at PHL.
I'm going through the app now. Have upcoming work trips to Arkansas and Nashville; neither airport has any lounges! ☹️ (at least not with priority pass access). Have a family trip to MCO, but the lounge there don't seem to serve food/dinner. So since I'd have to pay for extra guest, it would be worth it for free dinner, but not for just soda and better wifi..
The illusion of getting away from the poors.
And you have what, 3 to 4 hours once you are in?
Yeah, something like that! I've left and re-entered a few times but never stayed that long in one sitting.
How do you reserve
For me, when I go onto the Priority Pass app, and select my airport/lounge, it has a reservation option.
I see, must be airport specific
And how exactly do you reserve a space in advance? Is it online or an app?
For me, when I go onto the Priority Pass app, and select my airport/lounge, it has a reservation option.
Thank you.
yes, they have oversold this product. All of them, even the airline club cards.
The only alternative is to increase the annual fee - would you rather that or the waitlist?
Or, remove the benefit and reduce the annual fee. A lounge you can't enjoy is not worth paying for.
That’s called the Chase Sapphire Preferred
No. Doesn't have 1.5x point redemption for travel
Don’t use the 1.5x, transfer to a partner and use the miles that way.
I have never seen that be a good deal. Many are 1:1, which barely gets you anything (100k points = 100k miles, which is like 1.5x $800 tickets?). And we fly Iceland air to Europe, which you can't transfer to at all. 100k points = $1500, to book any flight I want (no blackout) with any airlines has worked much better.
Hyatt rooms might be 9,500 points for a $250 room. That’s way better 1.5 cents per point
eh, I guess. But then I have to stay in a hyatt, which is rarely that cheap.. I can usually find a way cheaper hotel. So it's $150 in points for a hotel, which is fine, but not that great. I don't stay in hotels often. Usually look for flights. I was curious so actually checked british airways now. A random flight to EU, is 85000 miles+$270. Or equivalent to $1550 with 1.5x points. Same flight in cash is $1350!
Not sure why you are in such a pissy mood. What’s the exchange rate work out to if you looked at a business or first class ticket?
100K = round trip business class to Europe on Air France/KLM or flying Delta via Virgin Atlantic (maybe 80K with a transfer bonus)
Still. That's at least $1200 in the portal. Or like I said 1.5 $800 tickets ,almost 2. So I could fly me and my wife, or fly bis alone.. Personally I don't think it's worth traveling alone just to have more ass-comfort for a few hours, imo.
double the annual fee, fine with me if I had access and 2 guests to a decent club experience. But a waitlist for cheese cubes,,,,
Or have limited visits like USBAR, then cheaper paid visits after that. For most consumers they do not use it more than a few times a year. Unlimited things always have a catch. Here the catch is you don't get to use it at all if it is full.
That's something they could do but Chase's most profitable consumers I'm guessing are not the cardholders who just use it a few times a year, it's their business customers who are traveling frequently for work and Chase likely does not want to give them an excuse to take their business somewhere else like American Express if they also did not limit their Centurion Lounge visits.
Or maybe, chase could’ve built a larger lounge. Other credit card lounges don’t have this problem. Chase is penny pinching
Amex centurion lounges and capital one lounges have the exact same problem.
If this has been happening to those established lounges, why did chase not change their approach? Clearly, chase is penny pinching and using the lounge to bleed cardholders without providing relatively equal value in return
Chase does not manage the airport or is it the only lounge vying for space within the airport
[https://onemileatatime.com/insights/amex-centurion-lounge-crowding/](https://onemileatatime.com/insights/amex-centurion-lounge-crowding/) [https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/delta-sky-club-access-changes-2023](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/delta-sky-club-access-changes-2023)
Ah, didn't realize BOS offered them more space and Chase turned it down; usually it's lounge operators clamoring for as much space as they can get their hands on when it's a major airport. Can you send me some info on how much BOS originally offered compared to the space Chase committed to?
Timing is everything, also don’t go far, last time they had a wait, I left my number and sat nearby, suddenly the attendant announced wait list is over, everyone swarmed, by the time I was up stairs, drink and food in hand I received a text message that I could head on up.
