San Diego airport is getting an Escape Lounge, which are especially nice common use lounges generally accessible with Priority Pass.
Centurion Studio lounges are branded Escape lounges, but American Express tells me this one will be a standalone Escape lounge and not part of their partnership. Of course the same Amex cardholders should be able to use the lounge with their card’s Priority Pass benefits – as well Chase, Capital One and other premium card cardmembers. Escape Lounges that aren’t Centurion Studios are currently part of the Priority Pass network.
Escape Lounge, Reno
The lounge will be approximately 9,844 square feet: 899 square foot lobby; 6,860 enclosed space, and 2,085 square foot outdoor space. San Diego is perfect for outdoor lounge footprint. This is part of the new terminal 1 project at the airport. Here’s the location where the new lounge will sit:
Here’s the .pdf of the RFP package for the lounge. PlanetBids shows that Airport Dimensions (The Club) and TAV Services (Primeclass, or potentially working with Capital One) bid on this, but the bid result shows CAVU Experiences (AMER) LLC as winner. They operate Ecape lounges.
- The airport requires that the lounge offer pay-in day use access, must be open 365 days a year at least 30 minutes prior to the opening of the nearest security checkpoint and remain open through the last departure.
- And that amenities feature: premium entrance; areas for families, solo travelers, and business use; dining area, in-lounge restrooms, showers, mother’s room, quiet space, TV lounge, individual workspaces, plentiful charging, kids’ area, and flight information display. It’s required to have food, beverage, full bar, cable TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, self-service printing.
- The Lease Outline Diagram in the RFP shows that the outdoor area sits on the roof within a 4,259 square foot (only 2,272 square feet may be occupied at any time). The club interior is on Level 3 while the lobby space is on the departures level with stairs and elevator up to the lounge.
- This is a 15-year lease with estimated $9.5 million initial capital expense, required mid-term refresh at year 7 (~ 15% of initial investment, though negotiable). Deliveries must go via Centralized Receiving & Distribution (Bradford Airport Logistics).
Escape Lounge Reno
The legacy Terminal 1 opened in 1967 and is being fully replaced by the “New T1” in two phases. It will offer 30 gates total, new roadway access, and a new parking plaza.
- Phase 1A (19 gates): existing T1 carriers Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country – plus JetBlue, Allegiant, and Breeze. Air Canada and WestJet join next.
- Then the remaining old T1 is demolished to finish the build.
- Phase 1B (11 gates) projected for 2028. Delta moves in.
During construction San Diego closed several old T1 gates and temporarily moved JetBlue (T2W) and Allegiant (T2E) into terminal 2.
Currently, San Diego’s terminal 2 has an Aspire lounge; United Club; Delta Sky Club; and Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
I have reached out to Manchester Airport Group, the parent company that runs Escape Lounges, and have not yet received a response.
Niccce. The Escape lounges in FLL and PBI are a decent alternative to full-scale Amex Centurions; at least there it’s somewhat Amex affiliated. Priority Pass often has better (if not the only) options overseas, so it’s good to see a few ‘new’ locations in the USA, too. I’ve always found it interesting how in the Caribbean, it’s usually small airports, one lounge, PP, no access via business class tickets with the ‘big three.’ Like, oh, goodie, get to use one of my 6 memberships that came with the cards.
Terminal 1 doesn’t have a lounge. It’s primarily been a Southwest terminal in recent years with a few other low budget airlines added in. Locals were so happy to get T2 built and finally have access to lounges (although the common lounge actually is pretty awful). I find it amusing they are spending so much money on a lounge in T1. I guess Delta will win. I don’t fly any airlines out of T1 enough to care any more (a Southwest flight only if I’ve managed to snag A-list).