Sid
Chase is closing a loophole that let outside cardholders sneak into its lounges. Starting Aug. 15, 2026, all nine Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations will drop out of the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks.
Anyone using a non-Chase Priority Pass loses the free annual visit and the discounted extra-visit rate. If you carry Priority Pass through Amex, Capital One, or Citi, you’ll need a backup plan for your next layover.
We’ve already covered what makes the Chase Sapphire Lounge at Boston worth the hype, and the newly opened Dallas-Fort Worth location. Both sit on the list of lounges leaving Priority Pass.
If you rely on The Club lounges at DFW through Priority Pass, that network stays open even as Chase’s own space closes its doors to you.
What the Change Covers
Chase confirmed that its nine Sapphire Lounge locations will drop out of the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks entirely. Chase just confirmed that its nine Sapphire Lounge locations will drop out of the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks entirely, and that means those carrying premium cards from American Express, Capital One, and Citi will lose the one free annual visit they were previously entitled to.
The $75 preferential rate for additional visits is going away too, so after Aug. 15 you’ll be on the hook for the same $100 day pass travelers can purchase.
There’s a small win buried in the cuts. The entry window is changing too, as Chase is expanding the access window from three hours to five hours before a connecting flight’s scheduled departure. That extra time only applies to eligible cardholders on connecting itineraries, not those originating at the airport.
| Traveler | Before Aug. 15 | After Aug. 15 |
| Non-Chase Priority Pass/LoungeKey | One free visit per year, $75 extra visits | No free visit, $100 day pass only |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve, Business, Ritz-Carlton, JPM Reserve | Unlimited free access | Unlimited free access, unchanged |
| Connecting flight window | 3 hours before departure | 5 hours before departure |
| Originating flight window | 3 hours before departure | 3 hours before departure, unchanged |
Which Cards Qualify Now?
Access doesn’t change for the cards that already get you in free. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card, and the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card all keep their current benefits. Everyone else loses the side door they used to walk through.
Amex Centurion Lounges and Capital One’s lounges have never offered a courtesy Priority Pass visit to outside cardholders, since Sapphire Lounges only opened that door because they’re run by Airport Dimensions, the same operator behind its own “The Club” lounge brand. Chase is simply bringing its policy in line with rivals like the Amex Centurion Lounge network.
Our Take
This is good news for Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business cardholders. Sapphire Lounges have gotten crowded in the recent days, and it’s a real upgrade for them.
Non-Chase Priority Pass holders lose a nice-to-have, not a core benefit, since they still keep thousands of other lounges. If you’re chasing Sapphire Lounge access specifically, the Sapphire Reserve card is now the only reliable way in.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card, and the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card all retain unlimited free access with no changes. No other cards, including premium cards from Amex, Capital One, or Citi, will receive complimentary entry after the cutoff date.
After August 15, 2026, Priority Pass and LoungeKey cardholders from non-Chase issuers will no longer receive the one free annual visit or the $75 discounted rate for additional visits. The only option for entry will be purchasing a $100 day pass.
Yes, all nine Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations are dropping out of the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks simultaneously on August 15, 2026. This includes high-profile locations such as Boston and the newly opened Dallas-Fort Worth lounge.
Chase is extending the entry window for eligible cardholders on connecting itineraries from three hours to five hours before a scheduled departure. This improvement only applies to connecting flights, not to travelers originating at the airport, whose window remains three hours.
Priority Pass access will remain available at The Club lounges at DFW, which are separate from Chase's own Sapphire Lounge at that airport. Only the Chase-branded Sapphire Lounge space is leaving the Priority Pass network, so DFW still has Priority Pass-accessible options through The Club.
