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Exclusive first photos of the new Escape airport lounge at Stansted

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The new ‘Escape’ lounge at Stansted Airport opened on Monday.  ‘Escape’ is the in-house brand operated by Manchester Airports Group, who own Stansted.

(This is part of our series of reviews of airport lounges across the UK.  You see all of the reviews here.)

You can book your entry in advance via the airport website here.

‘Escape’ is the first airport lounge to be located in the main departure area at Stansted, on the mezzanine floor.  This means that EVERY passenger can use it, whichever pier they are flying from, although children under 6 are not allowed in.

The lounge takes part in Priority Pass.  It is also part of Lounge Club so it is a good place to use the two free Lounge Club passes that come with the – free for the first year – American Express Gold card (review).  Alternatively, you can buy entrance in advance to guarantee a spot.

Thank you to Mark for these first pictures of the new Escape lounge at Stansted.

Stansted Escape airport lounge 0

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 01

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 1

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 3

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 2

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 7

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 8

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 4

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 9

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Stansted Escape airport lounge 6

You can find out more, and book, on this page of the Stansted Airport website.


Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

American Express Platinum card Amex

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

Nectar American Express

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20.  You get two more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network.  Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Comments (23)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • andystock says:

    Nice! Looks superior to BA’s LGW lounges! (not very hard)

  • elGuiri says:

    I have a Lounge Club card from a year or so ago that I got with Amex Gold, and have not yet used. The expiry date is still a week away. Is there any way for them to check that I no longer have that Amex card, or is the Lounge Pass card completely separate and so still would have 2 valid entries on it to use before the expiry the printed on it?
    I tried looking online for a way to check validity but couldn’t find one.

    • Mark says:

      They are cancelled pretty quickly I think when you cancel the card.

      • Rob says:

        Lounge Club and Priority Pass cards only work when there is a valid credit card ‘guarantee’ on file to pay for extra guests. As your Amex is no longer active, Lounge Club would have no way of being paid for any extra guests you took in and so they close your card even though the two free visits were unused.

        • elGuiri says:

          Ah, ok. As I have a new Amex Gold now anyway, I’ll just have to use the new lounge club card then. Thanks for your help.

  • Mark says:

    Hi Andy

    It was far superior to BA’s lounges, especially Gatwick. In fact I would go as far as saying it was actually nicer than galleries. Obviously it’s brand new and not everything’s free but for comfort and design it was most definitely up there.

    One thing I have to praise were the staff, they were so friendly and couldn’t have been more helpful. I had better staff and service in this lounge than I’ve had on some BA F flights!

    The whole airport had a fresh new feel although still in the final stages of its refit I think it’s been done very well.

    • elGuiri says:

      Hi Mark,
      Could you let us know what wasn’t free in the lounge? If my Lounge Pass is still valid I will be there this weekend, and am hoping it will be able to save me a hotel breakfast.
      Thanks

  • Mark says:

    Free items are cereals, pastries, cheese selection, cakes, fresh cooked bacon or sausage rolls, tea, coffee, juice etc.

    If you want a full english (which was very nice by the way) then it’s an extra £6.95

  • Alex says:

    Sat in here now. Brilliant place!
    Free bacon or sausage bap. Fantastic cheese and bacon croissants. Basic spritits & drinks (Gordon’s) free. Then tanqaury etc. paid.

  • Rich says:

    Anyone try using PP or Lounge Club cards to go thru fast track security ?

  • George says:

    Anyone know if AirportAngel passes are accepted ?

  • Liz says:

    I’ve just received my first Lounge Club card after taking out the Preferred Gold Card. Are the two complimentary visits only for the named person on the card or can I use the 2 passes in one visit for me and my husband – or do I have to pay £15 for him as a guest?

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.