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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market today, partly due to its generous airport lounge benefit. Cardholders pay a $550 annual fee but receive access to two different lounge networks: Priority Pass (enrollment required) and Chase’s Sapphire Lounge by The Club. 

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.
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On Chase Bank USA, NA’s secure website

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

Annual fee

$550

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent
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. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros
  • Up to $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass Select lounge access.
  • Redeem points for 50% more value to book travel through Chase Travel℠.
  • Transfer points 1:1 to partners such as United Airlines and World of Hyatt.
Cons
  • High annual fee.
  • Not ideal if you aren’t interested in transferring points.
  • May not qualify if you’ve applied for 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Card details

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement 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, 60,000 points are worth $900 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

What you need to know about Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access

While the Sapphire network has just a handful of open locations as of the time of writing, the Priority Pass Select membership offers access to over 1,500 lounges worldwide. This benefit makes the Sapphire Reserve a popular credit card for those seeking an upgraded travel experience. 

But visiting an airport lounge isn’t just about luxury; it’s also about convenience. Airports are loud, busy environments and concessions are marked up substantially. By visiting an airline lounge, you can save money on food and get a quiet place to relax before your flight. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, here’s everything you need to know about how airport lounge access works.

How to get Priority Pass access with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

For Priority Pass Select lounge access, you’ll need to activate your Priority Pass Select membership. You can do this through your Chase Ultimate Rewards® account, after which you’ll receive a membership card in the mail. Rather than carrying the card around, you can simply download the Priority Pass app and create a login.

How to use Priority Pass at airport lounges

Although Priority Pass has a widespread network, there may not be one at the airport you’re in or it may not be in a terminal convenient to where you need to be to catch your flight. You can visit the Priority Pass website in advance of your trip to see where a Priority Pass lounge is located at the airport you’re flying out of, or use the app to search. When you’re ready to visit a Priority Pass lounge, simply open the app and show the attendant your QR code and boarding pass to scan.

Priority Pass locations

Priority Pass has over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide, with over 150 locations in North America. Some of the most popular airports in the world have Priority Pass lounges. These include San Francisco International (SFO), London Heathrow (LHR), Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Dubai (DXB).

Some premium travel or airline credit cards may offer Priority Pass dining credits in airports in lieu of visiting a lounge, but this perk has become increasingly rare as issuers have been phasing it out. 

How to access Chase Sapphire lounges

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders also have access to the Chase Sapphire Lounges, officially known as Sapphire Lounge by the Club. These spaces offer serenity away from busy terminals, where you can enjoy complimentary drinks and chef-curated meals. 

To gain complimentary access to a Sapphire Lounge, you need a qualifying credit card and a valid boarding pass. You can access the lounge up to three hours before your flight. Qualifying credit cards include:

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
  • J.P. Morgan Reserve * The information for the J.P. Morgan Reserve has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (by invitation only).
  • The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card (which is no longer open to new applicants).

Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardholders can bring up to two complimentary guests into the lounge. Access for additional guests will cost $27 per person, though children under the age of 2 get complimentary access. Ritz-Carlton cardmembers are allowed to bring unlimited guests with them free of charge. If you don’t have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but you do have a Priority Pass membership, you can still access a Sapphire Lounge for free once per calendar year.

Sapphire Lounge locations

There are currently just four open locations: the Chase Sapphire Lounge Boston, the Chase Sapphire Lounge Hong Kong, the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York and a Sapphire Terrace at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Chase has other lounges in the works, so there will soon be more options. Additionally, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can also access the Etihad Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, D.C.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is packed with perks. Here’s some of the biggest benefits of the card

Comparing lounge access perks of Chase Sapphire Reserve to other cards

If you’re a frequent traveler, airport lounge access is probably a must-have perk as you evaluate the best credit card to accompany you on your adventures. The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s benefit is more comprehensive than some cards but less competitive than others. Cardholders get access to both the Priority Pass and Chase lounge network, making it a well-rounded choice. 

While The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply) has a wider lounge network, which includes Centurion and Escape lounges, Sapphire Reserve cardholders don’t offer this feature.

The Sapphire Reserve’s lounge benefit is similar to that of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which provides Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment and access to Capital One lounges. Capital One has a similar size footprint to Chase, with locations in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside Washington, D.C.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers access to more than 1,500 lounges worldwide. These include Plaza Premium and select Star Alliance and SkyTeam lounges. 

There are no Priority Pass or Sapphire Reserve member quiet lounges at LAX airport. However, you can take advantage of your Priority Pass membership and enjoy an eligible service at the Be Relax spa in Terminal 1 or an hour of game play at the Gameway gaming lounges located in Terminals 3 and 6.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not offer lounge access as a cardholder perk.

To access a Priority Pass lounge, show your valid boarding pass and Priority Pass Digital Membership Card or physical Priority Pass membership card at the lounge reception desk at the entrance. Be aware that at peak times the lounge may be at capacity and you will be placed on a waiting list to enter.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not offer any Trusted Traveler credits like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an application fee credit for one of these programs, as do many other cards.

Yes, Priority Pass Select membership is included with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, although enrollment is required to activate this benefit. 

Yes, you can bring up to two guests to a lounge with your Priority Pass Select membership through your Chase Sapphire Reserve card without an additional charge.

Yes, in most cases you can upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred to a Chase Sapphire Reserve. You’ll have to pay a higher annual fee of $550 for the Sapphire Reserve compared to the $95 annual fee with the Sapphire Preferred.

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not offer an application fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or any trusted traveler programs.

*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and J.P. Morgan Reserve has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ariana Arghandewal is a travel hacker and travel rewards expert who leverages credit cards to earn over a million miles every year. She is the founder of Pointchaser, an award-winning blog where she covered rewards travel and credit cards since 2012.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.