Welcome back! Today we’re in the southwestern U.S. at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
In this lounge showdown—Phoenix Edition—we’re comparing four premium airport lounges head-to-head: the American Express Centurion Lounge, the Chase Sapphire Lounge, the Delta Sky Club, and the Escape Lounge.
Phoenix Sky Harbor was the 12th busiest airport in the U.S. in 2025. It has two terminals (3 and 4) which are not connected airside, so you’ll need to use the Sky Train to move between them. We’re exploring both to see which lounge is worth your time before your next flight out of the Valley of the Sun.
American Express Centurion Lounge (Terminal 4)
Located next to Gate B21, this lounge is co-located with an Escape Lounge, and the two share a single entrance. It opened in 2024 and is relatively small at about 5,000 square feet.
Hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Access Requirements
- Eligible Cards: Amex Centurion or Platinum (Personal/Business).
- Delta Flyers: Amex Delta Reserve cardholders can enter when flying Delta.
- Guest Policy: Two free guests if you spent $75,000 on your card in the previous year; otherwise, guests are $50 each.
- Note: Once you enter either the Centurion or Escape lounge at this location, you cannot switch to the other.
Amenities
- 🍹 Bar: Centrally located with power outlets at each seat. All drinks are complimentary.
- 🍲 Food: Buffet-style. During our visit, they served a decent array of breakfast pastries, fruit, and hot dishes, though items disappeared quickly due to the crowd.
- ☕️ Coffee: Two self-service beverage stations with coffee, tea, and a bottle filler.
- 💺 Seating: Broken into four areas. Low ceilings and cramped layout make it feel very crowded.
- 🚻 Restrooms: Comically small with frequent lines for the single stall.
- 🚿 Showers: None.
- 🛫 Views: Good views of the B gates from the second-floor windows.
- 🛜 Wi-Fi: Complimentary and very fast.
- 🤦♂️ Crowd: Very busy. We found a seat, but it felt like luck of the draw.
Chase Sapphire Lounge (Terminal 4)
The Sapphire Lounge is located by Gate D11, closer to the Southwest gates. It’s quite far from the rest of the terminal, so factor in travel time.
Hours: Daily from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
Access Requirements
- Eligible Cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- Priority Pass: One complimentary visit per year for non-Chase Priority Pass holders (space dependent).
- Day Pass: $100.
Amenities
- 🍹 Bar: Most drinks are free; premium options available for a fee.
- 🍲 Food: Unique setup with food served from an Airstream trailer plus a small buffet.
- ☕️ Coffee: Local Press Coffee and a cold brew tap.
- 💺 Seating: Very small (3,500 sq. ft.). Most seating is in the terminal on a “faux outdoor patio”.
- 🚻 Restrooms: Two private bathrooms; no showers.
- 🛫 Views: Decent tarmac views.
- 🛜 Wi-Fi: Complimentary with good speeds.
- 🤦♂️ Crowd: Almost always has a wait. Because it’s open to the terminal, it lacks privacy and feels more like a restaurant than a premium lounge.
Delta Sky Club (Terminal 3)
Located near Gate F8, this is the largest lounge in our showdown at 7,500 square feet.
Hours: Daily from 4:45 AM to 12:15 AM.
Access Requirements
- Tickets: Delta One passengers (Domestic First Class does not get access).
- Cards: Amex Platinum, Centurion, or Delta Reserve (subject to entry limits unless spending $75k/year).
- Membership: Available for Delta Elite Medallion members.
Amenities
- 🍹 Bar: Full-service bar with free beer, wine, and spirits. Premium drinks can be paid for with cash or SkyMiles.
- 🍲 Food: Buffet with a mix of hot and cold items. We saw a good transition from breakfast to lunch during our visit.
- ☕️ Coffee: Features both drip coffee and self-service espresso machines.
- 💺 Seating: Modern design with plenty of comfy lounge seating and a large open center space.
- 🚻 Restrooms: Large, clean, and modern.
- 🚿 Showers: None.
- 🛫 Views: Not much to see; windows look behind the terminal.
- 🛜 Wi-Fi: Free and fast.
- 🤦♂️ Crowd: Busy, but the spacious layout made it feel calm.
American Express Escape Lounge (Terminal 3)
Located in the central building just after security.
Hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Access Requirements
- Eligible Cards: Amex Platinum, Centurion, or Delta Reserve (when flying Delta).
- Priority Pass: Accepted here.
- Day Pass: $45 in advance or $60 at the door.
Amenities
- 🍹 Bar: Central bar with complimentary beer, wine, and spirits.
- 🍲 Food: Buffet with hot and cold items.
- 💺 Seating: Capacity is limited to just 100 people.
- 🚻 Restrooms: Single, one-user-at-a-time bathroom; no showers.
- 🛫 Views: No views (looks into the interior of the terminal).
- 🤦♂️ Crowd: Very busy with a frequent waiting list.
Final Verdict
The Winner: Delta Sky Club. It wasn’t even close! At 7,500 square feet, it felt significantly more spacious than the others. The design is beautiful, the food was solid, and it provided the most relaxing environment before a flight.
The Losers: Chase Sapphire & Escape Lounge (T3). While they offer decent amenities, their small size is a major drawback. Both were completely full with long waitlists during our visit, making them hard to recommend as a reliable place to relax.
Do you have a favorite spot at PHX? Let us know in the comments on our YouTube channel!