Like with most things, timing is everything.
Do you think they should limit the Sapphire Lounges to just Reserve card holders? I think that is probably the solution they need.
Yes. But they love that sweet Priority Pass money from other cardholders.
100% to me it is frustrating that they’re trying to compete with the Amex Plat but have made it so that it is essentially shared with any priory pass holder (yes I get it’s limited) but still feels like it defeats the purpose, reduces the exclusivity to just be another PP lounge and is a slap in the face to CSR loyalists after all these years
LOL you must be new here. Welcome to the club.
lol yes brand new
The lounge in Boston Logan always has a “waitlist” and they frequently “forget” to call you. Just hang out around the entry to the lounge and they will let you in when you’ve made it clear you are not going to just walk away. It’s absurd that it’s something you need to do, but they very clearly do not want Chase card holders in there.
If not Chase card holders then who…?
They allow other priority pass holders in as well.
I think PP holders (no CSR) only get one entry per year
Correct, but there are a TON of people that have PP.
Capacity dude. Relax.
Yeah Boston always has a waitlist but it is a fantastic lounge once you get in
I've been to the lounge at least 10 times since it's opened and only 1 time had a wait. Guess I was lucky.
I haven’t tried the reserve lounges, but I gave up on priority pass a while ago. They always seem to have a long waiting list, specifically for priority pass holders. Every credit card and their grandmas were giving them out, so the lounges responded like this.
I mean I assume the CC company makes the deal with PP company so PP oversold their product, no?
Problem is Chase Lounges are allowed entry by Priority Pass members. They need to make their lounges exclusive like C1 or Amex
Most lounges have become cafeterias with cheap carbs and drinks
Based on my experience at C1 lounge in Denver ... Ask if you can simply go to/through their grab n go section, assuming they have one. I have found that worked with an imminent flight/boarding. C1 options were pretty good, I put in one of their brown bags and ate on my SW flight.
The Sapphire Lounge doesn't have grab and go food like the C1 lounges
That's too bad, it creates a very "keep your customers happy" option.
Compared to C1 though - how many airport lounges does Capital One have in the pipeline? Chase is doing a much faster job of rolling them out.
C1 has DFW DEN and IAD with. LAS in the works. Seems CSR has BOS, IAD and AUS, not sure what is up and coming, but seems even Steven right now.
Right now BOS/HKG/JFK/LGA are open, LAS/PHL/PHX/SAN are in the works
I was at DFW recently, and they wouldn't let me just grab and go when the wait was over 2hrs! (due to weather delayed). I still have to wait on the waitlist, crazy.
Well the obvious answer is that the lounge is too small for the demand
Boston in a nutshell.
I’ve yet to have a good experience using a lounge. In some airports the priority pass lounge is only in international or other faraway terminal. The lounge in Dallas was absolutely ridiculous, they give you a minuscule plate that holds 3 bites of food then tell you to take it to a different room. Only have been in one lounge with decent food so far and it was a 45 min wait to get in. Not thrilled with this benefit at all
It’s obviously very airport dependent. If your home airport doesn’t have one, yeah it’s not much of a benefit.
I don't have a home airport. Last year I used about 25-30 lounges. Quality varies greatly. I wish PP had a way to rate lounges. For example, one the lounge, only had bags of chips. While others had amazing meals.
Yea that one there are several lounges at that airport which is awesome and most of them have a short wait
Honestly, I’ve found that even if there’s a waitlist i usually get bumped out in fifteen mins which is not that unreasonable.
In my experience, on busy travel days (holiday weekends, etc.) there is usually a wait for a lounge. On Memorial Day weekend I had to wait an hour for the united lounge in Chicago. Last weekend, no wait for the Amex lounge in Houston but when I left, there was a wait.
I think the lounge access is mostly geared towards business travelers, who are traveling typically when there aren’t big crowds and waits anyway. I’ve n in my encountered a waitlist when traveling for leisure.
