News

Chase's splashy Sapphire Lounge is opening in Boston — here's a first look

David SlotnickContributing aviation editor
David Slotnick is TPG's contributing aviation editor. He covers the ins and outs of the airline industry.

May 11, 2023 • 9 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Quick summary

A new premium airport lounge has opened at Boston Logan International Airport, offering complimentary food, drinks and wellness amenities.
The lounge is accessible to select premium cardholders who have activated and present their lounge network membership card, not just their payment card.
Priority Pass members without the premium card can access one location free per year, with a fee for additional visits.
The lounge features locally inspired dining, a craft beer bar, wellness rooms and family facilities, aiming to rival other top-tier airport lounges.

What to consider

Access requires both an eligible premium card and an activated lounge network membership card; showing only the payment card is insufficient.
Priority Pass members without the premium card receive one complimentary visit annually, with a fee for subsequent visits within a 12-month period.
The lounge is conveniently located between Terminals B and C, with airside access from Terminal E for international travelers.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed walkthrough of the lounge's amenities, dining options and how it compares to other premium airport lounges.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

No reservations needed, just a Reserve.

Chase on Thursday announced the opening of its first new Sapphire Lounge in the U.S., cutting the ribbon on a luxurious new layaway at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

The new lounge (officially "The Boston Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club") opens to the public on Tuesday, May 16. TPG was among a few media outlets to get a first look this week.

In the airside Terminal B to C connector, sitting between gates B39 and B40, the lounge is easy to get to for anyone flying out of either terminal. American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Air Canada all operate out of Terminal B. JetBlue Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Aer Lingus and Cape Air fly from Terminal C. There's also an airside passageway from Terminal E, from which most international flights depart and arrive, so those passengers can also access the lounge.

Chase branded the new club as the "Chase Sapphire Lounge," but the lounge is only available to holders of the more premium Sapphire Reserve. Chase Sapphire Preferred members won't have access. Reserve cardholders will have to activate their included Priority Pass membership in order to gain access (which they should do anyway to access 1,300 lounges around the globe). They must also show their Priority Pass card — simply showing a Reserve card won't be enough to get in.

How to get in: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Interestingly, Priority Pass members who don't have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card — including those with memberships through a premium American Express card — will be allowed to access one Sapphire Lounge by The Club location for free each year. Priority Pass members will be charged a to-be-announced fee for subsequent visits within the following 12 months.

The reasoning for that may come from the fact that the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is actually maintained by Airport Dimensions. This major lounge operator manages Priority Pass-accessible lounges around the world, including "The Club" lounges. Collinson Group owns both Airport Dimensions and Priority Pass; this firm provides a variety of travel services related to lounges and the broader airport experience, loyalty programs, travel assistance, commerce, insurance and more.

After a quick elevator ride up to the lounge from the main terminal and a swipe of your eligible card, everything in the sprawling space (the lounge is 11,640 square feet) is complimentary.

The lounge has a few different segmented areas but manages to be light-filled and spacious. The main parts of the lounge overlook the airfield, giving way to some excellent planespotting throughout the day.

A right turn from the reception desks brings visitors to the main dining room. There's a self-service buffet area, and each table has a QR code that lets passengers order complimentary selections from an a la carte menu.

The dining options are broad, featuring bites off the Chase Sapphire Lounge network's "global" menu, available at all locations. There are also locally inspired dishes — chicken croquettes, roasted Brussels sprouts and, of course, clam chowder were on display during TPG's tour — and dishes designed by a local restauranteur.

For the Boston lounge, Chase partnered with James Beard-nominated chef Douglass Williams, the chef and owner of local restaurants MIDA and APIZZA.

Dishes from the chef on display during the tour included a vegetable lasagna, gazpacho and a whipped lemon-mascarpone parfait.

Rounding out the dining area is a large coffee station with regular filter drip coffee, espresso-based options and self-serve soft drinks.

If you're not particularly hungry, you can make a left from the reception desk (or once you're finished eating, you can walk back past reception) to find the bar. It features a smattering of tables on either side, plus barstools.

The full-service bar has beer, wine and liquor available, along with several locally inspired and signature cocktails. TPG sampled the Viaggiare off the signature menu, a bourbon-based drink that seemed vaguely based on the Paper Plane but with Darjeeling tea syrup instead of the classic's Aperol. This proved to be an effective and tasty swap that made for a drink that was at once familiar and novel.

Chase Sapphire Boston lounge — DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY

Across from the main bar, Chase and Airport Dimensions designed a unique tavern with a local craft beer bar. The taproom features four local brews on draft, and while that idea may seem familiar if you've ever visited the beer bar at Denver's Centurion Lounge, the similarities end there.

With more of a wood-paneled local regular feel, the tavern features Boston memorabilia on display and years engraved around the wall denoting important dates in Boston history. Some of these include the arrival of the first Puritans in 1630, the founding of the Red Sox and Bruins, and the election of the city's first woman mayor in 2021.

The tables at both bars will also feature a unique QR code allowing visitors to order food from the a la carte menu.

Boston Chase Sapphire Lounge seating area — DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY

Past the bars around the corner of the lounge, more seating areas offer space for those skipping the main dining scene, along with another coffee and soft drinks station.

At the end of main hall, as you round the corner, there's a small family area with toys and kid-size furniture.

Boston Chase Sapphire Lounge massage chair — DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY

Next to the family room, guests can speak with an attendant to set up a time to use one of the lounge's wellness rooms. Massive massage chairs, comfortable loungers for those hoping to take a quick power nap and guided meditation exercises designed by wellness influencer Devi Brown are available.

A private nursing room, two shower suites and restrooms round out the lounge's amenities.

The lounge is a thoughtful and well-designed space, adorned with art from local artist Silvia López Chavez and others. It's filled with amenities that rival what American Express offers with its Centurion Lounges.

The food and drinks TPG sampled were all top-notch. However, the key will be seeing how the food and service hold up once the lounge is open to the public and fully operational.

Nevertheless, it’s the best lounge option easily accessible to JetBlue passengers at Logan. Their other options are the small "The Lounge" location or the Air France lounge in the international terminal. That lounge, which is open to Priority Pass members, can be used by JetBlue passengers, but it involves a prohibitively inconvenient hike from the airline’s gates that would likely deter most passengers.

The new Boston Chase Sapphire Lounge and the Sapphire Lounge that Chase opened in Hong Kong last year are just the beginning. Chase has announced that Sapphire Lounges are in the pipeline for Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN).

Meanwhile, more announcements are likely, the managing director of the Sapphire lounges and head of Chase Sapphire partnerships Dana Pouwels hinted.

"We're evaluating opportunities on an individual basis and we have the aspiration to grow this network and drive a really great product," Pouwels said. "How we think about it is, 'Where do our Sapphire Reserve customers live and travel to, and through?' so that's really driving the locations that we're looking at."

With the Sapphire Lounges opening and quickly rising to rival the quality offered by Amex Centurion Lounges, the value proposition of the Chase Sapphire Preferred versus the Chase Sapphire Reserve may change for many cardholders. Not to mention, the Chase Sapphire Reserve versus Platinum Card by American Express debate has a whole new dimension.

Related reading:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.