No Result
View All Result
Eye of the Flyer
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • CardMatch™
    • Eye of the Flyer Recommended Cards
    • Best Welcome Offers
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • Gas Rewards Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Student Credit Cards
    • Visa Credit Cards
    • Mastercards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit or Limited Credit
    • Secured Cards
  • CardMatch™
  • Cruises
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • CardMatch™
    • Eye of the Flyer Recommended Cards
    • Best Welcome Offers
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • Gas Rewards Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Student Credit Cards
    • Visa Credit Cards
    • Mastercards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit or Limited Credit
    • Secured Cards
  • CardMatch™
  • Cruises
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

A Visit to the Escape Lounge Oakland – a Centurion Studio Partner (Review)

Chris Carley by Chris Carley
December 14, 2022
in Trip Reports
12
a glass doors in a building

Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.

My wife’s grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday(!) a few weeks ago in Walnut Creek, California. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the closest field with major airline service to the alleged creek flowing with walnuts.

So, we hopped on a Southwest Airlines flight home to Burbank (BUR). But we had a  couple of hours before our trip — and our flight was delayed (which is becoming more frequent with my Southwest trips, for some reason).

That gave us plenty of time to visit the Escape Lounge Oakland – a Centurion Studio Partner.

Where is the Escape Lounge Oakland – a Centurion Studio Partner?

Once you clear security, go up the escalators and hang a right. Follow the signs for “Airport Lounge.”

a sign in an airport

You’ll find the Escape Lounge Oakland near gates 8 and 9 and across from the Oak Grove Eatery.

people walking in a airport

The walk takes about 7-10 minutes from security.

How to Access the Escape Lounge Oakland

The lounge is available to people who hold one of five credit cards:

  • The Centurion® Card from American Express
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card 
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
  • (All information related to The Centurion® Card from American Express was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer and was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card members may visit the lounge only on days during which they fly a Delta-marketed and operated itinerary. Plus, that trip must be purchased with a U.S.-issued American Express card.

The club is open from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.

Also, don’t confuse “Escape Lounge” with “Escape Club.”

Inside the Escape Lounge Oakland

Size-wise, let’s say this lounge is fairly cozy.

people sitting in a lounge area

a room with chairs and tables

two chairs and a table in a room

a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant

That’s pretty much the entire place.

Like most lounges, its occupancy fluctuated during our 90-minute stay. It was packed just before we left. Other times, the place was practically empty.

I didn’t notice an abundance of USB and electrical outlets. So, make sure your electric devices are charged or you have decent battery backup.

Food and Beverage at the Escape Lounge Oakland

We didn’t leave hungry.

Salmon filets and rice were offered on the buffet. They feature a bit of a kick but nothing this bland enthusiast couldn’t handle.

a trays of food on a counter

Some tasty soups and charcuterie were also available.


a buffet with food on the counter

My daughter enjoyed some of the snacky items like chips.

Beverage-wise, there’s soda, coffee, water, booze — the usual stuff.

a coffee machine on a counter

The bar is seen at the Escape Lounge - The Centurion® Studio Partner at Oakland International Airport (OAK)
The bar is seen at the Escape Lounge Oakland

This is annoying: there’s no self-serve ice. You have to ask for it at the bar.

Speaking of the bar: The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express members receive complimentary upgrades from well liquor to mid-tier offerings. (This was my first Escape Lounge visit in a while — is the Platinum liquor upgrade a chain feature?)

For example, the bartender offered me Maker’s Mark or Bulleit bourbon instead of Jim Beam. My wife enjoyed Tito’s vodka in her Bloody Mary instead of the house hooch. (I forgot to ask — bad blogger!)

The service was decent. The staff was a bunch of characters — and I mean that in a fun, pleasant way. My only complaint is that tables sat with trash for a while — as the staff chatted away near the bar. (But they were amusing and funny.)

Final Approach

I won’t hesitate to visit the Escape Lounge Oakland again. Is this on par with the Centurion Lounges? No.

That said, the food is good, the liquor upgrade feature is appreciated, and I like having a place to go instead of the crowded gates where my Southwest flights are always delayed.

Have you been to the Escape Lounge Oakland?

 

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Tags: AffiliateCocktailsDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express CardThe Business Platinum Card® from American ExpresThe Platinum Card® from American Express
Previous Post

Yikes: Delta Reportedly Suffered an Operational Meltdown in Boston on Sunday Night

Next Post

Delta’s Update on the Employee Injured During a Horrific Ramp Accident in Atlanta

Chris Carley

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

Next Post
Los Angeles, California, USA - March 10, 2010: Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 airplane taking off from Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta's Update on the Employee Injured During a Horrific Ramp Accident in Atlanta

Comments 12

  1. NedsKid says:
    2 years ago

    “The walk takes about 7-10 minutes from security. (If you’re flying Delta, you’ll probably want to double that time to get your gate once you leave the lounge.)”

