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How to sit front row at the US Open - 10 best free perks

Free VIP Reserve Seating - learn how to sit front-row for free and filmed on Netflix

Read our ticket-buying tips, articles, and credit card discount codes
  • Public Ticket Sales - June 3 @ 9AM EST
  • Buying early is most helpful in securing round 1 tickets.
  • Less stress if you have committed to travel dates and lodging.
  • For week 2 seats, plan for July to see any (BOGO) buy one, get one free promo.


Buying late or last minute? You risk paying a bit more for resell.
The trade-off by August after the draw is out. Everyone already knows who's likely playing when and where. There will be a mad dash for the best matches.

How long should you stay for the Open? 3 days or more if you are sightseeing in NYC.
Cover your tennis bases by attending at least 2 consecutive days (day and/or night sessions). That's the best way to see most players on the field. The dates 8/29-8/31 will be a good bet for Rounds 3 and 4.

US Open Fan Week - Week 1 Scouting Report

Tennis-Bargains has returned from NYC after spending the first 8 days of the US Open scouting. We recruited readers to share their stories. We post our real photos, seat shade maps, and impressions on the grounds for all the best goodies to experience.

Secret shoppers helped us sample all the food and shops this year, along with their honest feedback.


Our VIP Chase Lounge Guests on week 1 in 2023. Welcome to NYC!
We supply free VIP lounge passes to visiting fans and followers each year (perk #2).



During Fan Week, the Chase DNCE Soundcheck offered users an in-person experience at this sold-out concert.

We were among the first to sign up and tell the public about it.

The 2022 DNCE music concert was completely sold out in just hours! We gifted four very lucky fans a seat later. They were big fans of "Cake by the Ocean".

During the US Open, check Facebook and IG for our giveaways and extra ticket releases.

Sold-out 8/26 DNCE and Joe Jonas - Chase Sound Check concert tickets.
Our 4 lucky winners all got to go. Sent via Ticketmaster seat transfer emails!



Disclosure:
We are not sponsored by the US Open, USTA, JP Morgan, Amex, or any of their paid advertisers.
All opinions below are my own as a "Tennis super fan" for over 15 years.

I will not endorse any perks I haven't personally tested, and even then, only if I would use it myself.

To support USA Tennis and Charities:
We dedicate a small percentage of our ticket profits back to growing the game whenever fans buy tickets directly from our links. You help us continue to operate independently and contribute to charity work each year.

US Tennis is funded with each ticket you buy. Along with Humanitarian and Hurricane relief we donate each year. We also collect dollars from the ticket fees to put them back to support worthy causes responsibly.

Charities we have funded with tennis ticket fees: "Tennis Plays for Peace", "The American Red Cross",  "Aceing Autism," and "USTA with Tennis United."


Tennis travel fans can also follow us on Instagram or join our "US Open Fans and Friends" Facebook Group.

US Open Freebies: some luck, some skill - all good!

US Open Fans and Friends - advance info for savvy fans

Arriving at 9:30 each morning, I discovered some lesser-known perks that even US Open ushers and their supervisors needed to learn.

Our email VIP subscribers (anyone who regularly opens and clicks our links) will get priority access to our previews.

Last month, we revealed this fantastic, all-new 2022 feature called "Chase Pass," which offers only 100 daily bracelets for exclusive access and reserved seating.

Sponsor Faceoff: Chase vs. Amex Perks. Chase Wins 3-2

  1. Chase Pass gets you into Grandstand Reserve Seating @ Section 2, Rows M-O (front baseline seats with Chase Logos). Great shade after 4pm! I invited fans and fellow tennis coaches.

    Each day, lucky friends (new and old) joined me in watching players like Felix AA.
    These seats were so good that one guy even suggested I shouldn't tell anyone else!

  2. Chase Lounge - advance RSVP required. It gets you A/C, fruit cups, ice cream, and more. You can bring up to 3 guests. Enjoy! For a standby waitlist, register at the door at 10AM.

    Best Snacks: Free fruit cups, Kind Bars, popcorn, refreshments, ice cream, hat, and A/C!!

  3. Chase Terrance - Great Snacks and Views

    Elevated side-court viewing just behind the Grandstand


    Spreading the joys of tennis; Famous World's Fair globe background.

  4. Chase Pass for Reserve Seating at Grandstand
    I often sat here watching players like Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime from the baseline. For Day 1, I had just paid over $180 for a similar grandstand seat just a few rows away. I discovered the specially-branded Chase logo seats in Section 2! Four daily single matches were played here during week 1.


    With our seats, you may get a cameo on Netflix while filming Break Point.

