In an encore to the opening of its first domestic lounge in Boston last year, Chase is opening a new Sapphire Lounge at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday, January 16, and it is a gem. LaGuardia has undergone a renaissance of sorts in recent years and this new Sapphire Lounge might be its crowning achievement, at least in terms of lounges. I got a preview of what guests can expect and can attest that Chase is raising the bar for domestic lounges.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
This card offers superior points earning rates if you spend frequently on travel and dining out. The $300 travel credit justifies much of the annual fee, and redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel℠ nets you a 50% bonus.
- $300 annual travel credit is incredibly flexible
- Generous welcome bonus
- Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
- Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners
- High annual fee
- High variable APR on purchases
- Excellent credit recommended
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 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, 75,000 points are worth $1125 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
Chase Sapphire Lounge LGA Highlights
The Sapphire Lounge LGA is Chase’s largest to date, spanning over 21,000 square feet across two extravagantly decorated floors and with a capacity of 269 people. It’s conveniently located in Terminal B, just past security on the fourth floor, right before the Eastern Concourse pedestrian bridge. If you see the American Express Centurion Lounge, go down one door more and you’ll find the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
Operating hours for the main lounge are from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
LGA Terminal B serves: Air Canada, American, JetBlue, Southwest and United airlines. Note that you can’t move between terminals at LGA without clearing security at the new terminal you want to visit, however there is a complimentary bus that runs about every 10 minutes and can shuttle you between terminals quickly.
The first floor features an expansive, open concept space with varied seating, power outlets and charging stations throughout. This area is anchored by a large round bar at the center of the room where bartenders serve up drinks from all sides.
Photo by Jerod Morales
To the right just after you enter is a small family room with seating for children inside and more seating outside a set of sliding glass doors.
Photo by Jerod Morales
Go further past a curtain into a small retro game room that includes a photo booth, shuffleboard, a jukebox and a vintage pinball machine.
Photo courtesy of Chase Travel
Continuing around the first floor there is a library-like room with more mixed seating and a faux fireplace. It’s essentially all fog and lights but it’s so realistic that it made me do a double take.
Photo courtesy of Chase Travel
Up the staircase to the second floor is the Perch. It has the feel of a luxury treehouse with two massive columns resembling tree trunks and greenery scattered throughout the seating areas. Such greenery, along with warm lighting, ground the senses while you’re in the lounge and compensate for its lack of windows.
Photo courtesy of Chase Travel
Past the top of the staircase is where the Chase Sapphire Lounge takes things to a different level with private suites, but more on that later.
Food and Drink at the LGA Chase Sapphire Lounge
At the bar on the first floor, bartenders mix drinks like the Sapphire Signature Cocktail—a mix of Brooklyn Gin, berries and spices—alongside other exclusively designed drinks in partnership with renowned cocktail bar, Apotheke.
Photo courtesy of Chase Travel
The premium wine list is curated by Parcelle, the acclaimed New York City wine bar and retailer. Four draft beers are available, including a local ale, Talea Beer Co. Bodegas Sour Ale, and a local IPA from Other Half Brewing.
Photo by Jerod Morales
A barista onsite can whip up a drink for you, or you can make your own at one of the many self-serve machines throughout the space, all featuring local favorite, Joe Coffee. Small refrigerators are well stocked with sodas, sparkling water and juice, and you’ll find cold brew coffee, spa water and a seasonal flavored water on tap on both floors.
Chase was just as thoughtful selecting entrees and ingredients, partnering with Joseph Leonard and Jeffrey’s Grocery to create the menu. In the far corner of the first floor, guests will have their pick of made-to-order as well as ready-to-eat options. Nearby, there are suitable seating choices for individuals all the way up to large groups. Everything I ate was balanced and flavorful, with my favorites being the lentil ragout and the Sapphire cheeseburger.
Photo by Jerod Morales
Where the LGA Chase Sapphire Lounge Exceeds Expectations
Breaking new ground for Chase, the lounge will offer what it calls an “ultra-luxe” experience with The Reserve Suites by Chase. Three private suites are available that include a personal attendant, caviar service, an exclusive menu and wine list, luxury bath products for the private bathroom and shower, ample seating and a TV with a video game console. Suites should be reserved three days in advance and come at a cost of $2,200 to $3,000 for three hours.
Operating hours for The Reserve Suites are from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Photo courtesy of Chase Travel
The lounge includes wellness rooms with treatments from Face Haus, an open concept facial bar. On-site estheticians provide a variety of complimentary treatments as well as Fly By Face Haus skincare travel kits.
Photo by Jerod Morales
How To Access Chase Sapphire Lounges
Entrance to the Chase Sapphire Lounge is granted to primary cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants) and the JP Morgan Reserve Card* (an invite-only card) as well as authorized users who have activated their Priority Pass membership.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® and JP Morgan Reserve Card* cardholders can bring up to two guests per visit for free, and any additional guests will be charged $27 each. Ritz-Carlton Card members are allowed unlimited guests with no additional charge.
Those who have a Priority Pass membership that did not come through Chase are entitled to one lounge visit across all Chase Sapphire Lounges in the U.S. After that first visit, the cost jumps to $75 per person for each visit.
Find the Best Credit Cards With Priority Pass Lounge Access of 2024
Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is a fitting addition to a reinvigorated LaGuardia airport. Its stunning and spacious design brings a sense of calm to the city that never sleeps.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® carries a steep annual fee at $550, but it’s stocked so full of benefits that it can make sense for many people to hold the card. Count this lounge as one more reason to add it to your wallet.
Chase isn’t finished either. It announced more lounges will be opening at popular airports later this month and beyond.