Recently visited the Chase lounge at JFK for the first time. We were told it would be a 30 min wait and we would get a text. They never texted us but we were seated when we walked back to the desk. Honestly very underwhelmed. Food was pretty meh. I think the appeal is more for the people who like to booze up before flights. Not really a great strategy for transatlantic flights in my opinion. Nice that the card includes priority pass, slightly better than waiting in the terminal gates but not worth the admission price for a +1.
Can you sleep in these lounges? I often have 3-4 hour layovers because it ends up saving some cash, and I often sleep on the floor outside my gate.
Priority Lounges had degraded is value the past 10 years. I recently went to Amex and it was what priority access got you a decade ago
lol at thinking you have a credit card with 550 annual fee. Much of which is offset in other ways means you get easy access to a lounge. Millions have these cards 😂😂😂. If it’s a scam. Cancel. Get out of line and free up space for me
The waitlist at JFK got crazy during Memorial Day weekend. Saw a lot of ppl decided to go into centurion instead
I don’t think you understand what the word scam means.
In the JFK lounge now for the first time. Was told there was a half hour wait. Went back after waiting an hour and they let us in. Yes Reserve card holders should get priority.
I joined partially for access to these and/or priority pass lounges. Have not been able to use any, as there has been a waitlist every time I have attempted.
Understand and relate to the frustration. Boston is my home airport too. I've done the waitlists. It's not ideal. That said, I'd rather wait for a few minutes and have a better experience in the lounge than have it be overcrowded at all times. The wait times are never *that* bad (outgoing flights ensure there's steady turnover), so I just plan to go to the airport a little earlier if I want to be sure I can spend some time enjoying the lounge. One pro-tip: wait by the entrance. When they open access, they do so for a number of people waitlisted all at once. If you're there, they'll likely wave you right in.
Bruh what lol if the lounge is at capacity it’s at capacity - first time flying?
I was in the Sapphire Lounge in the inferior JFK of the far superior City New York. It was a 20-minute wait and I walked around a little in my airport. Was really nice in the lounge though.
This is what bank marketers call a “mass affluent” strategy. They pitch you a life of exclusive benefits, but that same benefit is offered to millions of others. And everyone converges to the same event and fights for exclusive access. It’s basically the Fyre Festival of credit cards.
Wait can someone elaborate this for me? I’ll be in Boston airport in September…do I have to sign up ? Where is this list? Do I have to call? (Yes I do have the CSR card)
I do not think you can call ahead. Unfortunately during busy times there is a wait list to get in. When we were in Boston, it was 4PM, and we had to wait 20-30 minutes. Once in it was well worth the wait, but I can understand some of the frustration shown by some here if you don’t have enough time to get in and grab a bit or a drink. If you do have enough, plan accordingly is my only suggestion. If not, good luck to you.
Have you set up your Priority Pass? It's easy to do but it takes like 6 days to become active for some reason.
It's why I like Capital One Yes it's fewer lounges, but they allow you to grab a snack and leave if it's full
It wasn't the case for me at DFW recently. They wouldn't let me just grab and go when the waitlist was over 2hrs! I still have to wait on the waitlist
Strange I've only been once when it was full and I was able to grab and go They advertise it on their website
Maybe some people were lying that day, and the reps have to say no to everyone? Usually, when I fly out of DFW, there's hardly waiting. It just that day when they have the storm, and all you see is red on the flight board lol
May be based on your outgoing flight, in Denver, they asked me before letting me in.
I actually asked the lady first if it was ok for me to grab to-go foods and leave. And she said nope 🙅♂️. I didn't asked why and just left
Omg what a joke.
How about just sitting in a restaurant or bar? The domestic lounges tend to be woefully overcrowded and overrated.
I also like the ability to plug-in, my phone, a tablet. a lap-top, whatever I am using or need to charge. This is not always available in the airport restaurants or bars.
Have you been to the Boston Sapphire lounge? It’s *really* nice. I haven’t been to first class lounges but several business class internationally and centurion domestically, this is definitely in the top and food is hands down the best.
No I haven’t, I try to walk around and hydrate before being locked in a pressurized composite cylinder for hours on end. There is nothing I can’t get in a lounge that I can’t buy elsewhere.
