November 2025

Finally, A Good Reason to Fly out of Philadelphia International Airport – The Chase Sapphire Lounge

In the Northeast, we’re fortunate enough to have ample airport opportunities to utilize. From large international mega airports to tiny regional ones, we are often able to choose sometimes up towards three or four airports when flying to a destination. Oftentimes, we are looking at flight times, the cost of both the tickets and parking or transportation, and convenience. But recently we discovered that one thing is really going to tilt us to booking out of Philadelphia. Getting to the airport early just became cool again.

Philadelphia International Airport is home to the newest Chase Sapphire Lounge with over 20,000-square-feet to explore. We recently had our first flight out of Philadelphia in quite a while so we figured it was a great opportunity to check this lounge out.

One of the things we check for on our way to an airport is if there is a lounge we have access to and if so, where in the airport is it located. It is always the biggest bummer when the lounge is in a terminal that is not easily accessible to where our gate is, especially large airports where different terminals are connected by a shuttle service or not even connected at all. But here at Philadelphia International Airport, all the terminals are connected and walkable. So no matter where you are flying out of, you will be able to access this lounge easily. You will find the Chase Sapphire Lounge just pasted the security checkpoint of Terminal D on the way to Terminal E.

How to Get In

There are a few ways to get access into the Chase Sapphire Lounge. First, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card permits entry for cardmembers and up to two guests no charge. We have been Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders for a long time and with the recent changes that increased the annual fee on this card, we really debated the value. One step into this lounge feels like it paid for itself.

Other ways into the lounge include being a cardholder of the  J.P. Morgan Reserve Card pr the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card which gives similar access as the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Priority Pass still has value but there is some fine print to aware of. If you are a Priority Pass member with an eligible Chase card, you may enter up to 3 hours before a departing flight and additional guests beyond the initial allotment will be charged at $27 per person.. If you are a Priority Pass member without an eligible Chase card, you can only enter the lounge once a year with guests and subsequent visits cost $75.

Important Info

The lounge is open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM which means there is a very high likelihood that your travel time overlaps with these operating hours. Once you find the entrance, you take the stairs or elevator up to the third floor. You must show your boarding pass along with your eligible means of entry when you arrive. If it is your first time, the staff will give you a quick overview of the amenities before they send you off to explore on your own. 

First Impressions

We felt immediately transported stepping into the Chase Sapphire Lounge. Looking up and down the hall, we were blown away by how big the space is and all the areas to explore. The staff here are extremely friendly and welcoming, wasting no time in making sure we were fully aware of everything we had access to. The space varies from areas that are bright and inviting, cozy and warm, and artfully appointed with art deco vibes to Philly sports pride. Seating is plentiful for this space and various for the type of stay you are looking for – from large tables to lounge chairs, from private to communal, from fun and engaging to quiet workspaces – you can enjoy your stay the way that makes you feel the most comfortable.

Amenities

The Chase Sapphire Lounge offers fantastic amenities that make your experience before getting on the flight super comfortable and relaxing.

Let’s start with the basics. You will of course find bathrooms in the lounge but these are brand spanking new with lots of space and very clean. There are also two shower suites stocked with premium products to freshen up which are available to reserve in 40 minute blocks. A dedicated nursing room is available that has ample room for the full family to decompress with baby, diaper change, etc.

Now for the premium amenities. There is a wellness area that features facial treatments, rest pods, and guided digital meditations which are first come, first serve and bookable through a QR code upon arrival. There are multiple game rooms including a game room with classic arcade machines that also has giant TV screens for video game play, a kids area with space for little ones to climb and run around to get energy out, and of course there is a TV room full of various sports games and a full wall of Philly sports paraphernalia.

With only a half hour before our flight boarding time, we did not have enough time to experience all the amenities this lounge offers – that will not be a mistake we repeat on future visits.

Food and Beverage

The food and beverage game is super impressive – this is not your typical airport lounge fare. As expected, there are multiple ways to enjoy the food and beverage program at the Chase Sapphire Lounge. First of all, you will find various grab and go snacks at the kiosks around the lounge that also include beverages. The main kitchen area is all the way to the right upon entering the lounge and the offerings here are great. This is not just a few sandwiches, pasta, and grain thrown together. These are intricate and flavorful dishes that are available all day. We visited during breakfast and the options made u stop a double take. Banana Sunbutter grain-free griddle cake, Indian-spiced root scramble, french toast with apple bacon jam, southwest potatoes hash, biscuits with sausage gravy, beet smooth (ginger, orange, banana, blueburrery and chia seeds), museli and yogurt, fresh fruit bowls, salmon quinoa bowls, hummus and sweet pepper toast – I can keep going. You just do not see these types of dishes at an airport lounge.

In addition, there is also a QR code at each table to access the made-to-order menu. That’s right – on top of all of that at the buffet, there is more food. For breakfast, there were options like cauliflower pesto with cheesy grits, egg omelette with red pepper, feta, and spinach, multiple breakfast sandwich options, and more. We did not have time to enjoy something from this option but the staff could not stop making sure we knew about this! I can only imagine what is available thoroughou the day at the Chase Sapphire Lounge.

Next door, there is an expansive indoor beer garden. With local craft beers on tap and classic Philly food available like soft pretzels and cheesesteak sliders – you may just miss your flight kicking back and relaxing here.

As expected, the beverage game doesn’t stop at the beer garden. There are coffee stations featuring Elixr Coffee, line list curated by Parcelle, and a full bar that serves up pretty much any cocktail that you want pre-flight. At the snack kiosks throughout the space, there are ample beverage options including fountain water (this is the perfect place to fill your water bottle post security!) and bottles of soft drinks.

This lounge injects new life into this airport that will definitely have us looking to fly out of Philly in the future. In fact, we may even get to the airport a little bit earlier than normal just to hang here to kick off the vacation vibes. The Chase Sapphire Lounge is really the best way to start your journey wherever you are going and we are looking forward to returning here soon.

Happy travels!

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