For some time now, Chase has offered the best flavor of Priority Pass Select membership for its cardholders. Unfortunately, that’s going to change as Chase devalues its Priority Pass benefit.
Chase offers Priority Pass Select memberships on several cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa Infinite, and the J.P. Morgan Select. In fact, if I recall correctly, it was the first issuer to begin doing so when the Sapphire Reserve debuted oh so many years ago. Of course, many followed suit, and virtually everyone began offering access to Priority Pass restaurants as a way to cope with lounge overcrowding issues. However, in recent years, virtually everyone ceased offering access to these establishments. Everyone, that is, except for Chase. Until now.
Chase Devalues Its Priority Pass Benefit
I first began seeing discussions popping up on Reddit regarding changes to Chase’s Priority Pass access rules. Then, Award Wallet got an official confirmation from Chase. So what’s happening?
Well, as Chase devalues its Priority Pass benefit, those with the Sapphire Reserve, Ritz-Clarton, and J.P. Morgan cards will lose access to Priority Pass restaurants, cafes, and markets. Chase’s rep goes on to say that cardholders will continue to have access to over 1,300 lounges and select “airport experiences” at over 600 cities around the world. What are these experiences? I have no clue. I suspect it may be spas or other wellness services.
At any rate, the change in access becomes effective July 1, 2024 – a little over three months from now.
Why?
Naturally, we all want to know why this is happening. The short and easier answer is that Chase wants to save money/boost profitability. But as we all know, Chase is also in the process of opening its own lounges in airports around the world. Run by Priority Pass mainstay The Club, these Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounges are indeed cited as part of the reason for the shift.
Unfortunately, there are only a handful of open lounges and those in the pipeline. These include:
- Boston Logan
- Hong Kong
- LaGuardia
- JFK
- Las Vegas
- Phoenix
- San Diego
As a reminder, Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Select cardholders can bring in two guests each, with no limit on children under two. Additional guests may enter for a nominal $27/person fee – for a point of reference, I had to pay $50 to bring a guest into a Sky Club using my Amex Platinum. Interesting, Ritz-Carlton cardholders have no cap on guests.
Chase Devalues Its Priority Pass Benefit, Final Thoughts
Whether the fact that Chase devalues its Priority Pass benefit makes a difference to you or not really depends on how you use Priority Pass. For me, I don’t include Priority Pass in my annual evaluation of the card because, quite frankly, I haven’t really been able to use my membership. Why? Because the airports I’m flying out of don’t have a participating lounge, the lounge hours don’t line-up with my flight time, or their location is too out of the way for me (for example, when I’m flying Alaska, Hawaiian’s Plumeria Lounge is more trouble than its worth).