January 3, 2025
The incoming Escape Lounge of the eponymous lounge network will be the first of its kind at the Portland International Airport. Currently, PDX houses only the Alaska Airlines and Delta Lounges that are reserved for Elite Tier members and same-day premium ticket holders.
The Escape chain, on the other hand, is a network accessible via elite travel cards such as the American Express Centurion®️, Platinum Card®️, Business Platinum Card®️ and Corporate Platinum Card®️ Members and Delta SkyMiles®️ Reserve and Delta SkyMiles®️ Reserve Business Card Members if they are booked on a Delta flight the same day. Additionally, limited access is available to those with other lounge memberships such as Priority Pass, Dragonpass, TAV Passport Card and Dreamfolks Card, but make sure to confirm with your desired lounge as access through these channels are limited to specific locations. Day passes are also available for purchase if capacity allows.
The Escape Lounge chain, which albeit is still quite small in comparison to some of the larger networks, appears to be steadily expanding as we speak.( where else are they opening?). Several months ago they made the exciting announcement that select lounge locations in their network would be accessible for Priority Pass members which had not been included previously. So far it has not been announced if the new lounge at PDX will be included in this subset of access but I am keeping my fingers crossed! I have reached out to a few outlets but am yet to hear back with any updates. Since the revocation of Priority Pass Select Restaurant Credit access to businesses like the Capers Cafe and the Westward Whiskey, those with lounge access via credit cards have been at a loss at PDX. Lucky for us Portlanders, our beloved airport is still one of the best in the nation, continually voted in the top ranks if not THE top for our local restaurants and limits on price gouging in comparison to in-town pricing. However, the credit that I was using for my complimentary glasses of wine and grab and go sandwiches and pastries before my flights were a perk I looked forward to that I miss dearly since the changes stripped this access in July of 2024. When the announcement was made just a few months before it took effect, I admit I was irrationally disheartened with this change to the access as it was months after getting my Chase Sapphire Reserve card that I had gotten for specifically this access. To boot, the annual premium for this card is a hefty $595 which is on the higher end of premium travel cards and not something I take lightly! I realize to the full extent that this is ‘first world problems’, but as a lover of small luxuries in my otherwise middle class life, I very much loved and looked forward to using my credit and treating friends to their snacks and occasional full hot meals when flying out of the concourse with the full Capers Market restaurant.
The new lounge boasts 11,000 square feet, which to date will be the largest in the Escape Lounge network yet. Located towards the tip of Concourse D, across from gate D11 and a quick trot and across the hall from the Delta Lounge. I cannot help but wonder if this new lounge may possibly be Delta’s solution to the overcrowding that has become synonymous with their lounges as they have received quite a bit of heat in the last several years from elite and premium card carriers that have been dismayed at their inability to access these coveted lounges due to capacity. And since American Express is a partner of Delta, I am bracing myself for the possibility that us Priority Pass holders may be left out of this equation and will instead be hoping for another future lounge opening or re-expanded restaurant credit benefits to make holding premium travel credit cards a valuable asset in our home airport. Although the lounge was set to open at the end of 2024, lounge openings are notoriously delayed and as I write this at the beginning of January 2025 it has still yet to open and there have been no news on timeline for the unveiling.
Lounge access via credit cards is constantly changing and unfortunately comes without guarantees. To get an overview on credit cards with lounge access, check out this article from The Points Guy or this one from Thrifty Traveler. For a video breakdown, check out this video by John Liang. These sources are some of my favorite for all things travel and credit cards. Once again, as the landscape for lounge access is in constant flux, it is always best to go directly to the website for the card you are interested in to see what is currently included for lounge benefits.
To read further regarding the credit cards I use for lounge access please read my articles on the Venture X credit card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.