For years, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has granted us access to the vast network of Priority Pass lounges around the globe. While some of them are no doubt more lavish than others, in almost all cases, having somewhere to pop in for a bite to eat and to charge our phones is a welcome respite from the madness of the main terminal. While these lounges alone have proven beneficial, we were more excited than ever last year when the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston opened. This marked the first of the Chase branded lounges in the US that are primarily aimed at serving holders of the Chase cards. We had been looking forward to visiting since its inception and are happy to be able to now share a first-hand review.
Gaining Access to the Lounge
There are several ways to gain entry into the Sapphire Lounge in Boston. The first, is by holding the Sapphire Reserve, J.P. Morgan Reserve or the Ritz-Carlton credit cards. By holding one of these cards you are granted unlimited access to the lounge. You will, however, also need to activate the Priority Pass membership that comes as one of your card benefits. Cardmembers are permitted to bring two guests per Priority Pass membership.
If you have Priority Pass access through another credit card, like American Express or Capital One, you will still be able to enter the Sapphire Lounge network one (1) time during the calendar year. There may be some variance between the lounge locations, so it is best to check the lounge listings on the Priority Pass website prior to your visit.
Atmosphere of the Chase Lounge Sapphire Lounge
With all of the media hype that surrounded the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston, we anticipated it to be at full capacity. Loud and crowded, possibly with long wait times to enter, be served at the bar, and even to find seating. However, what we found was a cool, quiet, relaxing space with ample seating, charging stations and staff at the ready.
The check-in process was very easy. We had to show our boarding pass and priority pass card and then were given the green light to explore. As we entered, we breezed through the entire place, taking in the array of different seating. Some plush for lounging and others more suited for getting work done. We poked our head into the taproom area, featuring a selection of beers on draft and did a circle of the main food station before finally settling into some stools against large windows – where if it weren’t for the planes lurking beyond, we easily could’ve forgotten we were in an airport.
The lounge boasts a large footprint, allowing the seats and different food and beverage stations to be generously spread out. Depending on the day and time of your flight, the lounge could fluctuate in how crowded it becomes, but for a Saturday evening flight, we were surprised at the calm atmosphere.
The Good, The Bland and The Bubbly
Forget standing in line, hawking over big vats of mass-produced offerings. The food on display at the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston provides more to marvel at.
For starters, upon entering the lounge, we turned right to find the “food hall” of sorts. Different stations set up for desserts and small savory bites. Individual servings already portioned out and lined up on white, round plates ready to be grabbed. Unlike during the height of the Covid era, the individual portions were not wrapped in plastic for safety. Rather, they were divvied up in a way that made for a pleasant presentation and ease of grab-n-go.
Bites
For most Priority Pass lounges, that level of offering is where the food ends. However, in the Chase Sapphire Lounge, the service takes it up a notch. Once we settled into our seats, we were able to use our phones to scan a QR code (located by each seat). This pulled up a menu with items that we could order and have delivered right to us by the staff. Aside from the items that we could grab ourselves, there were other items that were made to order. Local Bostonian chef, Douglass Williams is responsible for creating several of the items featured on the menu.
Matt and I sampled a few of the items during our visit including the Sapphire Burger and fries and the Dandan Noodles. Both of these were a tasty and satisfying nosh. We also tried the sticky Korean BBQ chicken which left us warring for the last bite. The one item we did not care for and found to be bland and disappointing was the Seafood Bouillabaisse. Full of seafood but devoid of flavor. I only wish I saved room for dessert. But after a day of sampling cannolis on our long Boston layover, more sweets were out of the question.
Sips
Some of the reviews we read prior to our visit mentioned that the taproom was not yet operational. We did not find that to be the case. During our visit in early Feb 2024, it was in full-swing with several guests enjoying local brews.
We, however, opted to order from the main bar. Matt stuck with a Peroni while I sampled two of the artisanal cocktails. Both were well-balanced, not overly boozy. And finally, before boarding a glass of bubbles. A must-have before any flight. Overall, we were impressed with the selection of beverages offered and with how quickly they arrived when ordered. Before we waved goodbye to the lounge, we also made sure to grab a beverage for our flight from the self-serve fridges stocked with non-alcoholic beverages, including Spindrift sparkling water and Olipop!
Final Thoughts on the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston
The hype surrounding this new lounge was well-deserved! Finally, holders of the Chase cards now have a lounge comparable to that of the American Express Centurion Lounges. Before our visit to this lounge in Boston, the only other Priority Pass lounge in the US that was even slightly comparable, was the Turkish Lounge in IAD. We sampled that one while waiting on our flight to Portugal. But this one definitely reigned supreme with its top-notch service, cozy vibes, and selection of nibbles and booze.
Our only regret is that we don’t have one of these Sapphire Lounges located in our home airport to utilize more often! We may or may not have flown to Boston for the day, with the main purpose being to check out this lounge. And if the points to fly there again are tempting enough, we may be incentivized to do it all over again. The world may never know!
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has proven to be an excellent investment despite its high annual fee. We recoup the expenses in the form of the associated travel credits and lounges. With these new domestic Chase branded lounges now available to us, the card has become even more valuable! Open yours today and maybe we’ll see you on the road.
Cheers friends,
Megan & Matt
Comments
Cheers!