Escape Lounge - Oakland
When We Visited: January 2026
How We Got In: The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for Business, & The American Express Platinum Card
I currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card & J has the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for Business and the American Express Platinum Card, all of which come with the Priority Pass and lounge access.
Overview: On our recent trip to New Orleans, we took a 5:00 am flight out of Oakland International Airport. We made a quick stop at the Escape Lounge for a moment of quiet and a quick bite before our early flight.
The lounge itself is just fine. It overlooks the tarmac, providing a nice view when it’s light enough to see outside. Other than that, it’s fairly unremarkable. The interior is small, but Oakland airport isn’t usually busy, so it’s never been an issue - we’ve gotten in every time we’ve tried without a wait. The food in the morning consists of simple, continental breakfast items like hard boiled eggs, yogurt, fruit, and cereal. J and I both had a bowl of yogurt, which did the trick for our empty stomachs at 4:00 am. They have a standard selection of juice and sodas available, along with an espresso machine to brew your own cup. Normally I would have grabbed a latte, but passed since I wanted to sleep on the flight. Perhaps the most disappointing part of the lounge is that it doesn’t have its own restroom - you have to leave the lounge and go out into the terminal if you need to “go”.
Tip: The staff at the lounge were very friendly and helpful. The employee who checked us into the lounge gave us a great tip when he saw J had the American Express Business Platinum Card in his wallet. He told us that Priority Pass lounges give preference to American Express Platinum Card holders when there is a wait. According to this employee, they will put you at the top of the waitlist at Escape Lounges if you have a Platinum Card. He recommended checking in with the Platinum Card instead of our Priority Pass if we’re ever trying to get into a lounge with a long wait. We haven’t tried this strategy yet, but once we do, I’ll let you know if it works.
My Assessment: Though the Escape Lounge at the Oakland Airport isn’t anything special, I’ll go back every time I fly out of Oakland for a few simple reasons: 1. It’s currently the only lounge available at Oakland International Airport, which we fly out of frequently. 2. While the lounge is mediocre, it provides a quiet, calm place to wait for your flight, away from the chaos of the terminal. 3. Though the food isn’t great, airport food is usually mediocre. So I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing much on quality by opting for the lounge rather than eating in the terminal. 4. Alcohol is free once you’re inside the lounge! Though we didn’t drink on this visit (it was 4:00 am after all) we often enjoy a glass or two of sparkling wine before a flight. This can add up quickly if you’re paying for each glass, so if you’re drinking (and need to pay to get into the lounge,) the price is typically well worth it. Which brings me to 5. If you have a credit card that gives you access to Priority Pass Lounges for free, it’s a no brainer. Knowing you have a calm, quiet place to wait for your flight and drink for free, makes the Escape Lounge well worth the visit even if it isn’t the most impressive airport lounge out there.