The Chase Sapphire Lounge in Philadelphia is in the terminal D-E connector, by the main security checkpoint. It’s quite large, at about 20,000 square feet and open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Since all terminals in the airport are connected, you can walk between any of them. Honestly the walk over from A-West didn’t feel bad, though it was probably a solid 10 minutes. Anything that doesn’t involve walking to terminal F I am good with!

In addition to standard buffet and QR code cooked to order items, they offer a full cocktail bar as well as a craft “beer garden.” They offer facials and rest pods along with shower suites (all reserved via QR code), and both arcade games and a gaming area that also features shuffleboard.

Here’s the main bar, and it’s gorgeous.

And the buffet. There was whipped feta; broccolini ‘caesar’; fluff cake; citrus and chicory; mushroom and farro stew; pressed cheese; steak chili; truffled chicken; and roasted cauliflower along with chocolate bites; rice krispie treats; and strawberry shortcake cookies.

Made to order items included the Sapphire Burger (and Impossible Burger) with fries; Sapphire noodles which are prepared with broccoli, edamame, pepper, chickpeas, sunbutter sauce and basil; kids grilled cheese and chcken tenders; and then local dishes including a club sandwich which pckles, bacon and avocado along with Italian salad and tomato pie.

I admit I didn’t ‘get’ the tomato pie, the burger and noodles came out room temperature, and the taste of both was a bit off compared to Boston where I enjoy them very much.

I’m torn over whether this lounge is better than the American Airlines Flagship lounge. It probably depends on time of day. I prefer the new Flagship lounge aesthetic, but would steer clear of it in the evenings.

Overall it’s one of the best credit card lounges in the U.S., though, and significantly better than the American Express Centurion lounge. (Centurion buffet options may be healthier but this lounge is larger, offers more seating and have more interesting features.) It’s my favorite Chase lounge, edging out New York LaGuardia and San Diego.

The lounge is laid out as a long rectangle, broken into genuinely different zones: main bar, beer garden, sports-bar corner with TVs, arcade wall, nap-pod / spa wing, quiet seating areas along the windows.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook gates D/E and runways 9 L/R with plenty of ample forward-facing seats for plane spotting.

The beer garden isn’t really what I expected, but it has dark mood lighting, real hanging plants, shuffleboard, and a tap list not found elsewhere in the lounge.

I personally find the food in some of their other lounges to be better. For instance, the burger and the noodles both come out better in Boston. Both came out lukewarm. But it’s still better than anything you’ll find in an Admirals Club or United Club.

The staff seemed generally friendly and helpful. When I wanted back to the relaxation area, they proactively explained their offerings and how to reserve relaxation pods or a facial. As my visit lingered on, though, facial wait times grew. Most won’t find they have the time available to get one.

The shower suites are very nice, and the bathrooms are individual and private like in a Capital One lounge though I had no problem getting access to one.

Finally, here’s the children’s playroom.

The Full Chase Sapphire Lounge Network

Chase has done a good job building out an extensive lounge network quickly in partnership with The Club, the lounges run by Airport Dimensions which shares the same parent company (Collinson) as Priority Pass. They’ve also been willing to do creative partnerships, like renovating the Etihad New York JFK and Washington Dulles lounges and then sharing the lounges with Etihad (Etihad’s passengers get access priority leading up to Etihad’s flights) and also being willing to take too-small spaces like Phoenix which isn’t worth a visit in my opinion.

As a result of the Collinson tie-in, Priority Pass cards are accepted here for one visit per year. If you have a card from an issuer other than Chase, you can visit one Sapphire lounge free each year (per Priority Pass card that offers free visits). If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve you get unlimited visits.

Airport	Size (sq ft)	Opened	Key notes
New York–LaGuardia (LGA)	21,800	Jan 2024	Two-story design; Reserve Suites; Face Haus spa; arcade; broad a-la-carte & buffet program
Boston Logan (BOS)	11,500	May 2023	Tap-room with local beer; massage chairs; showers; kids’ playroom
New York–JFK (JFK)	7,600	Jan 2024	Shared Etihad space; full cocktail & dining menu; showers
Washington Dulles (IAD)	5,200	Mar 2024	Shared Etihad space; compact but full service offering
Philadelphia (PHL)	20,000	Feb 2025	Beer-garden zone, shuffleboard, retro arcade, rest pods, Face Haus facials
San Diego (SAN)	10,000	Dec 2024	Wellness area with private pods & meditation; full F&B
Phoenix (PHX)	3,500	Nov 2024	Small and overrun, limited amenities
Hong Kong (HKG)	12,000	Oct 2022	Extensive buffet + small menu

Known lounge pipeline:

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): ~ 18,000 sq ft in terminal D
  
• Las Vegas (LAS): ~ 4,500 sq ft in terminal C
  
• Los Angeles (LAX): ~9,200 sq ft in the Tom Bradley International Terminal

Access Rules For Chase Sapphire Lounges

Chase lounges in the United States are available as follows:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve, J.P. Morgan Reserve, and Ritz-Carlton Visa cardholders (including authorized users) plus two complimentary guests, with additional guests charged $27 each.

• Priority Pass cardholders from other sources, allowed 1 free visit per calendar year to a Chase lounge and with no free guests. Each additional visit or guest is $75. (The Hong Kong lounge is different. Access is available for Priority Pass customers without the once visit per year restriction.)

• $100 at the door without Priority Pass.

At check-in you have to present a same day boarding pass within 3 hours of scheduled departure.

When the lounge hits capacity you’ll be placed on a digital wait list. Eligible Chase cardmembers receive higher priority on the wait list. I do not know whether there is differentiated priority within the portfolio of Chase cards that offer access (that is, for instance, whether a J.P. Morgan Reserve cardmember has priority over a Sapphire Reserve cardmember). You can join the wait lis via QR code and you’ll get a text when it’s your turn to enter.

At the outset, staff were scanning Priority Pass cards and not accepting Sapphire cards as proof of access eligibility. Now they seem to ask for the credit card, but you can show your Priority Pass.