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Finding Level 1 Delta business class awards to Europe (Sweden) – Part 1
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class outbound via Manchester – Part 2
The Escape Lounge Manchester T3 – Part 3
KLM Euro business class to Amsterdam & Gothenburg – Part 4
The smallest lounge EVER – the Ford business class lounge in Gothenburg GOT- Part 5
The Club Carlson Park Inn by Radisson Stockholm – Part 6
Hertz Presidents Circle GOLD club rental in Sweden – Part 7
KLM Euro business class to Amsterdam & Manchester – Part 8
The KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam #25 – Part 9
ASPIRE lounge #26 Amsterdam AMS Priority Pass lounge review – Part 10
SPG Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel Schiphol suite review- Part 11
The Escape Lounge Manchester T2 for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class guests review- Part 12
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Manchester to Atlanta – Part 13
Final thoughts, costs and Virgin vs. DeltaONE to Europe – Part 14
The above screen shot for the Escape Lounge Manchester (MAN) T3 is impressive. The lounge itself, a bit less so. But more on that in a bit.
Arriving at MAN T2, most passengers went right to customs, but just to the left of the exit doors is a small sign for transfers. Once downstairs we were told to wait for other passengers to be bussed over to T3. None came down so we got a private bus ride over.
Think of this as a really big Delta Porsche or Lufthansa ride to the next plane (ok, maybe pushing it a little, but it is always fun to be driving around the “inside” of the airport to me).
After arriving at T3 we are escorted part way to another security screening (not sure why) and then walk what seemed like a long way to the central part of T3 and found the elevators up to a number of lounges including the neat sounding “Escape” lounge.
The lounge is a contract lounge that services Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers as well as other Skyteam members and, if you happen to have the non-Delta AMEX Platinum card either personal or the AMEX business Platinum card and get the free Priority Pass card then you can enter the lounge.
I have been to a great number of contract lounges (do note, Delta has dumped a number of 3rd party / contract lounges world wide to save money). Some of them are very nice while others are just a break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the airport. This one really was the latter. There are a few things I want in any lounge. In no real order are, some quiet, wifi, free drinks (normal and alcohol), some food, service (sometimes for flights) and a shower is a very nice thing to see as well.
The Escape lounge was a bit more quiet than the rest of the concourse so I will give them that. As far as food goes – very basic and continental-ish. There was lots of food for purchase (hate that with a passion) as well as over priced drinks (also really hate that).
Wifi was OK but nothing amazing. There are no showers and you would think you could get a decent cup of tea in a British lounge but you would be wrong here too.
Overall I was, to be kind, underwhelmed and mostly wanted to escape from the Escape lounge to my next KLM flight.
I sure would not “pay” to enter this lounge but if you have free access it is better than sitting at the gate or having to pay for snacks and some drinks at gate. I sure would not go out of my way to get to the airport early to spend extra time in this lounge like say a Centurion lounge that I will intentionally schedule many hours at between (or before or after) flights.
Next up in my report I continue to be impressed with what KLM can provide on a very short “domestic” business class flight to Sweden (via AMS). – René
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This lounge is also not an option for families travelling with small children as it denies admission to children under 6. According to Priority Pass, none of the Escape lounges at MAN allow children under 6. Aspire in Terminal 1 or Swissport in Terminal 2 are better lounge options for Priority Pass members at MAN provided that their boarding pass gets them through security and those lounges have room to admit new customers.
A couple of thoughts:
(1) This was surprising to me when I flew almost the same itinerary as you. Manchester has emerged as a major UK city just behind London in recent years but the airport is really, really pathetic. The lack of lounges and even flagship, trademark Virgin Atlantic services was really, really surprising.
(2) I didn’t think the food, at least for breakfast, was that bad. They had unlimited pop in bottles, which was nice. I wouldn’t have paid for anything off the menu, though. Not just because of the cost but namely the quality. I saw them making the food in the microwave! I’d rather pay for something in the airport restaurant than a microwaved TV dinner in the airport lounge.
(3) You’re right about the noise. It wasn’t quiet. In fact, it was pretty full because so many airlines use it. The airport also makes a big deal about selling day passes to travelers, too. I think it comes with some sort of parking package.
(4) I didn’t have a problem with wireless internet but I did have trouble finding electrical outlets.
(5) I also thought it was weird that the toilets (or water-closets, as Britons say) were located outside the lounge.
I used this lounge in September last year. I was flying MAN-AMS-TXL. When I got to the desk the agent asked to see my boarding pass and credentials, and I showed her my Platinum Medallion card…she let me in…lol. It felt like just because it said Platinum on it she was like…go on. I had Priority Pass just in case, but I thought it was funny how she really denied the teens trying to sneak free beers ahead of me, but then rarely gave my documents a second look (my physical appearance being closer to the teens than to a businessman). The bacon sandwich was good…got me set for my ungodly [early] departure to get to Berlin and not sleep for 4 days 🙂