On August 15, 2026, Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club officially kick Priority Pass and LoungeKey to the curb. No more once-a-year complimentary visit for random Priority Pass holders, no more $75 add-on fees when space allows. If you want in after that date, you'll need a qualifying premium Chase card in your wallet or shell out $100 for a day pass—assuming they let you in at all.
The affected lounges span nine current U.S. locations: Boston Logan (BOS, Terminal B near B40), Las Vegas (LAS, Terminal 1 Concourse C), New York JFK (Terminal 4), LaGuardia (LGA, Terminal B), Philadelphia (PHL, D/E connector), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX, Terminal 4 South Concourse near D11-D18), San Diego (SAN, Terminal 2), Washington Dulles (IAD, Etihad Lounge in Concourse A), and the brand-new Dallas Fort Worth (DFW, Terminal D near D25, opened July 2026). Los Angeles (LAX) is still coming soon in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.[[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-airport-lounge/)[[2]](https://www.chase.com/sapphire-cards/lounges)
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders (along with Sapphire Reserve for Business primary holders, J.P. Morgan Reserve, and Ritz-Carlton Credit Card holders) keep unlimited visits. The real win: starting August 15, you can now enter up to five hours before your connecting flight on same-day itineraries. Originating or nonstop flights stay at the three-hour window. That's a meaningful upgrade for those 4- to 6-hour layovers in hubs like DFW or JFK where you actually want to linger.[[3]](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/chase-lounge-cuts-priority-pass)[[4]](https://thepointsguy.com/news/chase-sapphire-lounge-access-changing-no-priority-pass/)
Guest policy remains generous: up to two guests per visit for CSR holders, with kids under 2 free. Some locations like PHX require reservations via the Chase app (book 14 days to 24 hours in advance), while others operate first-come, first-served with potential waitlists during peak times. Sapphire Preferred cardholders? They get nothing here—never did for Sapphire Lounges—and still won't. Their Priority Pass Select membership continues for the rest of the network, but these specific spots are now off-limits.[[5]](https://thepointsparty.com/articles/chase-sapphire-lounge-access-rules-change-2026)[[2]](https://www.chase.com/sapphire-cards/lounges)
The CSR vs. Amex Platinum Reality Check
Frequent business flyers love pitting the Chase Sapphire Reserve against the Amex Platinum. Post-August 15, CSR wins on quality in its own houses: unlimited access with two guests (no spend threshold nonsense), better food in several spots (Momofuku at LAS, serious cocktails, showers, and actual quiet areas), and now that extended layover window that matches Amex's Centurion policy.
But Amex Platinum still crushes on quantity—1,550+ lounges globally via the Global Lounge Collection, including every Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Clubs (with limits when flying Delta), Plaza Premium, Escape Lounges, and Priority Pass. CSR gives you the nine Sapphire spots, 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges elsewhere, and a handful of Air Canada Maple Leaf locations. If your routes hit BOS, DFW, LAS, or JFK often, the Sapphire network feels premium and less crowded. Everywhere else, Amex has you covered.[[6]](https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-sapphire-reserve-lounge-access/)[[7]](https://roamingcactus.com/credit-cards/amex-plat-vs-csr-vs-venture-x-2026)
Chase's move makes sense. These lounges were getting overrun. The food, design, and vibe were built for cardholders who pay the $795 annual fee (offset by that $300 travel credit and other perks), not every Priority Pass tourist treating it like a free buffet. Crowds were killing the experience. Now it's protected—more like a private club than an airport food court with better lighting.
Opinion: If you fly through these hubs more than a handful of times a year, the Sapphire Reserve is the clear play. The extended layover access alone turns a miserable connection into productive (or boozy) time. Preferred holders should upgrade before their next trip through DFW or PHX, or accept that they'll be stuck in the terminal with the rest of the mortals. Amex Platinum pairs beautifully with it for maximum coverage, but don't kid yourself that one card solves every airport.
Action item: Check your upcoming itinerary for any of the nine Sapphire Lounge airports between now and mid-August. Use any remaining Priority Pass visit before the 15th, then decide—upgrade to or keep the Sapphire Reserve if these hubs are your playground, or lean harder into Amex for broader but sometimes more chaotic access. Your wallet (and layover sanity) will thank you.
