Travelers flying out of Kansas City (MCI) will soon have another airport lounge to pick from – or a first-ever option for cardholders who rely on a *venture x* or the *chase sapphire reserve* or buying a day pass to get into lounges.
A brand-new Escape Lounge is expected to open at the Kansas City airport sometime this winter, according to an announcement this week from the airport's concession manager. Escape Lounge representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how large the lounge will be nor when it's expected to officially open its doors, though its website confirms a Kansas City location is “coming soon.”
But the airport says its newest lounge will be located in Concourse A North near gate A5 – part of the airport's massive new terminal. The airport says it will feature a design inspired by the city with local beverages from Martin City Brewing Company, Crane Brewing Company, and The Roasterie – in addition to the usual free meals and snacks.
Escape Lounges are small but typically above-average lounges in smaller and mid-sized U.S. airports, plus a few locations across the pond in the U.K. They typically clock in around just 5,000 square feet or so but feature all the amenities you want out of a lounge: Free Wi-Fi, places to relax and charge your devices, and a decent smattering of snacks and hot dishes as well as free drinks.
It'll be the first common-use lounge that travelers flying in and out of Kansas City can access with premium travel credit cards or by simply buying a day pass – no matter which airline they're flying. Delta opened a Sky Club last winter, but that's only open to Delta flyers with Sky Club access through American Express credit cards or lounge memberships.
Once it's open, travelers with *amex platinum* or the top-tier *delta reserve card* can choose between the Escape Lounge and the Sky Club over in the airport's B concourse – though Delta Reserve cardholders will need a same-day Delta boarding pass. But plenty more travelers can get into the Escape Lounge, too.
Most (but not all) Escape Lounges in the U.S. recently rejoined the Priority Pass lounge network after a years-long absence. The Kansas City airport explicitly said this new Escape Lounge location will be accessible with Priority Pass.
That means travelers who have a Priority Pass membership from cards like the *venture x*, *chase sapphire reserve*, or the *bonvoy brilliant* can use the new Escape Lounge once it's open. Only Amex Platinum cardholders can bring two guests inside Escape Lounges once it's open. For everyone else, it'll cost another $35 apiece.
Don't have the right credit card? No problem: You can simply buy a day pass to the lounge. The Escape Lounge website says it will cost $35 – likely for travelers who pre-book a day pass online or buy one on the spot.
We've been singing the praises of the Escape Lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) since it opened back in 2016, though its undoubtedly taken a step back since the pandemic. Other locations, like the one in Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Terminal 3, offer more of the same: a clean and comfortable space to relax and grab a bit (or drink) before your flight or on a long layover.
And the company behind Escape Lounges has been on a tear building out more locations across the U.S. Additional lounges are also on tap in Portland (PDX) later this year, Tulsa (TUL), and even Bentonville (XNA) in northwest Arkansas, the home of Walmart.
Bottom Line
An Escape Lounge is heading for Kansas City.
It's unclear exactly when the lounge will open beyond sometime “this winter” or even how big the lounge will be. Regardless, it'll be a welcome addition to the airport – particularly for travelers who want lounge access but don't have a top-dollar Amex Platinum Card in their wallet.