Escape Lounges are about to get a lot more crowded now that most of them have joined the Priority Pass network. As noted on the Priority Pass Lounge Updates page, a slew of Escape Lounges have joined the network.
Prior to today,lounges in the United States (Lounges in the UK already had access via Priority Pass) could be accessed by paying a fee or through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. This is a group of lounges available to AmEx Platinum Cardholders.
Starting today, the following 10 Escape Lounges (in no particular order) can be accessed via Priority Pass:
- Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Columbus John Glenn International Airport (CMH)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF) Terminals A and B
The Escape Lounge at Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport was already part of the Priority Pass network.
In most cases, these lounges are the only Priority Pass lounges in the airports listed above. This marks a huge network expansion for Priority Pass customers while its a downgrade for AmEx cardholders due to the additional crowding that is sure to follow.
Four Escape Lounges did not join Priority Pass, these are:
- Ft. Lauderdale International Airport (FLL)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Summary
The majority of the Escape Lounges in the United States have joined Priority Pass. This brings them in line with their other lounges in the United Kingdom. Four U.S. lounges in Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Portland, and Reno have elected not to join Priority Pass.
This is a big win for Priority Pass cardholders as many of these airports had no Priority Pass eligible lounges prior to this announcement. Unfortunately, if you’re an American Express Platinum cardholder, these lounges that used to be a quiet oasis are about to get much busier.
Another degradation of Amex benefits.
Some of those like CMH, BDL, PHX are really tiny. I was in BDL last week and it maybe seats 35 people and most of that are at two person tables for dining.
I haven’t been to any of them that I would consider large. GSP is fine but that was when it was AmEx only. Imagine it’ll fill up quickly with the new changes.
The Escape lounge in PHX is just sad