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Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card has some of the best benefits of any credit card on the market. While you probably know about the airport lounge access and the annual travel credit, one of the biggest benefits is not talked about nearly enough: Chase consistently hosts cardholders at member lounges at major events around the world. I have visited several of these lounges and can confidently say that Chase sets the gold standard for these member experiences. In fact, they’re a big part of why keeping the card is a no-brainer year after year.
What makes Chase lounges special
Chase sets up lounges at major events to provide an elevated experience to cardholders. These lounges often provide visitors with complimentary food and drink and sometimes even some swag to take home. Chase takes it one step further at certain events by offering visitors the chance to meet famous athletes and celebrities.
I have utilized Chase lounges at the PGA Championship, US Open, and Olympic Games. Most recently, I visited the Chase Reserve Lounge located on the Seine at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and had a great experience. If lounges were an Olympic event, Chase would have earned a gold medal.
A taste of the Paris Olympics lounge
The lounge ran for the duration of the Olympics (July 27th until August 11th) and was open daily from 11am until midnight. Visitors only needed to show their Chase Sapphire Reserve card to access the lounge, as reservations were not needed. Each cardholder was welcome to bring one guest.
Lounge highlights
Immediately upon entering The Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve, I was handed two tokens, one for an alcoholic beverage and one for a free gift. Across my several trips to the lounge, I experienced the three decks, each with its own bar, signature cocktails, champagne toasts everytime a US athlete won a gold medal, passed hors d'oeuvres, and tasty snacks. The Lounge was centrally located along the Seine in Paris, making it the ideal pit stop for a quick recharge.
One of my favorite aspects of the Lounge was that I was able to easily watch US olympians on one of the many TVs. During my time in France, it was not always easy to find events featuring US athletes on TV, making the lounge a fun gathering spot for fans of Team USA.
The top floor of the Lounge was my favorite area. Between the open air configuration, stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, and the ice cream trolley, I felt right at home. The terrace deck was a superb area to cheer on Team USA, enjoy a few signature cocktails, and meet other cardmembers.
Additional Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder benefits at the Paris Olympics
Courtesy of Visa, visitors had the opportunity to reserve a spot to meet-and-greet with Olympic legends. Athletes included Michael Phelps, Tony Parker, Aly Raisman, Allyson Felix, and Sue Bird.
One of my favorite Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits was the ability to make a lunch reservation at Girafe, an iconic Paris restaurant, that featured a special menu curated by Chef Ignacio Mattos and Chef Charles Ducrocq. The a la carte selections featured a collaboration of Mattos’ seasonally inspired menu derived from Estela, a modern American restaurant in New York, and perennial favorites from Girafe’s fresh seafood-oriented menu, prepared by Chef Charles Ducrocq. The yellowtail sashimi with warm sesame oil and ponzu sauce, cured tuna with black pil-pil and ponzu, linguine with tomatoes and basil, and chocolate cake with whipped cream were delicious, but even more incredible than the delicious food was the view from the outdoor seating - prime unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower.
US Open Chase Lounge 2024
The US Open Tennis Championships kicking off on August 26th and running through September 8th in Flushing, New York brings together the world’s best Tennis players. Chase once again is hosting two lounge areas for cardholders: The Chase Lounge is located inside the Chase Center immediately after the East Gate entrance of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and the Chase Terrace is located at the Grandstand offering views of Courts 8-10. To access the US Open Chase lounges, a visitor needs only show any Chase credit card, meaning even no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® will get you in.
I have attended the US Open the last few years and I always enjoy popping by the Chase Lounge and Chase Terrace. I love visiting the Chase Terrace and grabbing a drink to cool down and a seat that is way more comfortable than the bleachers found throughout the tennis center. I have reapplied sunscreen and charged my phone at the Chase Terrace, both critical components of a successful US Open experience. If you are visiting the US Open, I highly recommend checking out the Chase Lounge and the Chase Terrace to make the most of your US Open experience.
Chase Lounge
The Chase Lounge offers visitors a respite from the heat with AC, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, a private cash bar, free hats, custom embroidery, a complimentary happy hour, and live ESPN broadcast moments. Reservations are required and must be made online (while all reservations are currently taken, you can add yourself to a waitlist).
Chase Terrace
The Chase terrace, an outdoor area with shady areas, presents visitors with the ability to watch tennis on courts 8-10, seating, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, a private cash bar, and more. The Chase Terrace is a first come, first served area and at times the line can get quite long, so plan accoridngly.
Additional Chase benefits at the US Open and at Pier 17 in Manhattan
US Open visitors with Chase credit cards will be able to rent complimentary mobile chargers so you can keep your phone and devices charged throughout the day. Cardholders can also visit the South Plaza Booths that will feature “ATMs” distributing co-branded giveaways and an immersive photo moment. And at the Seaport Sapphire Lounge, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Reserve cardholders will have access to bookable court times each day via Ultimate Rewards.
Past Chase Lounge experiences
To give you an idea of what you can expect, here’s a rundown of some Chase events held over the past few months.
Live Nation Events 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers have access to purchase premium experiences and ticket packages to Live Nation music festivals, such as Boston Calling, Roots Picnic, Lollapalooza and Ocean’s Calling. Some of these events even have a lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders offering benefits such as complimentary all-day snacks, a hydration station, daily Happy Hours with one complimentary drink and more.
Race Week Miami 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who attended Race Week had access to a Chase Lounge that offered visitors access to exclusive experiences throughout the weekend and the ability to purchase tickets to events through the Ultimate Rewards platform.
PGA 2024
The Sapphire Reserve Lounge on the Valhalla Golf Club grounds during the PGA Championship offered cardholders fresh coffee every morning, a cash bar with specialty beverages and signature cocktails from liquor partners, an exclusive premium seating bar with an exclusive patio bar, complimentary beer and wine for premium seating section and elevated bites by local fare.
Sundance 2024
Chase Sapphire was a presenting sponsor of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah for the 14th year. The Chase Sapphire on Main house served as a base of operations for Reserve cardmembers and a guest visiting Park City during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Pro tip: Some perks I’ve gotten from my Sapphire Reserve were ones I never expected, like access to a Sapphire Reserve lounge at the F1 race in Miami with passed apps and a full bar and at EEEEEATS CON Miami a special lounge area with oysters and cocktails. Adam Frankel: Fortune contributor
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmember value
I appreciate these lounges and see how visiting a Chase Lounge can elevate any event experience. Between my personal experiences visiting Chase lounges at the PGA Championship, US Open, and Olympics, I can’t see myself taking the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card out of my wallet anytime soon.
If you are flying to/from New York, don’t forget to check out the Chase lounges: JFK’s Sapphire Lounge by The Club with Etihad Airways and LaGuardia’s Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club.
The takeaway
Chase continues to put cardmember experiences first, as articulated in this quote from Jason Wynn, the Head of Chase Travel: “Our cardmembers are always looking for unique and special touches to feel like VIPs when they travel and the Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve is the perfect embodiment of how we provide this. To be in Paris and have access to an oasis on the Seine with complimentary bites, comfortable seating to catch live events on the big screen and a gorgeous view— these are the perfect ingredients to help elevate a cardmember’s travel.”
If you aren’t yet a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, now is a great time to see if any of Chase’s upcoming event perks match up with your schedule.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
