Review of the Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK Terminal 4
The exterior of the Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK airport terminal 4. All photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Updated - April 2026
Debbie and I visited the Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK Terminal 4 on a Monday evening before a flight to London. This is our honest review of what we experienced, plus everything you need to know about getting in (the rules have changed a bit since the lounge opened).
Chase built a stunning new lounge from the ground up at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. At New York’s largest airport, John F Kennedy Airport, Chase acquired the long-dormant Etihad Lounge in Terminal 4 and has created an upscale space that is as nice or nicer than the neighboring American Express Centurion Lounge.
| 📍 Location | Terminal 4 mezzanine, above Gate A2 |
| 🕐 Hours | 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily |
| 💳 Main Access | Chase Sapphire Reserve + 2 guests free |
| 🎟️ Priority Pass | 1 free visit per year (non-Chase cards) |
| ⏰ Pre-flight Window | Access within 3 hours of departure |
| ⏳ Typical Wait | 15 to 45 minutes at peak times |
The Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK, located above shops and restaurants.
Getting to the Chase Sapphire Lounge
The Chase Sapphire Lounge is located on the second floor of JFK’s Terminal 4.
After passing through security, make a left and you’ll see the Lounge ahead of you on the right.
The lounge is located directly next to the American Express Centurion Lounge, a visual metaphor for the current head-to-head battle among the premium travel credit cards.
While the signage on the front of the lounge is very clear, many of the signs around the airport show the lounge by its old name - Etihad Lounge.
Keep in mind that your gate may be a bit of a walk from the lounge, so be sure to leave enough time.
Who can access the Chase Sapphire Lounge?
Access here is confusing, so here's the plain version.
Debbie and I get in with our Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Primary cardholders and authorized users can bring up to two guests for free. Additional guests are $27 each. Chase now enrolls you in Priority Pass automatically when you get the card, so you don't need to activate it yourself anymore.
If your Priority Pass comes from a non-Chase card (like a Capital One Venture X or an Amex Business Platinum), you get one complimentary visit to a Chase Sapphire Lounge per calendar year. After that, additional visits are $75 and you can't bring guests.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not include lounge access at all. Only the Sapphire Reserve (personal or business) and the J.P. Morgan Reserve card give you full access. The Ritz-Carlton card also gets you in with two free guests, though that card is no longer open to new applicants.
One detail specific to JFK: because Chase runs this lounge in partnership with Etihad, Etihad Business and First Class passengers can also access it.
You need to be flying out of Terminal 4, and you can only enter within three hours of your scheduled departure. If you have a layover, the three-hour rule doesn't apply.
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We enjoyed these comfortable chairs. While some gates are a long walk from the lounge, that’s our Virgin Airlines flight right outside the window.
The Sapphire Lounge experience
We visited at 5 pm on a Monday before a flight to London and were put on a waiting list. About 30 minutes later, we received a text to come back to the lounge.
The first obvious difference between the Chase Lounge and other lounges is that a staff member seats you. They give you options, if they are available, between different style seats (desk style, comfortable lounge chair, etc).
I really liked having a staff member seat me instead of hunting around for an empty spot. I hope more lounges adopt this method.
You’ll notice a QR code at your table or seat. The QR code will allow you to order food and drinks directly to your seat.
There are two options for food at the Chase Sapphire Lounge: you can order off a menu and have the food delivered to your seat, or you can try the buffet. Each offers different food.
I used the QR code to order shrimp and penne in a zesty tomato sauce, and it was excellent.
I then went to the buffet and filled up a plate. The offerings included Moroccan spiced beef and tomato stew, salmon with lobster sauce, shrimp and pepper risotto, and couscous and pesto salad. Definitely a higher-end buffet.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge takes its drinks seriously. I ordered “Sapphire”, which is vodka, blueberry, goldenberry, lime, ginger, oregano, five-spice powder, bee pollen and pearl dust.
Debbie ordered the “Queen Bee”, which includes Ketel One Vodka, Cointreau, honey, lemon, and orange.
The Sapphire on the left and the Queen Bee on the right.
There is a self-service cafe area offering an espresso bar, drip coffee, and soda, juices, etc. There is also a filtered water tap to fill glasses with water, in addition to cold tea, cold coffee.
So there is no shortage of food or drink options.
While not as unique as the other Chase Sapphire lounges that were built from the ground up, we completely enjoyed our time at the lounge.
The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. It was clear to see the supervisors walking through the lounge, checking to make sure everything was up to their standards. This was a welcome sight and a vast departure from most lounges.
I don’t think we could expect more from an airport lounge, except those catering to first-class passengers.
We can’t wait to go back and also try the other Chase Sapphire Lounges around the country.
What about the wait?
We visited at 5 pm on a Monday and were put on a waitlist for about 30 minutes. We got a text when our spot opened up.
From reading other reviews and chatting with staff, this seems pretty typical. Expect anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes during peak travel times, which at JFK are usually late afternoon and evening when international flights are departing. Early morning visits tend to be quieter.
One tip if you get waitlisted: the Amex Centurion Lounge is literally next door. If you have access to both, try your luck there while you wait.
Chase Sapphire Lounge or Amex Centurion Lounge? How They Compare at JFK
The Chase Sapphire Lounge shares a wall with the Amex Centurion Lounge, so readers often ask us which one is better. Debbie and I have been to both several times, and the honest answer is that they're different experiences, not better or worse. Here's how we'd help you pick.
Size and feel are the biggest differences. The Centurion Lounge is massive. It runs two floors and roughly 15,000 square feet, with two bars, a speakeasy called 1850 tucked behind a hidden door, and a separate family room. The Chase Sapphire Lounge is a fraction of that size. It's one floor, long and narrow, with a centerpiece bar and seating tucked along the windows.
That size difference plays out in how you're treated. At the Chase lounge, staff walk you to your seat and check you in. The smaller footprint means they can keep things under control, which usually means less crowding once you're inside (you may wait to get in, but you're not fighting for a chair). The Centurion Lounge is big enough that you can seat yourself and usually find space without staff help.
Food leans a little differently at each. The Chase lounge combines a buffet with a made-to-order menu you access by QR code at your seat. The food delivered to the table is honestly the best part. The Centurion Lounge has a more traditional restaurant-style buffet with a kitchen led by James Beard-nominated chef Ignacio Mattos, plus barista-made coffee from Irving Farm New York. Both serve free alcohol, and both do it well.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire | Amex Centurion |
| Card required | Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) | Amex Platinum ($895/yr) |
| Free guests | 2 guests free | None (unless you spend $75,000/yr) |
| Extra guest cost | $27 per guest | $50 per adult, $30 per child |
| Size | One floor, long and narrow | Two floors, ~15,000 sq ft |
| Food style | Buffet + QR menu to your seat | Chef-led buffet, two bars, speakeasy |
| Hours | 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM | 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
If you're traveling with family, Chase is the clear winner on cost. Two free guests make a huge difference when you're a couple or a small group, and extra guests are $27 instead of $50.
If you're traveling solo or as a couple and you want a more elevated experience, the Centurion Lounge gives you more room to spread out and the speakeasy is genuinely fun. Our vote for a quick pre-flight bite leans toward Chase. If flying solo our vote for settling in for a couple of hours before a long international flight leans towards Centurion.
The best part? If you hold both cards, or you get waitlisted at one, they're a 30-second walk apart.
Chase Sapphire Lounge JFK FAQs
What time does the Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK open?
The lounge is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm.
Can I get in with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
No. The Sapphire Preferred does not include airport lounge access. You need the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve, or a Priority Pass membership from another card (which only gets you one free visit per year).
How long is the wait to get into the Chase Sapphire Lounge JFK?
Based on our visit and other recent reviews, expect 15 to 45 minutes at peak times. Early mornings tend to be quieter. The staff takes your phone number and texts you when a spot opens.
Can I visit if I'm flying from a different terminal at JFK?
No. You need to have a boarding pass for a Terminal 4 departure. The lounge is past security in Terminal 4, so exiting and re-entering another terminal's security is a headache nobody needs.
Is the Chase Sapphire Lounge better than the Amex Centurion Lounge at JFK?
They're right next to each other, and both are excellent. We'd say the Chase lounge has a slight edge on service (staff seats you, and the waitlist system keeps it from feeling overcrowded) while the Centurion tends to be larger and more food-focused. If you have access to both, try the Chase first.
About the Authors
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John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer with 30+ years of professional photography experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