    Question – shouldn’t that be if you’re flying Southwest? Delta’s gates are literally right next door to this lounge (everybody but WN is within about 5 gates).

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      2 years ago

      Correcting, thanks.

      Reply
  2. Sara J says:
    2 years ago

    Thanks for the review. I fly OAK sometimes to get good deals, and have always wondered about the lounge offerings. OAK also has interesting descriptions of the history of the people and the bay, which I enjoy reading even if I am not flying out of that terminal.

    Reply
  3. DEE says:
    2 years ago

    Have visited the Escape Lounge in Providence RI a few times…Over the past 2 years the expresso machine has been out of order(also at other EL places). Last visit no hot food just some(3) cold sandwiches as the cook did not show up that day… Other times it has been very food sparse. In the only lounge at Sacramento (escape lounge) You have had to order via QR code and they bring it to you but last visit some food out…But expresso machine out of order still.They used to have reserve tables for Platinum and Cenutrion members but that has gone away the last few months…

    Reply
  4. Jacques MTL says:
    2 years ago

    That girl was giving you the stink eye for getting her in your 1st lounge pic

    Reply
  5. Robert says:
    2 years ago

    We were there Monday night this week. Seats were available but there was nearly no food and when some appeared it disappeared nearly immediately. The place was filthy dirty, the bar not consistently staffed. With limited power it made more sense to walk over near gate 30 and be all alone with abundant power. This lounge isn’t worth a visit, I’m glad you found it in a slightly better state.

    Reply
  6. NutCase says:
    2 years ago

    Imagine thinking you have the punchiest lede of the year, while failing to grasp that walnuts and almonds are not the same thing.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      2 years ago

      Fair enough. True story: I ate almonds while writing about Walnut Creek. Found a good deal on them at the grocery store.

      Also, I’ve had nuttier ledes.

      Reply
  7. Herm says:
    2 years ago

    I was first reading this as an “escape room” (to while away a long connection), sigh it’s just a lounge.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      2 years ago

      Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into an escape room! Have a great trip!

      Reply
  8. Jolted jots says:
    2 years ago

    I was there a week ago. Food was below average and the non-alcoholic drinks. May be escape lounges are not that great. This is my first exhale lounge though

    Reply
    • NedsKid says:
      2 years ago

      I’m not sure their complete history but the first Escape lounge I have known of has been probably close to 5 years ago at MSP and it has consistently had good plentiful food. I’ve used the one at BDL sparingly over this same period and it’s definitely above average.

      Probably like the offerings from The Club… there is a lot of variability (which they need to fix, or I’m sure Amex will force Escape to do so). Some Club lounges are great like CLT with a good amount of food and table service (admittedly I’ve seldom visited after 630am) and others leave a lot be desired (like ATL).

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

➤ Search Eye of the Flyer

No Result
View All Result

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

GREAT Travel and Cash Back Card Offers for Spring 2025!

Eye of the Flyer may receive a commission from the links below. See our Privacy Policy

See some of the biggest and best offers now!
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card CardBIGGEST EVER OFFER! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases within three (3) months of being approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card! (Learn here how to apply. All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was gathered independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)
Capital One Venture X Business
Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Then, earn an additional 200,000 miles after you spend a total of $200,000 within the first six (6) months. That's a total of 350,000 miles. Learn here how to apply.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on the card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms Apply. This offer expires on May 14, 2025.). Read more and learn here how to apply.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Plus, receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year. Learn more here.

 

American Express® Business Gold Card

American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Plus, enjoy a 0% introductory APR for the first six (6) months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 27.49% variable APR. (See Rates & Fees) Terms apply.. Learn more here.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 bonus American Express® Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. This offer expires on June 30, 2025. Terms apply.. Plus, enjoy select airport lounge access, statement credit opportunities galore, and more! Read here why we love this card.

 

Eye of the Flyer partner offer!CardMatch™CardMatch™
Offers may not be available to all users.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eye of the Flyer with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Resources

  • ✍ Editors Disclaimer
  • 💰 Advertiser Disclosure
  • 🔒 Privacy Policy
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
  • CardMatch™
  • Cruises
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2025 Eye of the Flyer. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • CardMatch™
    • Eye of the Flyer Recommended Cards
    • Best Welcome Offers
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • Gas Rewards Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Student Credit Cards
    • Visa Credit Cards
    • Mastercards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit or Limited Credit
    • Secured Cards
  • CardMatch™
  • Cruises
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2025 Eye of the Flyer. All Rights Reserved.

Cleantalk Pixel
No Result
View All Result
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • CardMatch™
    • Eye of the Flyer Recommended Cards
    • Best Welcome Offers
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • Gas Rewards Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Student Credit Cards
    • Visa Credit Cards
    • Mastercards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit or Limited Credit
    • Secured Cards
  • CardMatch™
  • Cruises
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2025 Eye of the Flyer. All Rights Reserved.