Update: Looks like only the MSP escape lounge is leaving.
We previously reported that American Express Platinum cardholders would be able to access Escape lounges in the United States, some readers pointed out that these lounges were already accessible through the Priority Pass program. Effective June 14th, 2017 escape lounges will no longer be accepting priority pass.
@drofcredit bad news from the MSP Escape Lounge. Priority Pass will no longer be accepted effective June 14th pic.twitter.com/Uzop3Emo7p
— Omar 🙄 (@aderramo) May 20, 2017
This explains why they were advertising the Platinum access benefit. Some Priority Pass lounges have had issues with overcrowding and I can only see that problem getting worse over time with the number of credit cards now coming with priority pass lounge access. I wouldn’t be surprised to see American Express try to create their own version of Priority Pass to compliment their Centurion lounges but I’d assume the associated costs between doing so are significantly higher than simply offering Priority Pass itself.
This only is the MSP Escape Lounge. All Escape Lounges are not out of the priority pass program as far as I can tell.
The MSP lounge has a note on it on the prioritypass website saying it is out of the program in June, whereas other escape lounges do not have this statement.
Thanks James, will update post.
It appears the BDL Escape Lounge was never a member of Priority Pass so nothing really changes there, but at least Amex Platinum cardholders get into the BDL Escape Lounge and all other Escapes too.
Funny how the comments about MSP Escape Lounge all say the same thing. Evidently, staffing a lounge isn’t a priority to management.
Luckily, I was able to use priority pass last month to at least experience MSP Escape Lounge, but now that’s off the table. As my home airport is MSP, I can only hope they make this lounge worth visiting for anyone that still has access.
Been there almost every month since it was a PP lounge and it’s all young people working the lounge. Then, overheard a conversation with the front desk guy a week ago. He said him and another gal are the only ones who stuck around. New people work for a week or two and leave! I can’t believe it’s too much work dealing with us, right?
Just tried to go there in MSP last week. Nobody at the front – anybody coukd have walked right in. No food out at all-this was at 5pm.
I might have considered keeping an AMEX plat since I fly through MSP quite bit, but after seeing this and hearing the other comnents-no way.
It’s very likely there won’t be much overcrowding issues once all the PP cardholders are gone though…
Overwhelmed is the word to describe it. The one at MSP is also understaffed all the time now. Went there one Saturday morning and there was only two people on duty by 7 am! No hot food bought out either by 9. Front desk person is cleaning all the plates from the tables while checking ppl in (sad)! Friday afternoon yesterday was basically empty, but the bottles water ran out in all three fridges and had to go to bar to get one. They were all lying there on the counter while no one cleaned tables the whole hour.
Oof, I was going to use the one at Stansted on June 26th! Oh well…
STN Lounge is still in Priority Pass
I saw the same note at MSP 10 days back.The lounge closes at 8.30 PM but they closed at 6 pm that day. The person in-charge mentioned that they had staff walk out on them. The lounge itself looked messy with used cups and plates lying all over