This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
It’s time to answer a question many award travelers ask. Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offer lounge access? As one of the best Chase travel cards with benefits, it’s easy to think you get free Chase Sapphire Preferred lounge access to at least one lounge network.
Do You Get Chase Sapphire Preferred Lounge Access?
The short answer is…no. You don’t get airport lounge access with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. But there are plenty of other Chase Sapphire Preferred perks that let you save on travel. Plus, you have other options to get complimentary airport lounge access.
Unfortunately, there isn’t discounted access to any lounge networks or one-time passes for every card renewal. But, to be fair, most travel credit cards with a similar $95 annual fee don’t offer lounge access.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Benefits
Although you don’t get lounge access, you can enjoy these travel benefits:
- 25% redemption bonus when booking travel through Chase
- 1:1 point transfers to Chase travel partners including major airlines and hotels
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 per trip)
- Primary rental car collision damage waiver
Chase Sapphire Preferred Signup Bonus
New Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Member FDIC
Here’s our our expert post on what credit score is needed for approval on the Sapphire Preferred, the Preferred card really isn’t a hard card to get as long as you meet the income criteria, and Chase requirements.
You will need to take advantage of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® perks (the other Chase Sapphire product—more on that below) to get free airport lounge access. Bear in mind the Reserve has a $550 annual fee.
Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Also, enjoy Chase Sapphire benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Earning points on dining also makes this one of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining.
Lounge access isn’t a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card travel benefit. However, not having this benefit means the annual fee is only $95 a year. The flexible redemption options and trip protections can still be well worth the annual fee.
Chase Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access
These Chase credit cards offer airport lounge access. You will quickly see that the best premium credit cards offer better benefits than cards with lower fees.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the only Sapphire product that offers airport lounge access. You get unlimited Priority Pass Select membership to over 1,300 lounge locations worldwide.
Here are the current details for who gets lounge access with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®:
- Primary and authorized users have free access
- Each user can bring two additional guests for free
- Every extra guest (after the first 2) costs $27 per person per visit
A similar plan costs $429 a year without the Sapphire Reserve. In that plan, you pay $32 for each guest. One free lounge visit plus the $300 travel credit more than pays your $550 annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve each year.
In addition to lounge access, you also get these travel benefits:
- $300 annual travel credit
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- 50% travel redemption bonus when booking award travel through Chase
- 1:1 point transfers to Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners
Plus, earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Both Chase Sapphire cards are some of the best Chase credit cards.
Signup Bonus
New Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
If you are a frequent flyer, going for the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead of the Sapphire Preferred can be worth it. Compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve review for more info.
United Explorer Card
There really isn’t a better personal Chase travel card, but if you fly United and your credit card annual fee budget is in the $95 range ($0 for the first year), check out the United℠ Explorer Card, one of the best United credit cards. You get 2 one-time United Club lounge access passes annually for your account anniversary. Although this benefit seems lackluster in comparison to the Sapphire Reserve, it’s still one of the few credit cards offering some type of free airport lounge access.
Despite only being able to access the United Club lounge twice a year for free, you do get other United Airlines travel benefits:
- Free first checked bag for you when you use your card to purchase your ticket
- Priority boarding on United-operated flights
- Premier upgrades on United-operated flights (when available)
- 25% back on United® inflight purchases
You will also appreciate the NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, up to $100. Unlike many airline credit cards, the Explorer Card earns bonus points on select non-United purchases. You earn 2x miles on United® purchases, hotel nights booked directly through the hotel, and dining (including eligible delivery services). Everything else earns 1x mile per $1 spent.
Signup Bonus
The ongoing $95 annual fee is also $0 for the first year. Since both cards have similar annual fees, you may want to check this Chase Sapphire Preferred vs United Explorer Card comparison post.
New United℠ Explorer Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Plus, there’s a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Summary of Does Chase Sapphire Preferred Have Lounge Access
Unfortunately, you won’t get lounge access of any kind by owning the Chase Sapphire Preferred. But, you can get free Priority Pass lounge access with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This way, you can find a lounge regardless of which airline you fly. Plus, you’ll still earn Chase Ultimate Rewards on every card purchase.
Related Articles:
