Chase has been aggressively expanding its airport lounge portfolio, with the opening of Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club. Last week we saw the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia, and this week we’ve seen the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge New York Kennedy, in partnership with Etihad Airways. Let’s go over all the details.
Chase takes over Etihad Lounge at New York JFK Terminal 4
Back in 2015, Etihad Airways opened a lounge at New York JFK Airport. This was at a time when Etihad was investing in becoming a premium airline, with little regard for profitability. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier ended up undergoing a restructuring, and the lounge was then closed for several years.
Fortunately this lounge is getting some new life, with a financial arrangement that I suspect will be better for Etihad. This lounge has reopened as of Tuesday, January 23, 2024, though with a different concept. The Etihad Lounge has become the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club with Etihad Airways at New York JFK (that’s a mouthful). As you can tell, this lounge is a bit different than the other ones in the network, as it’s in partnership with an airline.
As far as the details go:
- The lounge is in Terminal 4 (which is occupied primarily by Delta, but also by plenty of other airlines), and it’s located in the mezzanine on level four, above gate A2; the entrance is right next to the Amex Centurion Lounge
- The lounge is open daily from 5AM until 11PM; as long as there are no capacity issues, this lounge can be accessed through the Chase network even in the hours leading up to the departure of Etihad flights
- The lounge is roughly 7,600 square feet, so it’s much smaller than the other lounge locations in the network, and will likely get very busy during peak periods
- In terms of the soft product, you can expect the lounge to have the typical Chase Sapphire Lounge offerings, including made-to-order and ready-to-eat options, signature cocktails and wine, coffee from Joe Coffee, tea, and more
- It looks like significant work was done to refresh the interior of the lounge, and I’m quite impressed by the design
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club entry requirements
As a reminder, here are the entry requirements for all Chase Sapphire Lounges in the United States:
- Those with a Priority Pass™ membership through the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) can access the lounge an unlimited number of times, with up to two complimentary guests
- Those with a Priority Pass™ membership issued through any other means can access any Chase Sapphire Lounge in the United States once per calendar year at no additional cost (that’s one visit across all lounges, not per lounge), and guests aren’t complimentary; subsequent visits, as well as guests, will be charged an entry fee of $75
- If you don’t have a Priority Pass™ membership, you can outright buy access to the lounge for $100 per person per visit, subject to availability
- Chase Sapphire Lounges are only accessible within three hours of departure, unless you’re connecting, in which case you can access it earlier
Since this lounge is in partnership with Etihad Airways, premium passengers on the airline of course also have access to the lounge. This includes those traveling in first and business class, as well as Etihad Guest Platinum and Gold passengers.
For context, Etihad Airways operates two daily flights to New York, and the airline is upping its service to the airport. As of April 2024, Etihad will offer one daily Airbus A380 flight to JFK, and one daily Boeing 787-9 flight to JFK. Both will feature first class cabins.
Clearly the intent here is for Etihad to still be able to offer a great experience for its passengers. However, the airline doesn’t want to bleed money from operating a lounge, as was the case several years ago.
Will Chase take over the Etihad Lounge Washington Dulles?
While we’re on this topic, it’s interesting to note how there are also plans for a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at Washington Dulles Airport. Etihad Airways also has a lounge there, which has been closed for years. It sounds to me like the plan is for the Etihad Lounge Washington Dulles to also become a Chase Sapphire Lounge, with a similar arrangement.
Chase has in the past confirmed that the Washington Dulles lounge will be around 5,200 square feet, which is the same size as the former Etihad Lounge. I’m curious to see if/when that lounge ends up opening.
Bottom line
The former Etihad Lounge New York JFK has become a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. However, the lounge is a joint effort with Etihad Airways. It’s now open, and it’s a great new option for Priority Pass members at the airport.
Expect that this lounge might not be quite as good as some of the purpose built Chase Sapphire Lounges due to its size, but it still sounds great.
What do you make of the new Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club New York JFK?
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