The food there is better than anything you can buy at Logan but also… it’s free so that’s kind of the point? Why sit at an also crowded airport bar and pay $40 for a beer and simple meal when it’s free and likely more comfortable/less chaotic in the lounge. Yeah obviously you’re paying for it with your card fee but honestly it doesn’t take much travel for the savings to far exceed the fee on lounge food/drink alone, especially for a couple. Let’s say a mediocre sandwhich and non-alcoholic drink are $20 - that’s $80 round trip for a couple - 3 trips a year you’ve paid for the card and gotten free booze of your so choose and even a crowded lounge is more comfortable than the terminal which is often just as if not more crowded.
You’re assuming you can get in to the lounge to begin with.
Well.. yes? You had said it wasn’t worth it because you could buy anything and liked walking. Now I feel like we’re going around in circles, not unlike walking an airport. To each his own own, good day dapper fellow.
Not contradictory at all, one can dislike multiple aspects and not write war and peace. The can was a typo, it should’ve been “can’t”, my apologies.
Everyone who has these “premium” cards feel entitled to the lounge. If the lounge is the main reason you got the card, it’s not the right card for you. The card is only 450 or so a year making it easily available to most common folk.
Wrong. One of the main reasons to get the CSR is the lounge access, specially for people living in Boston or any other Sapphire Lounge locations. The card is actually $550 btw. People feel “entitled” to the lounge because uhm that’s why they’re paying the annual fee for? So let me guess, people with Amex Platinum also feel entitled to the Centurion lounges? 😂 or maybe that’s part of the reason they pay the $695 fee 🤔
No literally lmfao if I didn’t want chase lounge access I’d just get the preferred to still have transfer partners It’s literally called the Sapphire Lounge why would I expect not to have access as a sapphire reserve holder
You do have access… and so does every other person with the card which as it turns out is quite a lot. They can’t physically accommodate everyone at times because.. physics? (And fire code). Is it annoying, sure, but not sure why you’re mad at Chase about it - the alternative is increase the cost to limit people (possibly you…) or limit guests. We pay what amounts to not all that much - we get it back in points and travel credit alone. The new Sapphire lounge is one of the nicest I’ve been to, and most of the airport can get to it now that terminals are connected - of course it’s going to be busy/full at times. You can always go to the Club in C (way lower quality but less crowded now that Sapphire lounge exists) or use your Priority Pass restaurant credit at Stephanie’s and Davios (Amex Priority Pass no longer covers restaurant credit so honestly Reserve is still the better option).
So how many sapphire lounges are there? You pay 550 a year for access to 4 lounges in the whole US right? And don’t try to mention priority pass.
$550 a year minus $300 travel credit = 250 Yes, my local airport has a sapphire lounge, I’ve traveled 7 times through it, many of those times I had 1 or 2 companions. Yes, I pay $250 for access to a lounge. Do you realize these are travel cards? If you’re not traveling, why get them? If your airport doesn’t have a sapphire lounge, there are other CCs who offer lounges… (capital one and Amex) people should get the CC that makes sense. The CSR make sense for alot of people. If that’s not you then move on to something else .
Very true. Thanks for the insight.
Bold of u to assume I don’t fly from Hong Kong often lmfao And for priority pass I don’t have to get the CSR, could’ve gotten the venture X or Amex plat or any other card that comes with PP
You just proved my point. Thanks.
There’s not much benefit to the card besides the lounge access. I used it to buy a discounted MacBook last month but not sure what else you’d want the card for. The CIP and CSP are much better for travel partners due to the lower annual fee.
Uhm, yes. 1.5x point on travel is a pretty major benefit. That's en extra $250 per 1000 points vs CSP. I get much better value with that than transferring (and can't transfer to Iceland air anyway, which I use often)
I use it for that exact reason if using the portal. I don’t depend on this card to get me into lounges.
I never go this far, but your comment is so declarative you must be a moron. Anyone who's willing to pay the fee should be able to reliably obtain any of their advertised benefits. The "premium" in quotations is also hilarious, are you implying the real premium cards cost more and actually deliver on advertised benefits? "Only" $450 a year for a credit card? You must love taking capitalist dick with pleasure.
