Escape Lounge West Palm Beach review (TLDR: their definition of ‘escape’ is kinda iffy)
I’ve visited a lot of poorly named airport lounges over the years, but the Escape Lounge at the West Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is maybe the worst of them all.
Since when is a tiny overcrowded lounge with limited seating options considered to be an ‘escape’?
I guess if they’re claiming it to be an escape from the wide open space of the main terminal, they’re not wrong.
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Location
The PBI Escape Lounge is located in Concourse B. You’ll see it immediately after clearing the security checkpoint, which is nice because it means you won’t have to walk very far to reach it.
How to get in
Escape lounges are fully independent and not partnered with any particular airline. They have partnered up with American Express though, which is good news for Amex cardholders such as myself.
There are basically two ways to get in:
- Flash your American Express Platinum Card (or your American Express Delta Sky Miles Reserve Card) for complementary access.
- Pay the entrance fee (which, at the time of this writing, is $65). You can even make a reservation online to avoid the possibility of having to wait in line.
Layout
Unlike the large (and multi room) Escape Lounge at the Fort Lauderdale Airport, the one here in West Palm Beach is tiny. Like, teeny tiny.
The entire floor plan consists of one room. The bar is located on the far end, with the self serve food buffet island located directly parallel to it.
Seating options in this lounge are limited. It’s an extremely dense layout, which means that you will find zero peace and quiet (and privacy) in here. Prepare to rub elbows with complete strangers for the entire duration of your visit.
It’s also worth noting that there are no showers in this lounge. It’s just not that kind of place.
Food and drinks
The only saving grace of this lounge is the decent selection of food available. The menu is simple, consisting of one or two hot entrees with a variety of cold pasta salads. Sandwiches and desserts are also available – much like how it was in the Phoenix Escape Lounge.
Pros and cons
The West Palm Beach International Airport is pretty nice, so making the effort to squeeze into this wee little Escape Lounge it isn’t worth it in my opinion. Not even for the food. It’s just too claustrophobic to fully enjoy the benefits of IMHO.
Pros
- The food is pretty good. It’s hardly amazing, but there’s lots of it.
- I really liked the large windows and the way they let in a lot of natural light.
- The location is excellent (right at the entrance of Concourse B).
Cons
- It’s probably the smallest and most crowded airport lounge that I’ve ever visited.
- Being crowded means being noisy. It’s not exactly a tranquil environment.
- There is no self serve alcohol. Getting a stiff drink at the bar will require interacting with a real human being.
