Priority Pass™ Select lounge at SXM - Anyone been?

I just signed up for the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which has a pricy annual fee, but huge benefits (including a $300 per year travel credit, making it effectively a $150 fee if you do SXM once per year). One of the benefits is access to Priority Pass lounges, which I didn't pay much attention to, until I noticed that there is one at Julianna. Has anyone been?

https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lounges/...xecutive-Lounge

I use the lounge almost every time that I transit through SXM. It's a quiet spot to hang out while waiting.

Yes, it's called the Souliga Lounge. Free wine and soda, but NOT beer or mixed drinks, and free heavy appetizers, like chicken wings, mini quiche, etc. Free wifi, TV, comfortable seating. One day pass is $20. But free, with your credit card?? Priceless! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We use it all the time . It's a nice way to end your trip. Go for it

Where is it located?

From the link:
"Airside - after Security and Passport Control, on the right hand side near Gates 1 and 2. Signs indicate the entrance to the lounge."

So after you clear security.

Thanks for the info! I had no idea it was there!

If you don't have a membership or a card that gives you a waiver then it is $20 per person to access. I was happy to pay the $20 before I had a waiver.

And I just signed up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card too. I'm looking forward to using the lounge as well. I'm going to charge a travel related item as soon as I get the card so I will get the $300 credit before this calendar year ends.

We got it a few months ago. Heck got the 300 back in one air ticket!! Also when I applied we received 100,000 points. Flying home Monday will report back on using lounge. Scrap that. Just realized both my husband and myself left our priority passes at home!!

On the Chase card, don't forget that the 300 back is calendar year; for those who get the card this year, you are eligible for 300 in 2016, and another 300 when the date flips to 2017.

Very good deal overall if you travel enough to make it worth your while. I think it's better than break even if you travel to SXM once a year.

What's the annual fee?

I would guess $450

Thank you; I missed that post <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/sapphire/reserve

Kim,
They should know you have that benefit. Just show your Chase Sapphire Card.
I use my Amex and they accept it.
Cheers
i

yes, for those considering getting the card, the sooner the better, since time is running out to use the 2016 $300 travel credit because the 2016 travel credit expires on the closing date of your December statement, so your travel charges need to hit by then...then beginning in Jan 2017 you'll have another $300 credit to spend in 2017...so for the first year of card membership, you can come out $150 ahead, not even including the other perks of the card

the card is sent to you by next day delivery the day after you're approved <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Irina, Are you saying that one can access the lounge at no charge with an AMEX card?

Only access to the lounge is one of the perks of the card.

I'd be very curious about the ability to simply show your credit card (even if access is a perk) to get in. Everything I've read says you need to have the membership card. If someone here attempts to get in by showing a credit card, please post results.

I'm not sure where you were reading that there needs to be a membership card also. Several people have reported being admitted with I believe it is the black AMEX card, the one that costs $500...

Are there two lounges? I thought the Soualiga lounge was the only one but the PJIA website uses two different names and two different entrance requirements.

Soualiga (doesn't sound like a CC will get you free access):



Executive (an appropriate CC WILL get you in) :

My son is going to text me a picture of my card - we shall see if that will be enough, I did hear back that because I get it from Chase I do not have the "digital card", kind of strange.

I get in free with American Express Platinum card, it is $27.00 for guests.

No, there is only one lounge, period.

If you have a Priority Pass card it can be added to the Wallet on an iPhone so that you don't have to carry the actual card.

I get it with my Platinum Amex card and I have the digital Priority Pass card on my phone.
Cheers
irina

Good idea about using the Wallet. Doing that right now.

If on Priority Pass Select:
http://thepointsguy.com/2016/09/all-about-priority-pass-program/

Will an Admirals Club membership get you access to the Souagila Lounge?

Well I can't figure out how to manually add it to my wallet. So will show the picture of it and if it works great. If not oh well.

We use our Amex Platinum for free entry all the time.

No, it will not. There is no relationship between the two.

Kim,
Just get the Priority Pass app!
Follow instructions.
Doh!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Ah Duh!!! I did!!! And because my "membership" is "select" I don't get the digital card, it's bizarre. Been messaging back and forth with them and chase.

Live reporting!! Made it through the gates! I showed my picture of the PP Select card and that was sufficient. And my husband never even activated his, but was included on mine no problem and no extra charge.

Is it $27 now? Still worth it for the better AC and peace and quiet. Although last time I was in there there were families with noisy kids. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Yes, last time I was there, it was $20. That would be disappointing, if there were noisy kids there, as that's one of the reasons to pay the money for it, to get away from the hubbub outside.

