A review of the Chase Lounge and Terrace at the US Open

It has become a big tradition at the U.S. Open in Queens, New York: Chase has been operating an exclusive lounge at the Flushing Meadows venue for 12 years now. For the second year in a row, Chase also brought back an outdoor terrace where you can watch tennis with a bird’s-eye view of the courts and sip a cocktail in style.

There’s also a cool Chase ATM dispensing swag, a photo-op for tennis fans of all shapes and sizes, and a station where you can borrow a phone charger. Overall, there are plenty of activities to enjoy … even if you can’t get into the main lounge.

Chase invited TPG back to the U.S. Open again this year to check out all the venues.

Here’s what it’s like to visit the various Chase experiences.

Chase Lounge at the US Open

One of the hottest tickets at the Open is the Chase Lounge. It’s open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for day sessions and 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for evening sessions. It will remain open during the US Open through Sept 6, though there won’t be both day and evening sessions after Sept. 4.

Among the amenities (if you can get a coveted spot) are air conditioning, snacks, a full bar, free Chase baseball hats (with optional custom embroidery), a complimentary happy hour and live ESPN broadcast moments. There was fresh fruit and coffee (both cold and hot by Lavazza) when I was there.

There are also complimentary light bites, soft drinks and a good selection of alcoholic beverages — though those are not free. Beers and wines started at $14, and mixed drinks were around $17. You won’t be able to get a full meal here, but it will give you a little fuel on the go.

Don’t forget to stop by the Ice Cream Bar to the left of the bar, where you can pick up a free ice cream sandwich from New York City brand Van Leeuwen (there’s even a vegan option).

You’ll find various seating areas and interesting views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The restrooms are nice, and they didn’t have lines when I was there.

Be sure to grab a free Chase-branded baseball cap, and head to the back of the lounge to get your name embroidered on it. It was a fun swag moment.

When I was there around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, I didn’t need to wait in line to get in. The lounge wasn’t totally packed, but as you can see from the photos, it was crowded.

It’s not easy to get access, however. As in years past, all Chase cardholders are eligible, including those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Ink Business Cash Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

To access U.S. Open benefits as a Chase cardholder, you must have the Chase Pass, which you’ll receive after signing up via email with a unique QR code. Save or screenshot this QR code, as you’ll need to scan this to access the lounge.

Unfortunately, reservations were almost impossible to get even if you tried to sign up for the first day they were available. Most folks (myself included) got added to a waitlist instead. Chase representatives said they have been able to open the lounge to some on the waitlist, but you shouldn’t count on it. Hopefully, you’ll get lucky and get a spot.

Once you check in and enter the lounge, you’ll receive a wristband that allows you to enter, leave and reenter the lounge. However, it’s capacity-controlled, so you may need to wait for reentry if the lounge is at capacity.

The lounge is right inside the East Gate entrance of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It’s not far from the entrance you would use if taking the subway or the Long Island Rail Road.

Fortunately, it’s not the only opportunity for Chase cardholders to have that VIP feeling at the tournament.

Chase Terrace at the US Open

I actually preferred the Chase Terrace to the Chase Lounge since it was out in the open air and had incredible views of several tennis courts. Of course, it wasn’t too hot when I was there, so your experience may differ.

Access is on a first-come, first-served basis exclusively for Chase cardholders.

You’ll check in on the ground floor, get a bracelet and walk upstairs. The Chase Terrace will be on your left.

The terrace sits on an outdoor hospitality area with sweeping views of three tennis courts and a few cash bars. The bleachers allow folks to sit and watch the matches. Complimentary flavored water is available here as well.

A separate IHG Lemon Bar is set up during happy hour and offers one complimentary drink for each guest. One other very popular feature was the IHG cobranded amenities bar.

Guests can pick one treat from the bar, including a fan, mints or even fancy La Roche-Posay sunblock.

There are also several shaded areas set up with soft-cushioned lounge chairs. I heard one woman say she really felt like a VIP in the space. Indeed, I would have been happy to spend a few hours here.

You do not need to make a reservation to enter the terrace, and it does not close between day and evening sessions.

Flash your Chase card for free swag

On the way to the Chase Terrace entrance are a few more Chase-branded areas, including the Chase Pass, which debuted to many positive reviews last year. I didn’t try it since there was a line when I went, but it looked fun. Any Chase customers who’ve enrolled in Chase Pass can use the “Magic ATM” which dispenses swag instead of money. Among the prizes are fanny Packs, sunglasses, fans, seat upgrades and more.

Chase charging centers

Another cool feature from Chase is the charging centers, where you can text a code to Chase and get a fully charged power bank to keep your mobile phone going all day. A charger pops out once you’ve texted the number on the screen. Once you are done, you are asked to simply drop it off at one of the multiple big blue mailbox-looking stations all over the grounds.

A fun Chase photo-op

Next to the charging station, there’s a fun area where guests can pose with a humongous tennis racket and take photos to their hearts’ content. Chase told us they wanted to keep it simple with a fun branding moment that guests could enjoy. It appeared to be especially popular with kids while we were there.

Chase Sapphire at Seaport

If you can’t make it all the way to Queens but want a little taste of the Open, Chase created a pop-up tennis court on the rooftop of Pier 17 in Manhattan.

Sapphire Reserve cardmembers get exclusive access to purchase clinics or open court times. Packages unlock 45-minute clinics taught by local pros or tennis legends; they also offer open court time for cardmembers and up to three guests with varying time slots from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9.

Related: Amex cardholders get these 6 perks at the US Open Tennis Championships

Bottom line

There’s a lot to do at the U.S. Open, even if you don’t have tickets to any actual matches. There are sponsored venues galore, and you can access some really cool free extra perks if you’re a Chase customer.

Reservations are sold out for the Chase Lounge, but you can put yourself on the waitlist. In my opinion, though, the Chase Terrace is the real gem. It allows you to get close to the tennis action even if you couldn’t score tickets to a match or get into the Chase Lounge.

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