It opens July 16. The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. Located in terminal D. Right across from gate D25. I saw it yesterday.
It’s big. Eighteen thousand square feet. Not the largest they have. That honor belongs to Philadelphia or LaGuardia. But close. Much bigger than most bank lounges.
Some people miss the video games. The arcade. Gone. But that’s okay. Because they replaced it with facials. And whiskey. And real food.
It’s the best bank lounge I’ve been to lately. Maybe because of the space. Or the light. Or just because I wanted something better.
Where You Stand
The entrance is ground floor. Check credentials. Then stairs up.
The layout works. No crushing crowds yet. There are Amex and Capital One lounges in this same terminal. Spread the load. Helps everyone. Terminal D is stacked. American Airlines Flagship First dining is here. The Club. Plaza Premium. Minute Suites. Admirals Club. Even a spa that takes Priority Pass.
But Chase took up prime real estate. Near gate D25. Easy to find. Open from 5 a.m. to night. 10 p.m.
When you step inside it feels… open. A long rectangle. Multiple zones. The bar sits in the middle. It’s the heart of the place. Behind it. A hidden whiskey bar.
Light is everywhere. Strange. Because there are no tarmac windows. No view of the planes. You look out over the terminal check-in desks. Glass separates you from the chaos below. But sunlight pours through. It feels airy. Bright. Almost wrong for a windowless box.
To the right. Spa. Showers. Facials. To the left. Seating. Family room. Small nursing pod. Rest pods behind that. Bookable. Like a mini-Minute Suite. But without the couch. Just a quiet corner. Escape people for an hour.
And yes. There are Peloton stretches on your phone. Part of a new partnership. I’m not sure who this helps. Peloton wants brand visibility. Chase wants engagement. I want silence. What’s the value there? Or is it just noise?
The Food Matters
Let’s talk about breakfast. Blue corn butterscotch pancakes. Slab bacon with cheddar grits.
The bacon wins. Thick cut. Smoky. Real smoke. Reminds me of old Capital One mac and cheese days. Before they cheapened out. This stuff is good. High quality.
Coffee comes from Fort Worth’s Cherry. Good bean. Strong brew.
No Sapphire Noodles though. The staple item isn’t here. Missed. But who cares when the grits are this good?
The Sapphire Burger returns. Standard patty. Plus one local twist. Nothing revolutionary. But cooked right. Hot. Juicy.
The buffet? Step up. I usually skip it. Stick to made-to-order. But here. Everything tasted intentional. Fresh. Not stale trays. I tried the buffet. Didn’t regret it.
The food choices are a noticeable step up. Better selection. Better taste. I’ll wait for a full-crowd test before calling it perfect.
But so far? Solid.
Drinking And Drowning Out
The bar. Stone countertop. You can charge your phone there. Useful.
Cocktails. A few custom ones. Worth a shot. Standard spirits too. Fully stocked.
Then there’s the whiskey lounge. Hidden room behind the bar. Staffed cart. Guided pairings. Texas whiskeys. Their own custom barrel selections.
If you like bourbon. This is your spot.
The facials? Two rooms. Looks a bit clinical. Dentist office vibes. I didn’t try it. QR code reservation. Easy. Plenty of slots. I’ve seen open calendars in Philly. Probably similar here.
Relaxation pods exist. Private. Small. Good for naps. Or avoiding a loud group.
Grab And Go Test
Chase is testing something. Grab ‘n go. Not permanent. Maybe never rolled out.
Passengers love it. It’s fast. Hands free.
It’s expensive. For Chase. That’s why Capital One cut it. Why American limits it in Charlotte. One item per person. Rules apply.
Chase is watching. Budget matters. They see if you take it. If you ruin their margins.
Probably a good experiment. Just don’t expect it to stay forever.
Who Gets In
You need a card. Or money. Or a friend.
Chase Sapphire Reserve. You. Two guests. Free. Extra guests cost $27 each. Kids under two? No charge. Employee cards on small business accounts don’t get in.
J.P. Morgan Reserve or Ritz-Carlton. Same rules. Free entry. Two guests. These are high net worth cards. Millions in deposits usually required. Yet they get no priority lane. Unlike Amex Centurion holders. Weird. Inconsistent branding.
Priority Pass. One free visit per calendar year. Per account. Priority for entry? Supposedly. But wait times are unpredictable.
Currently zero waits. In Philadelphia. On a Sunday. Eighteen thousand feet helps. Plus all those other lounges nearby. But crowds will come. Always.
The Chase Map
Current list. Boston. Dallas. Las Vegas. New York JFK. New York LaGuardia. Philadelphia. Phoenix. San Diego. Washington Dulles.
Coming soon. Los Angeles. Miami. And a bigger Phoenix. Eleven total. A real network now. Not just scattered dots.
The Play For Dallas
If you fly American. Have time. Go to Flagship First Dining. Spend 20k miles if you’re Platinum Pro or Executive. Bring two guests. It’s nicer than any US airport lounge. Hands down.
I went there after checking Chase. It wins.
Then I visited Capital One. Old. Tired. Food declined since opening. Grab and gone largely cut. It showed its age. Five years is a long time for plastic.
Chase? Bright. New. Designed well. Good whiskey. Real food.
Plaza Premium First sits second. $45 extra fee. Maybe worth it for some. Not for most.
So choose Chase. If you’re stuck in DFW. If you want a layover that feels less like waiting. And more like being somewhere.