Yes. And they took up all the chairs next to the wall with the recharging outlets. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

It was very nice. So even at 47 a couple, knocks my 450 +75 for extra card down to 178 and have only started using the card. Spending 300 on travel is easy when you go at least once a year. Plus the 100000 Bonus points. could be two tickets down if I play it right!!

Thanks for the report! Glad you got in without issue.

In the lounge now. Still $20.

OK, thanks.

silly question, is there a smoking section within the lounge, I know that there is a smoking room in the airport, just curious...

No, there is not, but you can exit the lounge to go to the smoking lounge, and come back in, without paying again.

Just to clarify, the lounge is 20.00 per person, anyone can go in, or it is free to Amex members and their guests are 27.00, we have used it many times and it is a quiet oasis.
Ellen

Membership, if a perk with your credit card (certain types of AMEX, etc) or directly paid as a subscription, allows you and guests to enter for no charge. Others may enter at $20 each.

Seems silly that because you have an AMEX your guests are 27,but they could just go in and only pay 20? If my son had been with me there wouldn't have been a charge as he would be covered with my "membership" It said somewhere anyone traveling with you is welcome

When you fly first class internationally, AA will give you a day pass to the Admirals Club, even if you're not a member - but you need to ask. The last time that we flew back into CLT from out of the country, the pass even included 2 free premium drinks each.

If there is no Admirals Club in a particular airport that AA flys to / from, they will give you a pass to the airport's VIP lounge - at least that's how it's worked for us in Europe, don't know about SXM, but we will inquire when we fly there end of year.

Sxm destination from USA does not qualify as an international flight that gives you the AA admirals lounge perk by flying first class. Wish it did but it doesn't.

Kim - I thought the same thing, very strange, but I pay it, I can't leave him outside, he is in a wheelchair.
Ellen

Yeah, but couldn't you just use your perk on yourself and he buys his own $20 entry?

Good idea. I will try that next time!
Ellen

wanted to follow up in this thread about the Chase Sapphire Reserve and access to the Priority Access Lounge...i recently tried to access the lounge in SXM using my Chase card...when i showed the card to the employee at the entry desk, she looked at me funny, and said "that is a credit card, i need to see a Priority Pass card"...i explained about the benefit of the card, and she humored me by swiping the card in her "machine"...the machine denied the card, so she wouldn't let me in...she obviously was not familiar with the Sapphire Reserve card

so when i got home, i contacted Chase Customer Service, and received the following reply:

Firstly, I would like to inform that to get access to
over 900 VIP airport lounges around the world, you need
the Priority Pass Select membership card. Please note I've
activated this feature on your account. You will receive
membership card(s) in the mail within 2-3 weeks.
Memberships will auto-renew each year as a long as the
account is open.

Also, let me share that we also offer a 'One Day Pass
Reversal' option. One day pass reversals are offered when
you are currently traveling and hasn't received your
Priority Pass Select membership card yet or doesn't have
card with you and attempting to access eligible Priority
Pass Select lounge and had to pay a fee to enter the
lounge. In such a scenario, you can pay using your
Sapphire Reserve credit card and we'll reverse the lounge
access fee. We offer 2 reversals per rolling 12 months.

so i learned something...i didn't have much time to use the lounge, so not a big deal...at least i did receive the $300 travel credits for 2016 and 2017, so for the $450 yearly fee, i've received $600 in credits, as well as the other bonuses associated with the card <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

We had the same experience, didn't realize we needed a separate card. I called and the priority passes have been received - now that we are home. Will use them next year. Wasn't advised about being reimbursed, will give them a call on that.
Also, regarding the $300 credit per year, I was told the credit is per membership year, not calendar year. so if you joined in November 2016 and received a credit you will not be eligible for another credit until November 2017

no, travel credit is per calendar year...I joined in Oct 2016, and as I said above, I've already received $300 credit in 2016 (December), as well as $300 in 2017 (January)

Yup. Chase rules are very clear: the credit car is not enough; you need the membership card.

Correct on the annual $300: it's for calendar year.

Same, we each opened one, and both received both credits! Not too bad, very happy with the card and the fact that we each received the 100,000 bonus points!

Same with the Amex cards which offer Priority Pass - you need Amex to arrange to have the Priority Pass card sent to you. Once you have the card, you can download the iOS app and add the Priority Pass card to your iPhone Wallet. I use the app, my non-tech wife prefers to use the physical card.

I don't know if Android has the same app/capability.

It's weird the Priority Pass program from Chase Reserve won't let you download the "virtual" card, you must have the card. But AMEX, lets you download it and use the app. So odd