Opening new airport lounges isn't a competition … but if it was, Chase would be winning. Another one is coming soon.
The bank's latest addition, the Sapphire Lounge by The Club at Philadelphia (PHL), is set to open Thursday, February 20. It's Chase's seventh lounge and the third new location in just the past few months, following the recent openings in Phoenix (PHX) and San Diego (SAN).
With many of the same amenities that you'll find in other Sapphire Lounges – think rest pods, shower suites, and spa treatments – this space will look familiar to anyone who's visited a Chase Sapphire Lounge. But then there are some one-of-kind touches that make the lounge unique to Philly: A beer garden with a wide selection of local craft beer and a game room full of retro arcade games and a wall full of TVs for watching the Birds or the Phillies.
Chase also teamed up with Middle Child Clubhouse, a popular local restaurant, to curate a menu that includes Philadelphia-inspired classics like cheesesteak sliders and potato pancakes. Guests can also enjoy locally roasted coffee from Philadelphia’s Elixr Coffee alongside a selection of soft drinks, signature cocktails, and wines selected by Parcelle.
Perhaps most importantly, it's massive: The new 20,000-square-foot lounge has room for 295 guests.
Thrifty Traveler was invited for a sneak peek of the new space before it officially opens. Read on for a firsthand look at this new lounge and everything you need to know about visiting for yourself.
Location & Getting In
You'll find the Philadelphia Sapphire Lounge located in the connector between Terminal D and E. As of Feb. 20, it's open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
If you're flying out of Terminal D, the lounge entrance is located just past the security checkpoint – you really can't miss it. Travelers flying out of other terminals can still access the lounge as the whole airport is connected airside, which means you won't need to exit and reclear security. You can get there on foot or using the airport's complimentary shuttle – just be sure to allow extra time for getting back to your gate!
This location is quite convenient for travelers flying with Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, JetBlue, and Air Canada, as well as low-cost carriers like Spirit, Frontier, and Sun Country.
Getting in is another matter: These lounges are among the most restrictive in the country:
- Chase's top-tier travel rewards credit card – the *chase sapphire reserve* – is practically a must. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get unlimited complimentary access to the Sapphire Lounges – and can also bring up to two guests free of charge.
- The Ritz-Carlton Card is the absolute best card for access, as it allows unlimited guests, but that card is no longer open for applications: You'll have to upgrade from another Chase Marriott card.
- If you have a Priority Pass membership from non-Chase cards like *amex platinum* or the *venture x*, you'll get one free visit to Chase Sapphire Lounges (including U.S. locations) each calendar year – and not each location, but one total. Afterwards, it'll cost $75 per visit with no guest access.
- Everyday travelers can pay $100 for a day pass, space permitting.
Just be warned: No matter how you enter the lounge, you can only get in three hours before your scheduled departure unless you're on a layover.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Chase Sapphire Lounges
Inside the Chase Sapphire Lounge Philadelphia
The new Sapphire Lounge will undoubtedly be the Philadelphia airport's crown jewel … but there is some competition. Amex has its own Centurion Lounge here, and American Airlines is planning to open a new Flagship lounge for business class passengers later this year to complement a handful of Admirals Clubs. Both Delta and United have their own club lounges here, too.
After taking the elevator upstairs and walking into the lounge, I was immediately impressed with the elegant reception area and luxurious furnishings of Chase's newest lounge. This lounge is a huge step above what has previously been available in Philadelphia.
Rather than large open spaces, the lounge is set up like a long corridor with several different seating areas. You'll find the lounge's gold-trimmed bar tucked behind the main reception area.
Flanking the bar on both sides, you'll find additional booth and table seating, as well as more comfortable lounge chairs and couches directly in front of the bar.
Heading down the main corridor to the left, you'll find a library of sorts with a big conference table and huge fireplace. The “fire” is just backlit water vapor, so there's no fear of getting burnt. But it still creates a warm, homey feel. You'll also notice that this space is flooded with natural light and tarmac views – something that's prevalent throughout the entire lounge.
This is where you'll also find two different phone rooms, perfect for those who need to get some work done in solitude or take a phone call in private.
Continuing down the hallway further, you'll come to another room filled with natural light and plenty of comfortable seating.
The center, kidney bean-shaped sofa has plenty of power outlets for anyone needing a charge.
