While a swanky airport lounge can't alleviate Los Angeles International Airport's infamous sidewalk stagnationIt can make it become a more distant memory.
The latest pre-departure sanctuary landing at LAX? It is from a company best known for its bank branches. Chase announced Thursday that it will open a 9,234-square-foot Sapphire Lounge at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), near Gate 148. An opening date was not shared.
Dana Pouwels, director of airport lounge benefits and strategic partnerships at Chase, said the company is investing to reach its customers wherever they are.
“Los Angeles is home to many cardholders and a popular destination among Chase travelers,” Pouwels said. “And as a native Angeleno who frequently travels through LAX to visit home, I'm excited to bring a Chase Sapphire Lounge to my hometown.”
According to renderings, Chase's premium space will feature expansive blacktop views, a first for a lounge in TBIT's main lobby, along with a dramatic waterfall-style chandelier over a granite and wood bar. While Chase didn't say anything about the proposed amenities, if it's anything like the company's other lounges now at five airports, it's expected to lean toward a higher level.
A rendering of the seating area of the new lounge.
(Chase)
The first U.S. Sapphire Lounge for Chase debuted in Boston a year ago. Features include a gourmet buffet and a la carte meals (their Sapphire burger is a particular standout); exclusive bathrooms and showers; and a residential-inspired design designed for both work and leisure. Meanwhile, the LaGuardia Airport location in New York that opened earlier this year even offers complimentary facials and ultra-high-end private suites (for a hefty additional fee).
Pouwels said the “space will pay homage to Los Angeles while incorporating modern local elements that celebrate the city's culture.”
To get unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges in the US, travelers must be enrolled in the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve with Priority Pass membership. Those with a Priority Pass membership to another premium travel credit card (such as Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X) can enter a US Sapphire Lounge once per calendar year at no cost.
There are currently no Priority Pass-accessible lounges at LAX, so the Chase lounge will be a boon to a wide range of travelers once it's open.
The airport lounge war continues
Competition in lounges is fierce, especially among the major credit card companies. Access has expanded dramatically in recent years as issuers push for premium card registrations and build their own brand spaces. While that means busier lounges, it also means more options for travelers.
In 2013, American Express entered the business of owning and operating airport lounges with the Centurion network. More recently, Chase's Sapphire wallet and Capital One lounges are the answer to the headline.
At LAX, Amex opened its Centurion Lounge in 2020, just steps from the future Chase site. The nearly 14,000-square-foot area features a variety of luxury amenities, including a custom food menu from executive chef Nancy Silverton, a spa area with chair massages and mini manicures, and showers.
Dave Jones, deputy executive director of business development for Los Angeles World Airports, says lounges improve the travel experience, especially as the airport rebuilds. “LAX looks forward to offering our guests more lounge options based on their consumer preferences, as well as meeting the growing demand for lounge access,” he said.
Other LAX lounges in the pipeline
Chase isn't the only player opening a new lounge at the airport. Air France will present its first LAX lounge at TBIT on June 21.
An airline spokesperson said Los Angeles is one of the “most important markets for Air France” and is part of a broader global investment in lounges. When it opens, the LAX location will become Air France's sixth lounge in the US, joining Washington-Dulles, Houston Intercontinental, San Francisco, New York JFK and Boston.
Meanwhile, in Terminal 4, Delta Air Lines will open a high-end Delta One lounge by the end of 2024. It will feature an outdoor terrace, more than 10,000 square feet of space and a seamless connection from a check-in area. exclusively. for Delta One passengers.
It is part of the airline's strategy to offer a new “premium” level of services for international business class guests. “Premium lounge customers should feel welcomed and known when they walk in the door, just as they would at their favorite hotel or restaurant,” said Claude Roussel, vice president of Sky Club and Lounge Experience at Delta.
The first Delta One lounge will open in New York at the end of June.
