For domestic travel, we no longer plan our trips around airport lounges. While visiting a lounge is nice, it’s not a deciding factor when choosing an airline or departure airport. If we happen to fly through Minneapolis on Delta, we might stop at the SkyClub (and have done so before), but that’s not the reason for the trip.
I also don’t spend much time researching lounge options in advance. Instead, I bring our AMEX Platinum Cards for access to Centurion Lounges and Delta SkyClubs, a Priority Pass card for access to other lounges, and the Capital One Venture X card since it’s already in my wallet.
But I realized I made a mistake on a recent trip to New York when we were flying home through JFK Terminal 4. I hadn’t originally planned to visit a lounge, but once we were there, I figured it was the perfect time to check out the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
JFK Sapphire Lounge
Unlike branded lounges from American Express or Capital One, Chase Sapphire Lounges are operated by The Club. There’s a quirk with these lounges: even though they participate in Priority Pass, you need to show the Priority Pass card that’s linked to a Sapphire Reserve or Ritz-Carlton card to get in for free.
Since I hadn’t planned on visiting the lounge, I didn’t have the right Priority Pass card with me. I had a physical card from a different issuer. My wife, Sharon, also didn’t have the one from her Ritz-Carlton card, since she already had Priority Pass from her Venture X card.
Mobile Passes to the Rescue!
Fortunately, I had added both of our Priority Pass cards to Apple Wallet. Here’s the helpful detail: any Priority Pass Select member is entitled to one complimentary visit to a Sapphire Lounge per calendar year, even if their card isn’t linked to a Chase product.
When we got to the entrance, I explained that I wasn’t sure which Priority Pass was linked to my Chase card. The lounge agent was understanding and scanned my mobile card. It wasn’t tied to a Chase account, but I could still use my one complimentary visit.
Then we tried Sharon’s mobile card, which was linked to her Venture X. The agent confirmed she could also use her one Sapphire Lounge entry for the year, so we were both able to get in—without having to use a Chase-linked card.
Final Thought
Even if we hadn’t gotten into the Sapphire Lounge, we had other options: the Centurion Lounge is right next door, and Delta SkyClubs are also available in Terminal 4.
However, this experience reminded me that not all Priority Pass cards are created equal, even with Sapphire Lounges. Going forward, I’ll make sure to carry the Priority Pass card linked to Sharon’s Ritz-Carlton Card—or at the very least, have it added to my mobile wallet.
It’s a small detail that can make the difference between walking into the lounge or walking on by.
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