    Buying these seats separately will cost you a pretty penny.


    After some investigative research and asking around several US Open ushers and supervisors, I discovered the special Chase Pass (limit 100 per day) grants you a bracelet that allows you to sit in the first 3 rows (M-O) of the baseline at the Grandstand court for free!

    It was actually outlined on the usher's papers, but many were still learning about it. Most fans had no idea why these seats were all branded "Chase" on the front.

  5. What to Skip: the Amex Centurion
    After spending so much effort reserving a Resy spot, I had high hopes. Inside the Amex Centurion, the appetizers were modest but nothing amazing.

    It was basically a bar with very small portions of samplers and pretzels to munch on. The free Honey Deuce and sweet deserts were the main highlights.

     


    The free gift in the black to-go bag was a large bottle of sunscreen. You can also pick one of 3 travel keys (JFK, LAX, DEN), and each gives you something unique (travel pillow, candle, or board game).
    Free Bag Check when you show your Amex card. Even the $10 large luggage fee was waived.


  6. Cadillac's Laser Display was a big, long trap

    You must fill out your entire life's driving and financial history on endless survey form pages while crawling through the line. Only moving when the other 10-15 people inside the square room with mirrors were done with the funhouse. You realize it is just a fancy 10-minute advertisement.

    There's nothing interactive, and they ask you to complete another post-experience survey at the end! Skip this timeshare infomercial for last or all together. Note: one fan claims she received a $20 voucher card after the 2nd survey, but I did not. YMMV.


  7. Tips for Lounge Guests and Waitlists Access
    For the Centurion, after many false reservation availability teaser emails sent from Resy, most fans gave up. I already had an RSVP for Day 2. At first, I was told I could bring 2 friends as a Platinum member, and then later told that I could not. With the Chase Lounge, at least each morning, you could just sign up for their waitlist starting around 10AM.

    At the JFK Centurion lounge at Terminal 4, there was almost a 30-minute security line plus another 15-30 min wait just to get into the lounge for even 1 single person. Even worse was that the AirTrain was single-track. Travelers were on a wait list stretching out the door, so I decided to skip it to avoid missing my flight. What good is a perk that you can never enjoy?!

    Chase no annual fee Flex Freedom card with 5% off US Open and Ticketmaster purchases after activation! Sign up before buying your tickets.
    Get $200 off $500 in the first 3 months with this Chase sign-up bonus.

  8. Mobile Chargers - Tie?
    Amex chargers are smaller, but they need to supply you with the right cable (I received a lightning cable and had to swap it for a USB-C). However, they give you a return confirmation message right away. Amex chargers are available on the 2nd floor of the Amex Member Lounge (not the Centurion).

    Chase chargers are distributed in large booths throughout the US Open grounds.
    To eject a charger, text the booth's Two-Digit number (ex: '02' not '2') to +1-424-416-0216.

    This was confusing because I initially texted "2" instead of "02" which returned an invalid message. But once you receive it, you can charge up using any of the 3 built-in cables and return them to any charging station or large box return bins scattered around the grounds.

  9. Best Freebies:
    1. IHG Hotels - free 5 min shoulder massage
      Rumor is you also can get a free drink coupon if you show them your email sign-up.
    2. Free Sunscreen from La Roche-Posay
    3. Emirate Airlines - Round, Red Seat Cushion (1 in 6 chance daily spin)
    4. Amex Radios - listen to what is happening inside the US Open Ashe Stadium.
      Hear commentary while watching other matches outside.
    5. Chase: ATM Slot Machine
      Win a random gift: pair of sunglasses, a cup holder, etc. (use PIN code #7890)

  10. Amex Free Indoor Tennis Courts - No special cards are needed at the back of the Amex Members Lounge. Any kid or adult can sign the waiver and get an Amex white bracelet to hit some tennis balls on an indoor court next to the Billy Jean King tennis center.

    Wilson has free demo rackets (105 frames and Wilson Hammer frames being the most popular), coaches, and several different drills each hour during the day. Play tennis at the NTC!

  11. US Open Meal Allowance Cards ($$ to use for food) - 2024 available for USTA members
Chase also handed out $10 meal allowance cards.
They quickly ran out after the first 2 days. This was the very last one.

Since I have one unused meal card, I gave it to one VIP Fan as part of our Finals Weekend giveaway. Two pairs of US Open tickets for the Women's Saturday and Men's Sunday Final.

Our fans are automatically entered to win our extra US Open and NYC event tickets!

Each year, we highlight and feature our 3 Favorite US Open Sponsors
Best in Class: 1) Freebies, 2) Food, and 3) Fun Booths.