Background and Location
The Chase Sapphire Lounge & Amex Centurion at New York (JFK) are located right next to each other, shortly after the TSA Security Checkpoint in Terminal 4, which mainly serves Delta flights.
Just a heads up, I’m a bit delayed on posting these reviews, as my visit was in May 2025. I got past TSA at about 5 pm, and there were a lot of people at both the Centurion Lounge or Chase Sapphire Lounge, either in line or waiting for their turn. I went to the Sapphire line first and was quoted a 1-hour wait time. But I got to the airport quite early, so I didn’t mind too much and added myself to the waitlist. Then, I joined the waitlist on my phone for AMEX Centurion, but they didn’t give me an ETA.
I decided to head over to the Air India Maharaja Lounge while waiting to access one of the two. The Air India Lounge was pretty basic, but better than waiting around the gate areas in Terminal 4, which were pretty crowded for a Wednesday.
Thankfully, 35 minutes later, I got a text from the Centurion Lounge, and then in another 30 minutes, the Chase Sapphire Lounge texted me that it was my time. So, I was able to spend half an hour at the Centurion Lounge, and the rest of my time at the Sapphire Lounge.
AMEX Centurion Lounge (JFK) Visit
I’ve visited the LaGuardia Centurion Lounge numerous times before, but never the JFK one, surprisingly.
To enter the AMEX Centurion Lounge, complimentary access is available for:
- Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, and Corporate Platinum Card® Members
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Reserve Business Card Members
- Centurion® Members
You can see the full rules on access here if you’re interested.
Upon entering, you’re on the upper level. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Blue Roast Coffee Bar, which serves coffee, sandwiches, light bites & pastries plus smoothies. Such a cute concept, and also, there was no one sitting at the tables there.
Going into the lounge, there are restrooms, showers, and some narrow rows of seating. There are also sections blocked off for Centurion Members. There’s a buffet, a beverage station, and a bar.
Heading downstairs, it’s almost the same idea, with seating options, a buffet & bar, plus restrooms. For the buffet options, there were items like jerk chicken, spiced tofu, plantains, and some salads.
Though on this level, there is a special spot in the back called 1893. It’s a speakeasy-themed bar that offers some seating in a sleek environment. It was fully occupied when I visited, and the seating seemed cramped, so I just had a quick visit and left.
I was enjoying my Kale Mango smoothie when I got the text to head over to the Chase Sapphire Lounge.
Overall, the AMEX Centurion Lounge JFK is solid as far as Centurion Lounges go, but a bit on the small side. The highlight for me was that I did enjoy that coffee shop concept.
Chase Sapphire Lounge (JFK) Visit
To access the Chase Sapphire Lounge JFK, you can access with a Chase Sapphire Reserve card (with up to 2 guests) or a valid Priority Pass membership (limited to one visit per year for non-Sapphire Reserve cardholders).
As I entered the lounge, they checked me off the waitlist, and I was escorted by an attendant and given the choice of two seats in the main area near the bar. I asked if I could have more of a traditional table for eating, and they said sure and took me to this section, a bit closed off, that had traditional 2-seater dining tables, which I appreciated.
The lounge is actually not too large, and I did some wandering around. There is a small buffet area and beverage station, some more dining tables, and additional sofa-style seating in the back, but then that is it. I really liked the decor, and the service was really attentive. Hot buffet items included salmon and Moroccan roasted chicken.
Made-to-Order Menu
You could order from a QR code that was on the table, and they would deliver your order to you. The menu for made-to-order food was a bit limited and included:
- Sapphire burger with fries (Impossible version as well)
- Cauliflower bisque and crisp tortellini
- French fries
- Kids penne pasta
- Gluten-free brownie
I tried the Sapphire Burger, and it was pretty solid!
Plenty of cocktails were available, and I tried the Sapphire Mocktail, which I found to be too sweet. It included: blueberry, goldenberry, lime, ginger, oregano, five-spice powder, bee pollen, and pearl dust. I found the presentation to be really nice, and the sparkles were fun.
The restrooms were clean and had Apotheke toiletries, which, interestingly, I remembered it to be the same scent they had at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas lol.
Overall, I enjoyed the Chase Sapphire Lounge and would definitely want to try another location sometime soon!
The Verdict
Overall, both the Chase Sapphire Lounge JFK and AMEX Centurion Lounge JFK are solid options before a flight. I definitely prefer the Chase Sapphire Lounge with the layout & made-to-order dining, but prepare for a queue.
Have you visited the AMEX Centurion Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York (JFK)? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
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