An Escape in the Stansted Escape Lounge
“One of the most valuable aspects of lounge access at the airport is the ability to get out of the crowd, enjoy a bite to eat, and, especially in foreign countries, get access to reliable wifi. The Escape Lounge at Stansted delivers on all aspects.
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Like I mentioned in my previous post, Stansted Airport is chaotic. Luckily, there was a place to escape the chaos before our Ryanair flight, fittingly called the Escape Lounge. As a Priority Pass holder, a perk that I received from my Amex Platinum, CIBC Aventura and BMO Air Miles World Elite credit cards, I was able to enter the lounge for free, escaping the chaotic mess at Stansted Airport, and refuelling me before our two-hour flight to Stockholm.
One of the most valuable aspects of lounge access at the airport is the ability to get out of the crowd, enjoy a bite to eat, and, especially in foreign countries, access to reliable wifi. The Escape Lounge at Stansted delivered all of this. I wish I spent more time at this lounge when I was living in England.
Stansted Airport is a Ryanair fortress, consisting of 70% of all traffic at the airport (2018). Legacy carriers are sparse at the airport, therefore all premium passengers, including those travelling Emirates and British Airways, are directed to this lounge. That being said, the lounge was relatively quiet in the morning, with plenty of space to grab a seat.
If you’re not a member of Priority Pass or a premium passenger, you can access the lounge for 35 each (Pre-book a spot in the Stansted Escape lounge here)
The Escape Lounge has plenty of seating and natural light
The lounge has plenty of space, a welcome reprieve from the cramped and busy Stansted main terminal. The back of the lounge has a space which they close off for Emirates passengers before the flight.
The Stansted Escape Lounge bar has a variety of alcoholic options
The bar area of the lounge was extensive, particularly perfect if you’re looking for a few drinks before a lads weekend to one of Ryanair’s many destinations. The bar menu was as follows:
Furthermore, there were bottles of beer and soda below the food for self-service.
You won’t have to worry about the place going dry…
What I was really impressed with was the selection of food. Compared to many North American Priority Pass lounges I felt that the breakfast spread was expansive (Although it’s not like flying business class around the world). Furthermore, the team at the Escape Lounge constantly refilled items - crucial during the morning rush.
The Point. Overall, the Escape Lounge at Stansted makes it a lot easier for me to fly Ryanair, as I got onto the flight sufficiently full and a bit more relaxed. Even if you’re not a Priority Pass holder, I believe that the Escape truly lives up to its name and provides a great place before a flight.