There are also a pair of two-seater booths here that would be great for those looking to get some work done or dine face-to-face with a travel buddy.
Across the hall, you'll find yet another small seating area with benches along both walls and a couple of softer seats scattered throughout the room.
This space also features a children's playroom, complete with books, toys, and additional seating nooks.
At the end of this wing, you'll find the lounge's main bathrooms – men's, women's, and a single gender-neutral stall – as well as the Face Haus spa, rest pods, and a nursing room. I'll come back to these added amenities in a bit.
All the bathrooms were stocked with a variety of toiletries, and as a parent, I was happy to see the gender neutral bathrooms even included family-friendly items like diapers and wipes.
Food & Drinks
Many travelers' favorite perk of lounge access is the complimentary food and drinks – and one of the best features of every Chase lounge is the locally inspired fare.
All of the new Philly lounge's dining options are located to the right of reception after you walk into the lounge. The main dining area has plenty of seating options, all with tarmac views and charging handy.
For this media preview, all the food was served buffet-style. During normal times, however, there will be a mix of buffet options you can grab yourself and other items to order through a QR code from your seat.
The breakfast menu included staples like french toast, biscuits and gravy, and made-to-order omelets, as well as some more adventurous dishes like a deli breakfast burrito and egg and cheese bao. Click below to get a closer look at the menu!
All day items include Chase's signature Sapphire Burger, BBQ beef nachos, and grilled broccolini “caesar,” among many other tasty options. Both menus included several items catered dietary restrictions like vegans, vegetarians, and gluten free.
The lounge's signature dishes are created in collaboration with Middle Child Clubhouse. I tried both the Shopsin club sandwich and grilled broccolini caesar, and both were excellent.
Back at the bar, Chase has several cocktails on the menu. I tried the Philly special, which (allegedly) pays homage to the iconic Super Bowl winning play of the Eagles. The drink is made with local Union Forge vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and tonic water. It was light and refreshing.
Here's a look at the full cocktail list. I'm not sure you can go wrong, no matter your booze of choice.
But the bar isn't the only place to grab a drink. My favorite spot – and one I suspect will be quite popular with other travelers – is the lounge's Oktoberfest-inspired beer garden.
In addition to local craft beer, you can order select food items here, like Philly cheesesteak sliders, potato pancakes, and german pretzels.
Tucked back in the corner there's some additional seating as well as a foosball and shuffleboard table.
This space also features a really cool, Philadelphia-inspired mural by local artist James Burns.
There are also two different, self-serve stations stocked with soft drinks, “spa water,” and coffee on either side of the lounge. The coffee is locally roasted coffee from Philadelphia’s Elixr Coffee and includes cold brew on tap, as well as hot coffee drinks.
Extra Amenities
Another highlight of the lounge is the number of amenities available. The wellness room with rest pods will be a nice escape once the lounge inevitably gets busy. There's also a pair of shower suites, two spa treatment rooms, a nursing room, and even a game room full of vintage arcade games.
Let's start with the funnest amenity: the game room. This space is full of vintage arcade games and a wall of TVs for more modern gaming and watching sports. The room is festively decorated with lockers full of Philadelphia sports apparel.
Fun fact: This is the only lounge in Chase's entire portfolio with TVs – a near-necessity for sports-obsessed Philadelphians.
If you need a moment of zen before your flight, these “rest pods” are just the thing for you. This space is a part of the Face Haus spa area, but the curtained pods are available to all guests, whether or not you're getting a facial.
These aren't full-blown nap rooms by any means, but the soft music and privacy could be a nice way to relax before a flight.
Need to take a shower? There are two shower rooms available, which can be reserved at the spa desk or through the QR code menu.
Want to get a facial before a long flight? There's not one, but two spa treatment room just for that purpose. You can reserve a 30-minute session at the spa desk outside of the wellness room, free of charge.
In total, there are five different treatment options to choose from.
The children's playroom isn't the only family-friendly feature at this lounge. There's also a single nursing room that's available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bottom Line
The new Chase Sapphire Lounge in Philadelphia is a massive upgrade over previous lounge options at the airport. In fact, this might be one of Chase's best lounges in its entire (growing) portfolio … and that's saying something.
The large space with several separate seating areas combined with special amenities will surely make this a popular spot for travelers flying out of (or through) Philadelphia.