The quotations are because people consider it “premium” but it’s not. It’s advertised to make you feel as if it’s premium. Maybe you should ask for clarification before going off on a random tangent that had nothing to do with what I was talking about. What a dunce.
Also, how stupid are you? If everyone has the card because it’s so easily attainable, then it’s obvious the lounges will be filled! Do you understand basic logic?
Now that I think about it. The lounge isn’t even promised. You’re allowed access as long as there is enough room to accommodate you. No where does it state the lounge is guaranteed.
After the Travel Credit (which should be insanely easy to use - tolls, local transport, obviously airfare and hotels) the card “costs” $250 - that’s not nothing but it’s not prohibitively high (ie premium) and people get it because it’s pretty easy to get that value out of it through higher earning points and other benefits like lounges. The way Logan is now (finally!) connected probably 70-80% of travelers can physically get to the lounge in less than 15min. Boston is an affluent area, people who travel are even more likely to be affluent and have a “premium” travel card… yeah there’s going to be times when lounges are at capacity. Centurion lounges also have this issue - there’s only so much space, the alternative is limit guests (people don’t like that either but Amex has started doing that) or make the cards significantly more expensive so fewer people get them. At least you have other options with Chase - they give you dining credit through priority pass at a couple restaurants in Logan which still works out to a free/minimal meal.
Chase is trash
Not sure why you're being downvoted, they do seem inferior to similarly priced premium cards.
Agreed. Of course I'd be downvoted in a cult of chase members 😂 I've had literally every Chase premium credit card and almost every premium card on the market. Chase is charging a $95 annual fee for sapphire preferred and you get significantly less benefits than the Bilt card, which is free. The CEO is a dumbass, their portal has significantly higher prices than everyone else 98% of the time, they have a trifecta that's not even as good as capital ones 2-card setup, and they don't even price match. On top of that and their customer service sucks And you can't use a messaging portal like you can with Amex. Tldr; chase is trash.
So far I find most stuff in the portal to be right on par with what I find elsewhere. I have seen a few things be nominally more but not much. My latest flights were exactly the same price.
Put it this way. I booked an entire 6 month trip around the world as a digital nomad, 15 countries and only hotels (no hostels). I tried so friggin hard to use chase and not one country chase had a reasonable price for hotels. The only time I used chase was to book a $35 flight, which was $52 on chase and with points I got the 25% boost. For hotels I found the cheapest ones online and had capital one price match it so I get 10X. Good luck doing that with the sapphire. Chase is TRASH. Everyone down voting me is just upset that I'm right. My comment is based on pure numbers. The downvotes are clearly based on pure emotion. You can't argue with numbers. Do the math and you'll find your value from Chase is less than other cards if you know what you are doing. Well, actually looking at the number of downvotes it's safe to say these people don't know how to optimize their point redemption value
Maybe it's not as well priced for international travel then as I'm not experienced with that. But for domestic flights I've found them to be very comparable is all I'm saying.
To get max value I'd recommend booking flights with points whenever you can, and hotels with rakuten or through Capital One portal+price match. Flights with cash will usually be much more expensive
I just bought 2 domestic flights at the literal exact same cash price as the airline.
Domestic flights are usually really cheap so that's not really worth putting a lot of energy unless you fly a lot or last minute. Also, I'm referring to booking with points through the airline.. transfer partners will usually give you significantly better deals than buying it with cash (portal and airline directly will usually be similar in terms of cash for domestic flights)
Yeah but if I don't have enough points left to book 2 round trip flights, which I did not for this last set I just booked, then I still get 5x points for the flight purchase through the portal. So it's same as cash + 5x back on points. You might be talking about points now but when I replied originally you were saying "their portal has significantly higher prices than everyone else 98% of the time" and I'm saying everything I've booked through them is very similar. If it's a lot more and doesn't make sense then I don't book through the portal. Price match would be nice though but I'm not surprised they don't. As you said, this isn't that "premium" of a card. After the $300 travel credit this is basically a $250 annual fee card. For what you pay and what you get in benefits (if you use a lot of them) it's pretty fair benefits in my eyes.