With my first RyanAir flight taking me to London’s Stansted Airport, I was happy to see that the airport’s Escape Lounge was a part of the Priority Pass network.
I thought I’d allowed plenty of time to check-out the lounge by arriving 3 hours before my flight, but the realities of flying RyanAir only allowed a few minutes to snap a couple photos, grab a quick bite to eat, and sprint to my gate.
If you’re planning to spend any reasonable amount of time at the Escape Lounge, make sure to get to Stansted plenty early to deal with the insane lines. You also have to take a circuitous route through duty-free and a detour down a flight of stairs before finally arriving at the lounge’s entrance.
The kind receptionist processed entry using my Priority Pass lounge card and reminded me that there would be no flight announcements in the lounge. If you don’t have Priority Pass, you can pay per use for £21 if you pre-book, and £25 if you buy at the door. But let’s be honest, few lounges are worth paying for single admission, and barring exceptional flight delays, I don’t think the Escape Lounge at Stansted is any different.
The lounge is open from 4:00am to 8:30pm daily, with breakfast served until 11am and appetizers/small bites served thereafter. The food area is right next to the check-in desk, and I have to say – everything looked pretty tempting.
The quality of the hot/cold food options were top-notch. The salads were especially appealing, and I liked how the lounge carefully selected items that are easily prepared in the limited confines of an airport kitchen and would then sit well on a counter for hours.
If you’re feeling up for a full meal, the Escape Lounge Stansted also offers a paid a-la-carte menu:
Complimentary alcoholic beverages are available for the bar, as well as coffees, teas, and other refreshments.
The Escape Lounge just opened last year, and the newness hasn’t worn off just yet. The space was tastefully decorated, with separate eating and resting areas. Drink stations were scattered throughout the lounge.
The only downside of this lounge is that it’s rather far away from the gates, even though it’s past security. This along with the crazy long waits at security meant that I only had a few minutes in the Escape Lounge before rushing off to catch my flight.
Escape Lounge Stansted – Final Thoughts
Even though I didn’t get a chance to hang around the lounge for too long, it was clear that the Escape Lounge is a solid place to relax at London’s Stansted airport. Seeing as how there’s a good chance you’re flying RyanAir or another European LCC from Stansted, I’m sure the free drinks and snacks will go a long way in making your upcoming flight more bearable. 😉 Just be sure to get to the airport early, and keep an eye on those flight monitors to avoid missing your flight!
More posts from this trip report series:
Introduction: Race to finish in Stockholm
Review: Wingtips Lounge New York JFK
Review: Hilton London Paddington
10 things to know before flying RyanAir
Review: Escape Lounge London Stansted
Review: Malmö Aviation + Menzies Business Lounges Gothenburg
Review: Hotel Quality Globe Stockholm
Review: Hilton Stockholm Slussen
Review: Menzies Business Lounge Stockholm, Terminal 5