Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Chase is the latest US bank to begin offering its own branded lounges, following in the footsteps of Capital One and American Express Centurion Lounges. There are currently only Sapphire Lounges in Boston (BOS), Hong Kong (HKG), and two of the three New York City Airports (LGA & JFK). 

While I haven’t visited a Capital One lounge yet, I think Sapphire Lounges are leading the pack, and I’ll tell you why below after my visit to the new Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York’s LaGuardia airport.

Accessing the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is unique amongst the other bank competitors as you don’t need a Chase card to get in. 

The most obvious way to enter the lounge is to hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve card as Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers receive unlimited lounge access for themselves and up to two guests. The card does have a high annual fee, so this method of entry might only be worth it if you travel often and reside in a city that has a Sapphire lounge.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium credit card that offers a number of benefits including complimentary Chase Sapphire Lounge access for the cardholder and up to two additional guests.

BONUS
60,000 Ultimate Rewards

MINSPEND
$4,000

NET VALUE
$470+

ANNUAL FEE
$550

FOREX FEES
No

EXPIRY
–

On the other hand, most Priority Pass memberships will allow one visit to one Sapphire Lounge each year. If you access the Sapphire Lounge at LGA with Priority Pass membership, you won’t be able to visit any other Sapphire lounges until the following calendar year. That being said, if you have two or three Priority Pass memberships included with credit cards, you can visit once per membership. 

Since Priority Pass access is only once per year, I would only visit this lounge if you have ample time to spare before your flight or if you don’t see yourself in Boston, Hong Kong, or NYC again that calendar year. Notably, the one-time visit does not include guests, but you can pay for a guest at $70 USD per visit. While the Sapphire Lounge at LGA is nice, it’s not $70 USD per person nice. 

My wife and I accessed this lounge through Priority Pass on my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) and her American Express Platinum card (US).

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American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (US)

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) offers cardholders complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, an annual $300 restaurant credit, an annual free night, 25 elite qualifying night credits annually, and Priority Pass Select membership.

Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) review for more details.

BONUS
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy

MINSPEND
$6,000

NET VALUE
$205+

ANNUAL FEE
$650

FOREX FEES
No

EXPIRY
–

The lounge entrance is easy to spot as you walk towards Gate 41-59, but the lounge is deep within the airport and has no windows.

A long hallway leads to a set of elevators, which you’ll take to level one.

Turn right when you leave the elevator and walk down a long hall until you see these sliding glass doors.

Once inside, you check in with the very knowledgeable staff, who are on top of the access rules and invite you to try all the services they offer, such as the spa.

Seating

The lounge has no windows, so the decor is focused on lots of greenery. Pretty much everywhere you look, there’s a plant nearby. It does wonders for the space, as you hardly notice the lack of natural light.

On the topic of greenery, the most extensive decoration is an eye-catching sculpture of a tree that extends through both levels. It’s next to the central bar, and the rest of the lounge branches off from there. The team designing this space did a top job with what is usually a lackluster lounge location, the basement.

We found a corner of the lounge near a snack bar, but that doesn’t matter too much as table service is offered throughout the lounge. This area of the lounge is high-traffic, as the spa, bathroom, and children’s room are around the corner.

If you walk through a set of black curtains in the children’s room, you’ll find one of my favorite features: an Arcade!

It’s complete with a jukebox, pinball machine, and shuffleboard! All the record sleeves behind the shuffleboard table have vinyl inside, which is daring on Chase’s part but super cool.

You might miss it on your way into the arcade, but a makeshift photo booth is at the entrance. After you take your picture, you can send it to your email address.

On the way to the bathrooms, you’ll find the departure board next to the children’s room. I didn’t see many others throughout the lounge, partly why I chose this rather noisy seat.

Similar to the Air Canada Cafe at Billy Bishop, the circular bar is beautiful and the main focal point of the lounge. If traveling alone, this would be my seat of choice, as every seat is equipped with outlets.

Before you head upstairs, there is a workspace with a long table and the phone rooms next to the bar.

Exiting this room, you’re met with the grand staircase to the upper level. It kind of looks like a mini Qatar Airways lounge has been dropped into New York City!

The upper level of the lounge is quite small but quieter, as the only self-service offerings here are tea and coffee rather than a buffet. Personally, I think the purple chairs are meant to keep us Qatar Airways Qsuite lovers feeling at home!

At the “back” of the upper level are the private Reserve Suites, a lounge within a lounge of sorts, where you can pay extra for premium services. This can include caviar service, custom-ordered meals, and space for up to 15 guests in private rooms. Prices are north of $2,000 USD for 3 hours, so it’s not something most travelers will experience.

Next to the Reserve Suites entrance is the upstairs refreshment bar, which features art from the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection.

Heading down the stairs, you will see more greenery and an equally beautiful view.

The main seating area for quick-service dining comprises square and circular tables. If you’re not looking for a drink from the bar, another coffee and tea station is nearby.

Food & Beverage

The food and beverage at this lounge are excellent—even better than the Centurion Lounge Seattle, which I previously named the best airport lounge food. Chase has partnered with the NYC West Village staple Joseph Leonard for catering, and it is a home run.

The full menu is available via QR codes on every table, and by inputting your table number, food will be delivered directly to you.

As I knew I would only visit this lounge a handful of times, we arrived precisely 3 hours before departure. My maximization efforts paid off, as we enjoyed breakfast service and a light lunch. 

For breakfast, we tried the Breakfast Bao and Shredded Brusselsprout Hash. Both were fantastic and a little while later, I added a cheeky espresso martini. Unlike the Centurion Lounge Denver, the bartender could fashion one without asking me to bring them a fresh espresso from the coffee bar.

For lunch, we explored the options served at the buffet, which was smartly designed into a wall rather than taking up seating space in the middle.

The presentation of food was incredible for a buffet. I also love the concept of single-serve plates rather than slopping food onto one large plate, like in a school cafeteria. Excellent job, Chase!

My wife and I shared a bowl of Sapphire Noodles as a final dish, which gave major ANA Lounge vibes. If one bank lounge can remind me of two of my favorite airlines, I think it deserves Instant Classic status!

The coffee and tea bars around the lounge are well equipped with four choices of milk, Joe Coffee NYC beans, Harney & Sons Tea, diverse soda options, and on-tap spa water, cold brew, and kombucha. It was a sight to behold. American Express, you have met your match!

Bathroom & Spa

Before arriving at the Sapphire Lounge, I was unaware they offered complimentary 20-minute facials, and I must say they are a wonderful indulgence. The check-in staff escorted us to the Spa area, which is beside the bathrooms, and we exchanged information with the dedicated spa staff. 

Appointments are on a first-come-first-serve basis, so I recommend heading straight to Spa reception when you arrive. After giving our flight details, we were slotted into the schedule and returned to the spa 5 minutes before our appointments. There’s a small digital form to fill out before your appointment, and the staff will seat you in this well-designed waiting room before escorting you to the private treatment rooms.

The aestheticians working in the lounge are licensed and assess your skin before deciding on a treatment type. Air France Business Class passengers can indulge in a similar service with Clarins, but I think the Chase experience was more comprehensive.

The bathrooms are beautiful and feature fully closing doors on stalls. Compared to the public bathrooms in the terminal, these are heavenly.

Conclusion

The Chase Sapphire Lounge at LGA is potentially the best airport lounge in the USA accessible with credit cards. I never saw much value in the Chase Sapphire Reserve card versus the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but now that the Reserve has access to these lounges, I might change my mind. 

If you don’t have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll want to plan your visit to a Sapphire Lounge to maximize your 3-hour window. They truly are that good and a one-of-a-kind standard amongst North American lounges.